If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly desktop wireless charger for your iPhone, the Acefast Desktop Wireless Charger E15 might be worth considering. However, like most affordable tech products, it comes with a few compromises.
Pros:
- Affordable and functional
- Capable of charging up to three devices simultaneously
Cons:
- Flimsy build quality
- Apple Watch charger is only useful for Apple users
A Budget Charger with Some Limitations
The Acefast Desktop Wireless Charger E15 is a wallet-friendly option that does the job, but it isn’t without its shortcomings. One significant drawback is the absence of a magnet in the main charging pad. While this allows you to charge your iPhone in portrait mode, you can’t rotate it to landscape orientation without risking it falling off the charger.
To charge your phone in landscape mode, you’ll need to lay it flat on the stand’s secondary charging point. However, this position can sometimes cause the phone’s volume or power buttons to be pressed unintentionally, depending on how your device is oriented. This issue doesn’t occur consistently, but it was noticeable enough during my testing to warrant a mention.
Quick Specs:
- Output: Phone: 5W/7.5W/10W/15W; TWS (True Wireless Stereo): 5W; Watch: 2.5W
- Input: 9V=3A, 5V=3A
- Product Size: 122.5 x 72 x 124mm
Charging Multiple Devices
The Acefast E15 can charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. There are dedicated slots for an AirPods case or any wireless earbuds that support Qi charging. Interestingly, you can also charge your AirPods on the Apple Watch holder if you use a MagSafe Charging Case, as available on the AirPods Pro 2. Oddly, the Watch charger is detachable, though the purpose of this feature isn’t immediately clear.
Build Quality Concerns
One noticeable drawback of the E15 is its lightweight base. This design choice can make the charger feel unstable, especially when using a shorter, less flexible cable. It may require some effort to position the charger exactly how you want it, which detracts from the overall user experience.
However, the E15 does have an LED light at the bottom to indicate charging status, switching from blue to green when a device is being charged. That said, the light doesn’t change when using the Apple Watch charger, and only half of the light changes color when charging a single device. It fully turns green only when both the phone and AirPods are charging simultaneously.
Performance and Charging Speed
The E15 offers a maximum charging speed of 15W, but this is limited to the phone portion. The Apple Watch charger maxes out at 2.5W, which means no fast charging for newer Apple Watch models like the Series 7 and above. The AirPods pad provides a maximum of 5W.
In my tests, using the Acefast Z4 PD218W Desktop Power Station GaN, the charger reached a peak of around 14W when charging just the phone. However, when multiple devices were charging simultaneously, the power distribution led to the phone charging port dropping to a minimum of 5W, which is quite slow for a smartphone.
Final Thoughts
At S$41, the Acefast Desktop Wireless Charger E15 is an affordable option that fulfills its basic purpose, but it doesn’t impress in terms of build quality or performance. If your budget allows, you might be better off investing in a more robust option from brands like Belkin or Ugreen. However, if you’re set on the E15, you can purchase it from Shopee or directly from Acefast.
For those who prioritize affordability and basic functionality over premium build quality, the Acefast E15 may still be a viable option, but it’s important to be aware of its limitations.
