Nomad Stand One & Max 25W Wireless Charging Station review: Solid, fast and classy

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From innovative cables and classic Watch bands to premium iPhone cases and design-conscious charging devices, Nomad offers a range of classy tech accessories that should match every Apple user’s aspiration.

The company has updated its Stand One wireless iPhone charger to the latest Qi2 25W (Qi 2.2) tech standard to keep its range up to date. It follows similar 25W launches from the likes of Belkin, Anker, Baseus and ESR.

Note that Qi2 25W is supported only by the iPhone 16 or later. Older iPhones (12-15) will still power up via the chargers but at 15W, which is still significantly faster than the cheaper 7.5W merely MagSafe-compatible chargers.

Nomad offers two models: the basic Stand One, a 2-in-1 iPhone and AirPods charging stand; and the Stand One Max, a horizontal 3-in-1 charging pad for iPhone, AirPods and Watch. These are the fourth generation of this classic design.

Nomad Stand One: 2-in-1 wireless charger

The Nomad Stand One is a sleek yet reassuringly heavy 2-in-1 charging stand for iPhone and AirPods. It is crafted from metal and glass and looks good enough to grace the Genius Bar desk at an Apple Store. The chassis is solid metal with a premium glass panel and anti-slip rubber base.

The magnetic wireless charging is possible with any iPhone from the model 12 onwards, with the strange exception of the iPhone 16e.

The AirPods 5W Qi charging dish sits hidden behind the iPhone stand, supporting any wireless charging-enabled AirPods case.

Measuring 5 x 3.3 x 2.7 inches (12.7 x 8.3 x 6.9cm) it’s compact but not particularly portable as it weighs a 1.3lbs (575g). There are much lighter 2-in-1 stands but one of the selling of the Stand One is exactly this paperweight-like status as a sturdy desk stand.

In our tests, the 25W Stand One lived up to expectations with a 50% charge time of 36 minutes. That’s a little over the very best we’ve seen (28 minutes) and the average 33 minutes, but certainly faster than the 45-50 minutes it takes a 15W charger – including the previous third-generation Stand One – to do the same.

We test to 50% as after that level charging tends to slow as safeguards start to limit the amount of juice flowing into the phone to protect its battery from overheating.

Overheating is something of a risk for the most capable devices as 25W generates a fair temperature at full pelt.

To reduce this temperature some 25W wireless chargers include active cooling but the Stand One boasts no fan. The company claims that the stand’s metal structure effectively acts as a heatsink, so eliminating the need for a fan. This keeps it completely silent.

The stand is solid and unmoving in terms of adjustability. Nomad calls the Stand One’s 21º viewing angle “perfect” but if you like to wiggle your phone into a position that suits you better, you must look elsewhere at other charging stands. The iPhone can sit in either portrait or landscape orientation and works with Apple’s StandBy mode for clock or photo viewing.

Nomad Stand One Max: 3-in-1 wireless charger

The Nomad Stand One Max takes the Stand One design and turns it into a horizontal pad style that measures 3.2 x 6.3 x 5 inches (8.2 x 16.1 x 12.8cm). Again, it’s reliably sturdy, weighing nearly 2lbs (just under 1kg).

It features the same upright 21-degree 25W wireless iPhone charging stand, but with the AirPods pad placed next to it rather than behind, and a rigid Apple Watch at the other end for fast charging. Any version of the Apple Watch is supported.

None of the charging pads are adjustable. As with the 2-in-1 Stand One, Nomad reckons its viewing angle is ideal, and having the Apple Watch charger moving around would not be a great idea as the magnetic connection is not as firm as with the iPhone.

Two models in two colors

Both Stand One and Stand One Max are available in either a silver & white color or black (which Nomad calls “Carbide”).

Each comes with a decent length 6.6ft (2m) color-matched braided nylon cable, but don’t not ship with the required 40W or higher USB-C wall charger.

Price

The Nomad Stand One costs $119 / £99 and the Stand One Max $159 / £139. For Apple-like chic you pay Apple prices.

As with Apple and its iPhone, there’s no USB-C wall charger included in the box for, ahem, environmental reasons (although there is a matching cable), so if you don’t have a spare charger you’ll need to invest in one of 40W or greater power. Check our recommendations for the best USB-C chargers.

You can certainly buy cheaper but here you are paying for something with a little more class than most.

Check out more options in our best MagSafe charger and best Apple Watch charger roundups.

Should you buy the 25W Nomad Stand One or Stand One Max?

The Nomad Stand One is a statement piece on any desk, oozing Apple vibes in its solid metal and glass construction and at 25W reaching the latest and fastest iPhone charging rate.

Best Prices Today: Nomad Stand One