Best Apple Watch chargers, stands, power banks & docks

Macworld

Apple ships a simple but effective charging cable with the Apple Watch that will fast-charge an Apple Watch Series 7 or later (Watch 8/9, Watch Ultra 1/2). You won’t find a faster charging accessory but you can also choose from a wide range of stylish and practical charging stands, docks and power banks for your Apple Watch—including some that can also charge other Apple devices such as your iPhone and AirPods.

Here, we round up some of the best Apple Watch chargers, docks and charging stands—some of which can charge your other Apple devices at the same time. Most should be compatible with all generations of the Watch, but be sure to check compatibility before buying.

There are simple charging cables, multi-device chargers that can power up your Apple Watch plus your iPhone and AirPods, chargers that are built for portability and travel, designer models that look great at home or in the office, and handy Apple Watch power banks.






Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable – Best Apple Watch charging cable





















Pros


Fast charge Watch

Simple



Cons


One use only










Price When Reviewed:

€39




Best Prices Today:



€39 at Apple





Watch fast charge: Yes

Size: 1m cable

Weight: 2.6oz (73g)

Colors: White

Requires USB-C charger: Yes (20W minimum)

Apple ships its Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable with its Watch Series 7 and later models, including the Watch Series 8/9 and Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch SE (including the current model) and Series 6 and earlier Watch models shipped with the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable that lacks the fast-charging function.

Both cables are Apple white and a meter long. The latest version features an enhanced charging puck.

The 7.5W Fast Charger Cable can charge 33% faster than the older 5W cable—charging a compatible Watch battery from 0-80% in just 45 minutes. An eight-minute charge will support eight hours of sleep tracking.

Without fast charge, it takes about 1.5 hours to charge an Apple Watch to 80%, and about 2.5 hours to 100%.

Fast charging requires at least a 20W USB-C charger, like you’d use to charge an iPhone; find our recommended best iPhone chargers for a wider choice that the plain Apple 20W charger.

While you can still buy the older Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable, there’s little benefit as the newer Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable is backwards compatible with older Watch models, looks the same, and is the same price. You can use the old cable on a later Watch but obviously without fast charging.







Third-party Apple Watch Chargers – Beware cheap imitations





















Pros


Affordable



Cons


Pot luck on quality

Slow charging

No-name brands


















Watch fast charge: No

Size: 1m cable

Colors: White, Black

Requires USB-C charger: Yes (20W minimum)

Apple’s official Watch Charger is fast and reliable but expensive compared to the knock-off Watch chargers you can find online. This is a shame as having a spare in your bga or lying around at home is useful given the Watch’s pretty dreadful battery life.

Usually there is a trusted third-party provider with an alternative to Apple’s simple charging cable but we could find none for the Apple Watch that were cheaper than the Apple version. We are sure that the Satechi USB-C Magnetic Charging Cable for Apple Watch is trustworthy but it’s actually pricier than the Apple and doesn’t support fast charging—so why bother?

There are some great third-party Apple Watch charging stands and adapters—many of which we review below.

But you are taking a chance (albeit a very affordable chance) by picking a cheapo simple Watch charger from Amazon, Temu or other online retailers. If you must, then scan the user reviews but we can’t vouch that the good ones are genuine and others often state problems with durability and extremely slow charging.







Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe – Best 3-in-1 Apple Watch charging stand





















Pros


Charges Watch, iPhone, AirPods

Fast charge Watch

15W MagSafe for iPhone

Small footprint and tilts



Cons


Only in black










Price When Reviewed:

€169,99




Best Prices Today:



€169.99 at Twelve South





Watch fast charge: Yes

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 6.3 x 3.4 x 6 inches (15.9 x 8.5 x 15.4cm)

Weight: 14oz (396g)

Colors: Black

Requires USB-C charger: 40W wall charger included

If you’ve got an Apple Watch, chances are you also own an iPhone and maybe a set of AirPods, too. Here’s where a charging station, which can power up all three devices simultaneously, becomes essential if you want to rid yourself of a snake’s nest of cables.

