What you need to know:
- The AOHI MagCube 30W PD charger is a GaN charger that is 70% smaller than the MacBook Air charger but can charge at full speed.
- The AOHI 40W MagCube Charger features a foldable design and 2 USB-C ports. It can charge one device at 40W or 2 at the same time at 20W each.
- You can enjoy a 10% discount using our code “AOHI30WB”on the AOHI MagCube 30W PD Charger. (Valid until September 30, 2022) Buy Now: Amazon | AOHI
- You can enjoy a 10% discount using our code “AOHI40WC”on the AOHI MagCube 40W PD Charger. (Valid until October 31, 2022) Buy Now: Amazon | AOHI
Power adapters or wall chargers are no longer bundled with some high-end and mid-range smartphones sold today. The market is flooded with third party chargers and the market for GaN chargers is constantly growing.
I tested AOHI’s MagCube 30W and 40W PD fast chargers. The former is a GaN charger, while the latter is not. However, they prove that it’s not the size of the potion that matters, but the movement in the ocean 😉.
AOHI MagCube Chargers Review: Safe and Visible Charging with
Before we get into how well the chargers work and other details, here is something unique and interesting about AOHI MagCube chargers. And that unique feature is the LED indicator that lights up in three colors to indicate the stages/rates of charging.
- Amber/Amber Breathing Indicator: The initial stage indicates fast charging at a lower battery level.
- Blue Static Light: Intermediate stage indicates standard charging.
- Green static light: End stage indicates continuous charging (usually when the battery is fully charged).
Let’s say you’re someone who doesn’t like to use their devices while they’re charging; this feature is very useful as you don’t even have to touch the device to check the charge level. By looking at the LED on the charger, you can estimate to what percentage the battery of the device is charged.
AOHI Magcube 30W PD Fast Charger
The AOHI MagCube 30W PD Fast Charger is so small it can fit in your fists. Yet so powerful that it can charge a MacBook Air at full speed, not to mention an iPhone. Finally, we also get an 18 month warranty. Read along to find out how well it works.
GaN Technology Explained
As I mentioned, AOHI MagCube 30W uses GaN+ technology. For those who don’t know, GaN stands for gallium nitride, and this material has allowed manufacturers to pack a big punch into a small package.
This is possible because the GaN material is in crystalline form and can pass higher voltages faster than its silicon counterpart. If you are interested in learning more about GaN, here is the article you should read.
Assembly and design
GaN chargers are compact, as we have already seen. But how compact is the AOHI MagCube 30W charger? Well, the dimensions of the charger are 1.1×1.1×1.26 inches and the weight is 0.09 pounds or 40.8 grams. For a sense of scale, check out the image below where you can compare its size when placed on a 13-inch MacBook Air.
Even though I have small hands, I can clench the charger with my fist. And at the same time, I was reminded that the contacts of the charger do not add up to the case. However, I’m not complaining as the charger is also very compact, but the foldable design will be a bonus.
A clever LED indicator and a USB-C port are on the opposite side of the charger contact. While all sides of the charger have a matte finish, the side with the LED indicator and USB-C port has a grainy texture.
In addition, the connector PCB in the USB-C port is yellow, which is a refreshing design choice. It also gives the charger its own personality and AOHI branding.
Charging speed
AOHI MagCube 30W PD Fast Charger has over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature and short circuit protection. It is also equipped with a PI chip which helps with 3-stage charging. Security protocols are the most important factor to consider before purchasing chargers.
Now let’s look at the charging speed. I tested the MagCube 30W charger with an iPhone 13. I started the test at 5:09 pm when the phone had 6% battery. Half an hour later at 05:39 the battery was at 59%. That’s over 50% charged in less than 30 minutes, which compares to what Apple claims about its 18W charger.
At 6:09 pm, an hour after I plugged in the charger for the first time, the iPhone 13 was at 80%. After that, charging the battery by 1% took about 10 minutes. Can’t figure out what led to this as iPhone 13 had optimized charging enabled and also had iOS 16 beta.
The company promises 20W charging speeds for iPhones and 25W for Android devices. They also claim that it can charge a MacBook Air with 30W and in the short time I plugged it into my Mac, it actually charges the MacBook at the same rate as the included MacBook charger which is easily 5 times faster than AOHI size. 30W MagCube Charger.
pros
- Compact design
- Powerful Performance
- Excellent build
- Utility LED indicator
- 18 month warranty
Minuses
- Not a minus, but I would have liked it if it was a foldable charger.
