ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set Review

Wireless chargers that simultaneously charge multiple devices come in all shapes and sizes. From the simple pucks shipped with Apple Watches to something like the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger, which looks more like a piece of decorative furniture than a charger, you’re pretty spoilt for choice. When it comes to something travel-sized, though, slimness is key, all the while keeping as much functionality as you can.

In this review, we’re looking at the ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set. The name explains a lot already, but we’re particularly interested in how well it packs down, how easy it is to set up, and its charging capabilities. Additionally, our primary tester has been using this charger for nearly a year (at the time of writing) as a desktop charging station, where it’s proving useful in keeping all their devices topped up.

The Rundown

We’ll start with the build quality, where ESR has done a decent job of making the most out of the unit’s plastic chassis. Despite this practical approach, they’ve added a rough texture that resembles a leather pattern. From arm’s length, it’s convincing enough, especially with how the edges taper to create that stitched-together effect. Altogether, the unit doesn’t feel too plasticky either, with a notable absence of any creaks and squeaks associated with the material. We expected some around the hinge area, but it’s pretty smooth to operate.

The main charging unit itself is quite thin, almost resembling a slim folding wallet. However, it comes with an entourage of required parts if you actually want to use it as a charger. This includes the 20-watt charging adapter that plugs into the wall and a five-foot (1.5-meter) USB-C to USB-C cable. That much is standard for most wireless chargers, but there’s also the Apple Watch charging puck that plugs directly into the main charging unit. It’s one more module to keep track of compared to other all-in-one wireless chargers that are just a single piece, but it’s not that big of a deal-breaker.

Just a few things to note: the unit we’re testing came with a plug compatible with U.S. sockets, but you can also get one with a UK, EU, JP, or AU-compatible plug. Speaking of compatibility, we like how both the main charging unit and the Apple Watch puck use USB-C, and the latter can plug straight into any USB-C port if you just need a quick top-up for your watch.

Adjusting the main charging unit’s hinge is both easy and stiff enough that it doesn’t slump back as soon as you put a Max-sized iPhone on it, whether it’s oriented landscape or portrait. Magnetic compatibility works with caseless iPhones with MagSafe (iPhone 12 series or later) or if you’re using one of ESR’s HaloLock cases. We tested it with an iPhone 13, and it’s sufficiently grippy enough that we can lift the entire charging unit using the iPhone alone. This means you have to be careful when you’re trying to quickly grab your phone in the morning. Otherwise, you’re lifting your AirPods and Apple Watch as well, potentially knocking them over.

We’ve developed two techniques for removing a phone from the charging unit with a single hand. First, you can try to slip it downward, though it could potentially strike the surface in front of your phone. Alternatively, you can recline the charging pad until it’s touching the Apple Watch puck and use that as leverage to detach your phone. Either way, this is a clear downside of a MagSafe-based wireless charging stand that itself isn’t anchored to a surface; wireless chargers that don’t use magnets don’t have this downside.

On that note, your AirPods and Apple Watch charge alongside your iPhone. The latter charges via the removable puck, while your AirPods get their own dedicated spot in the middle. The slight divot is enough for us to confidently slot an AirPods case without having to look, and it works in any orientation.

In terms of charging speed, the included 20-watt adapter is the limit, so all of the Apple devices you put on this charger charge at expected speeds. ESR doesn’t specify exact numbers on its website, but an educated guess would be a rough 15-watt, 2.5-watt, 2.5-watt split between an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch.

That said, charging speed isn’t that big of a deal whenever we’re evaluating an all-in-one wireless charger like this. This is the type of charger that sits by our hotel bedside where our devices can top up overnight while we sleep—or maybe act as a phone stand so we can catch up on content before we sleep.

As an aside, albeit a useful one, the main charging unit can be used as a portable phone stand. The main charging unit is too compact to pass up the opportunity to simply toss it alongside other everyday carry items we have in our sling. More importantly, both the MagSafe connection and the hinge are strong enough to support an iPhone even while you’re adjusting for the perfect viewing angle.

Packability

As we’ve mentioned, having a separate charging puck for an Apple Watch is a small downside since there’s a potential for it to get misplaced. However, that’s a comically small worry compared to the size of the included case. Simply put, the included case is way too big if you want to put it inside a day sling, and we’d rather pack another set of socks than squeeze this in our main bag.

Fortunately, the main charging unit and Apple Watch puck are both slim enough to fit in most tech pouches. If you already carry a USB-C cable and a USB Power Delivery-compatible charging adapter that supplies 20 watts, you can leave the included cable and charging adapter at home. Overall, the entire kit is very easy to travel with.

Quick Comparison

The Satechi Quattro Wireless Power Bank is a benchmark for many of the wireless chargers we test because it’s very feature-packed. Not only can it charge both an iPhone and an Apple Watch simultaneously using its dual wireless charging spots, but it also packs its own juice (10,000 mAh), so you can charge on the go and away from a wall socket. It also has a USB-C and USB-A port for wired charging in case you need to be hands-on with your device while charging.

The downsides? There are only two wireless charging spots, and 10,000 mAh isn’t a lot for the size of the entire unit. And if you’re already traveling with a power bank, setting up a separate wireless charger like the ESR HaloLock at your hotel feels like the more practical option.