The HiRise 3 Deluxe (available at Apple) can wirelessly charge three devices—iPhone 12/13/14/15 but not SE, Apple Watch 7, 8, 9, SE and Ultra, and Apple AirPods (2nd and 3rd gen AirPods, and all AirPods Pro). The AirPods-charging Qi wireless pad can alternatively be used to charge any iPhone from iPhone 8 up.

And all the charging points are top-end—iPhone 15W, Watch 5W and Qi pad 7.5W—so all can be fast-charged.

The Watch can either lie flat or in Nightstand mode, and the iPhone in iOS 17’s StandBy mode. You can angle the iPhone by up to 35 degrees.

It’s taller but much smaller than Belkin’s Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro Wireless Charging Pad, reviewed below, so will save space on your bedside table or desk.

Read our full

Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe review






Journey Trio Ultra 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Station – Best white 3-in-1 Apple Watch charging stand





















Pros


Charges Watch, iPhone, AirPods

Fast charge Watch

15W MagSafe for iPhone

Small footprint



Cons


Only in white


















Watch fast charge: Yes

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 6.7 x 5.3 x 3.4 inches (17 x 13.4 x 8.6cm)

Weight: 11.5oz (325g)

Colors: White

Requires USB-C charger: 30W wall charger included

If you own an Apple Watch it’s a fair bet that you also have an iPhone, and, go on admit it, some AirPods, too—you’re well invested into the Apple ecosystem.

This 3-in-1 charging station from Journey has a tiltable MagSafe-certified pad (15W) for all iPhones 12/13/14/15, plus a Qi charger for AirPods that have a wireless charging case.

Important to us here, though, is the Apple Watch charger at the back, which can fast-charge your Apple wearable.

The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe, reviewed above, is similar and features a tiltable Watch charger at the front rather than the back. If you want a 3-in-1 fast charging stand in white, then pick this Journey stand; if you prefer black, go for the Twelve South.

There is a cheaper version, the Journey Trio 3-in-1 Charging Station, which features a detachable Watch charger that you can slip into your pocket and plug into a USB-C charger, including your MacBook, away from the base unit. While that is a neat feature (and might save you $40 on a standalone Watch adapter) the MagSafe pad is only compatible so charges at 7.5W and the Watch charger is slower than the one featured on the Trio Ultra 3-in-1.







Satechi USB-C Magnetic Apple Watch Charging Dock – Portable Apple Watch charger





















Pros


Portable



Cons


No Watch fast charge

One use only










Price When Reviewed:

€44,99





Watch fast charge: No

Size: 2 x 1.73 x 0.45 inches (5.1 x 4.4 x 1.1cm)

Weight: 1.1oz (31g)

Colors: Space Gray

Requires USB-C charger: Any USB-C charging port

Small enough to fit in your pocket, this little 5W Watch charger from can plug straight into a USB-C charger or a USB-C charging port—for example, the Thunderbolt on your MacBook or iPad, or a USB-C car charger—or USB-C output power bank.

When you get an alert telling you that your Watch battery is fading, you don’t always have your meter-long Apple charging cable with you but you are likely nearer a USB-C power point, and this little Watch charger can live at the bottom of your back for when you need it most.







Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger – Best portable 2-in-1 Apple Watch charger





















Pros


Charges Watch and iPhone and

Can swap Watch for AirPods

Fast charge Watch

15W MagSafe for iPhone

Portable

Small footprint



Cons


Expensive


















Watch fast charge: Yes

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 2.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches (6 x 6 x 2.35cm)

Weight: 4.2oz (119g)

Colors: Aluminum

Requires USB-C charger: 30W wall charger included

Twelve South makes our favorite 3-in-1 iPhone/Watch/AirPods charger, the HiRise 3 Deluxe reviewed above, and it has triumphed again with this pocketable 2-in-1 charger that can handle iPhone and Apple Watch or iPhone and AirPods, charging the two devices simultaneously.

Technically it can’t be beaten—it is fully Apple certified, so fast wirelessly charges the Watch at 5W and the iPhone at 15W.