Conclusion
If you’re investing in the Apple ecosystem, carrying separate chargers for all of your devices is a hassle. The 30W AOHI MagCube PD Fast Charger can charge iPhone, AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch and MacBook Air without the need to carry separate chargers.
Because the charger supports multiple PD protocols and charges devices like AirPods at a lower power level, you don’t have to worry about safety. What’s more, with PD support, the charger is compatible with multiple global gadgets.
If you’re looking to buy a new travel charger that doesn’t take up a lot of space, the AOHI MagCube 30W PD Fast Charger may be right for you. Even otherwise, this is a great buy for $24.99.
Foldable AOHI Magcube 40W PD Charger
But if you want to charge multiple devices at the same time, AOHI has taken care of that too; read along. The AOHI Magcube 40W PD Foldable Charger is equipped with a pair of USB-C ports and, as the name suggests, is a foldable charger.
Collapsible here refers to the ability of the charger contacts to fold up and rest against the charging box when not in use. Unlike the previous model, the MagCube 40W is not a GaN charger and I’m surprised how AOHI managed to cram so much power into such a small space.
Assembly and design
Since the AOHI Magcube 40W PD Foldable Charger is equipped with two USB-C ports and has a power of 40W, it is expected to be slightly larger than its brother. Its dimensions are 1.9X0.7X0.8 inches. And it weighs 0.16 pounds and 74 grams. As before, I’ll place it on a MacBook Air for scale.
The MagCube 40W charger is small and has foldable contacts, making travel with the charger even more convenient. The pins rest against the power supply, so that even the edges do not slide out thanks to the well-thought-out design of the power supply. You no longer have to worry about charger pins bending, breaking or puncturing packages.
An LED indicator that indicates the stages of charging is located on the opposite side of the charger contacts. Below which is a pair of USB-C ports. Like its little brother, the pinout of the USB-C port is yellow. But this is not so noticeable in the Lemon Yellow variant. Also, lemon yellow is a polarizing color and I love it.
Charging speed
AOHI MagCube is a 40W charger. It also has over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature, and short-circuit protection, as well as a PI chip for three-stage charging. It has two ports, and when both are connected, the 40W power is shared equally between them.
I tested the AOHI MagCube 40W PD Fast Charger with a MacBook Air M1 and 2nd generation 10.5″iPad Pro separately to check the maximum output speed of the charger. And here are the results.
I plugged in my MacBook Air M1 at 5:58 pm with 31% battery, and half an hour later at 6:28 pm the battery was at 62%. After another 30 minutes at 06:58, the battery reached 83%. AOHI claims that you can fully charge your MacBook Air in 2 hours, and my tests further back up their claims. I am very satisfied when the product meets the requirements of the company.
iPad Pro 2nd generation won’t charge and runs out of battery. I plugged it in at 12:35 and checked later at 14:17 and the battery level was 85%. Again, going from 0 to 85% took about 1.5 hours. We also have to consider that after reaching 80%, Apple devices tend to charge more slowly if you have enabled optimized charging.
pros
- Compact design
- folding
- Dual Ports
- Excellent build
- Utility LED indicator
Minuses
- There are no significant cons
Conclusion
I think the adage “The more the merrier”is perfect for the number of ports a charger has. Especially these days, when even our watches need to be charged, let alone our phones and headphones, carrying multiple chargers around is inconvenient.
The AOHI MagCube 40W PD Fast Charger solves this problem without creating additional problems thanks to its foldable design. Again, since this is a PD charger and supports PI technology, it can detect various devices and charge them accordingly. So you can charge your AirPods or MacBook worry-free.
Carrying one charger with you to charge multiple devices is a gift from God for those who travel frequently. That’s what the AOHI 40W Fast Charger is designed for. At $32.99, this is a worthwhile investment.
Which AOHI charger is right for you?
The answer to the question can be obtained by looking at your requirements. The AOHI 30W MagCube Charger is perfect for those looking for a compact charger for one or more devices. For example, the 30W MagCube AOHI could be a great gift for someone who recently got a new iPhone, or you can get one for yourself if you’re planning on getting a new iPhone and don’t have an old fast charger.
If you are going to charge more than one device at the same time, it is better to purchase the AOHI MagCube 40W charger. The foldable design ensures it won’t pose a problem when packing into your bag, and you don’t have to worry about the pins bending or breaking.
I hope this review helps you make an informed choice. List your needs and the choice will be clear. Also, which color of the two options do you like best? Let me know in the comments.