Review: ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station (25W)
Disclaimer:
ESR have sent me a unit to test which I am able to keep. I did not receive any instruction from ESR on what specific features to call out. The opinions expressed are my own and indirectly based on comparisons with my Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand, which I use everyday as a night stand and my mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger (Apple Store exclusive version), so I’m well positioned to provide a view on where the ESR unit stands in terms of quality, portability, and value.
I’ve been using the ESR Foldable Magnetic Charging Station as a travel-friendly 3-in-1 charger for the past two weeks as my main charging option and overall it’s left a good impression. It feels solid in the hand, looks well made, and offers a practical alternative to more expensive brands. That said, it doesn’t quite deliver the same premium feel as others in the market especially in areas like packaging and included accessories.
Officially, it’s a foldable magnetic charging station, but ESR clearly market it as a travel charger rather than something you’d leave on a desk or bedside table, even though it would work well in either role. In fact, typing “travel charger” into the ESR website returns the CryoBoost charger as the top result.
The folded unit feels sturdy and well made. It uses a plastic outer shell with a metal hinge that gives it a reassuring sense of durability, and it stays relatively slim for something designed to charge three devices at once.
I was sent a unit with a USA/Japanese adaptor, not ideal given that I live in New Zealand. Initially, I had to use a 20w Apple USB-C adaptor. It worked in a pinch, but it was below the recommended 50w minimum for optimal performance. While the standard 20w Apple adaptor can power the unit and works well when using each charging pad separately, charging times slow noticeably when two or more devices are charging at once.
To properly test the unit, I bought my own 65w travel adaptor, since 50w is the recommended minimum. It came with multiple international pin options, but it was an extra expense that adds roughly 50% to the total cost when bought separately. While looking at the ESR site, I noticed a clear price difference between models with US/Japanese plugs and those with EU plugs, with the EU version costing significantly more when not on sale, which is interesting.
When unfolded, the unit easily supports the weight of an iPhone 14 Pro Max and stays stable in both horizontal and vertical positions thanks to its non-slip rubber feet. The flat 5w pad is also well designed for AirPods cases, with or without covers. I had no issues charging either my AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3.
The 5w Apple Watch charging pad is one of the weaker parts of the design. Unlike the main metal hinge, its hinge is plastic and could prove to be a point of failure with extended use. Its position near the rear of the base also makes it awkward, especially with my large Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Ti Milanese loop. I could never get the watch to sit square on the stand. While this didn’t affect charging it always looked slightly off.
The box included six ring-shaped stickers with no explanation, though I assumed they were for the watch pad. Applying one helped a little with the alignment of the watch but it still shifted back to its off-kilter position over time. The magnetic strength is also weaker than that of the phone pad, so I had to angle the watch pad to its fully reclined position to reduce the risk of accidentally bumping the watch off its perch, which made the strap positioning even more awkward. If used as a permanent charging station, this setup could risk scratching the surface of the desk/nightstand the unit is placed on, unlike my Belkin stand which lets the strap of the watch hang safely out of the way.
The main 25w Qi2.2 charger, when paired with the right adaptor, delivers enough power for quick charging. Even at 15w, it would still fast charge my iPhone 14 Pro Max, so I wasn’t able to test it to its full potential the way I could have, had I had a newer model iPhone. This in turn makes it hard to quantify the real-world impact of the CryoBoost system. I’ve rarely had heat issues with MagSafe chargers, except with MagSafe power banks, and even then it's the power bank itself that typically generates most of the heat.
Many of the questions I’ve seen online about CryoBoost relate to fan noise, but in practice it isn’t even remotely an issue. The fan is whisper quiet and you’d struggle to hear it unless your ear was within a few inches of the device. It’s definitely not loud enough to disturb sleep and is far quieter than things like an in room air-conditioning unit. The fan comes on when the phone is mounted and turns itself off when charging is comlete (you can also manually switch it off via the side button but I do not see any reason to do so). Despite being so quiet, it still moves a noticeable amount of air, so I have little doubt it would help cool a more power-hungry iPhone.
While convenient as a travel charger, the lack of a travel case for the cord, adaptor, and charger feels like an oversight and increases the chance of losing something. ESR provide carry cases for some of their other travel options so it a questionable ommission on what could be considered their flagship travel charger. This is something my mophie unit makes good use of, keeping everything, including the international plug adaptors, easy to find when rummaging through a bag in a dark hotel room after a long-haul flight.
All in all, it’s a solid unit and well worth the price. With the right wall adaptor, it can easily handle simultaneous charging for multiple devices. While I never needed quick top-ups, all of my devices charged fully overnight regardless of their starting battery levels.
Pros
- Slim and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry.
- Strong magnetic phone charging pad with fast charging support and a built-in cooling fan.
- Can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaniously without issue (when paired with the right wall adaptor).
Cons
- The Apple Watch charging pad feels awkwardly positioned and may be the weakest part of the design.
- International plug options are limited, which reduces its convenience as a travel charger.
- There is no included travel case to keep the charger, cable, and adaptor together.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. Despite a few compromises, especially around the watch charger and travel accessories, it offers solid performance, a compact design, and good value for the price. The built-in cooling feature also helps it stand out from other chargers in the same range.