But its wonder is its clever, dinky foldable size and MacBook-like styling. Unfurl the charger and the two wireless charging pads are revealed. You can even fold 180 degrees and place the Watch in Nighstand mode. Flip it round, and you can set the iPhone in landscape StandBy mode.

It chips with a super-compact 30W USB-C wall charger that comes with interchangeable international plug heads: US, UK, EU and AU/NZ.

Read our full

Twelve South ButterFly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger review






Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) – Best compact 3-in-1 Apple Watch charger





















Pros


Charges Watch, iPhone, AirPods

15W Qi2 iPhone charging

Fast charges Apple Watch

Compact, light and portable


















Watch fast charge: Yes

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 3.5 x 2.4 x 1 inches (8.9 x 6 x 2.5cm)

Weight: 6.9oz (195g)

Colors: White, Black

Requires USB-C charger: 40W wall charger included

The first 3-in-1 device charger based on the fast MagSafe-like 15W Qi2 magnetic wireless charging tech, the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station not only boosts wireless charging speeds that match Apple’s MagSafe but wraps up everything into a solid, foldable and compact yet flexible design. Apple Watch fast charging is the cream on the top.

Foldable and super compact, the Anler MagGo Wireless Charging Station is a great portable option for your travels. The Watch-charging module neatly folds into the base of the charging station.

We also like Anker’s 3-in-1 Cube, reviewed below—but while it’s gorgeous, it is heavier than the MagGo and doesn’t feature Watch fast charging.

Read our full

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) review






Belkin Boost Up Charge Pro Wireless Charging Pad – Best 3-in-1 Apple Watch pad





















Pros


Charges Watch, iPhone, AirPods

Fast charge Watch

15W MagSafe for iPhone



Cons


Large footprint










Price When Reviewed:

€169,95




Best Prices Today:



€169.95 at Apple





Watch fast charge: Yes

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 9.3 x 3.4 x 0.84 inches (23.7 x 8.6 x 2.1cm)

Weight: 22.8oz (476g)

Colors: White, Black

Requires USB-C charger: 20W wall charger included

Belkin’s Boost Up Charge Pro Wireless Charging Pad 3-in-1 charger (available at Apple) is the fastest way you can wirelessly charge both your Apple Watch and iPhone (12/13/14-series models), plus AirPods that come in a wireless charging case.

It boasts both Watch fast charging (7.5W) and iPhone MagSafe fast charging (15W). The included 20W USB-C wall charger is a little underpowered if charging all three devices simulataneously. A 30W or 40W charger would better handle that situation.

The Watch can either lie flat or in Nightstand mode, but because the iPhone lies flat you can’t take advantage of iOS 17’s StandBy mode. The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe, reviewed above, is a better option if you want to view your iPhone while it’s charging—and it also comes with a more powerful 40W power supply.

The magnetic charging module features a precision dial that can adjust the height for the best Watch, depending on the screen size.







Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe – Stunning compact 3-in-1 Apple Watch charger





















Pros


Charges Watch, iPhone and AirPods

15W MagSafe for iPhone

Portable

Small footprint



Cons


No Watch fast charge

Heavy










Price When Reviewed:

159,95 €




Best Prices Today:



€159.95 at Apple





Watch fast charge: No

iPhone charge: 15W

Size: 2.49 x 2.3 x 2.3 inches (6.3 x 6 x 6cm)

Weight: 14.5oz (410g)

Colors: Gray

Requires USB-C charger: 30W wall charger included

Charge your Apple Watch plus your other small Apple gadgets with this dinky (if weighty) designer 3-in-1 cube that is MagSafe certified so can wirelessly charge an iPhone 12/13/14 at 15W.

Watch and AirPods charge at a more sedate 5W, so no Watch fast charge.

The beauty of this compact charger is its portable 3-in-1 power options, all contained in one tiny-footprint device. The Watch charging part can be hidden away within the Anker Cube when not in use.







Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe 15W – Designer 2-in-1 Apple Watch charger