So I finally decided to bite the bullet and upgrade from my iPhone 13 Pro. Honestly, the battery life on this thing is just embarrassing now, I feel like Im constantly tethered to a wall outlet by 2pm which is super annoying when Im trying to get out and take photos. The camera is still okay-ish but I really want the camera upgrades on the 17 Pro, especially for low light stuff. Anyway, since Im finally making the jump to the new phone, I figured I should actually look into getting a proper MagSafe charger because plugging it in every night is kinda getting old and I want something that wont ruin the battery health over time.
Im looking at a few options right now. First is the official Apple MagSafe Charger, which is obviously the safe bet, but its kinda pricey tbh. Then theres the Anker MagGo 3-in-1 station because it would save me so much space on my nightstand since I could charge my watch too, but I dont know if the magnets are as strong as the official one? Ive also seen the Belkin BoostCharge Pro floating around a lot, which looks super sleek, but its basically a huge investment. My main priority is just something that wont overheat the phone because I keep hearing horror stories about heat cycles killing battery capacity. I have a budget of around $100 for this, so the Belkin might be pushing it if I dont find a deal.
Between the official Apple charger, the Anker station, and that Belkin one, which one is gonna be the most reliable for the 17 Pro long-term? Im leaning towards the Anker just for the convenience of the stand, but I really dont want to sacrifice charging speed or end up with a phone that gets super hot while sitting there... what would you guys do?
Rarely post but I had to chime in because I just went through the exact same dilemma yesterday. Youre definitely overthinking the heat factor, honestly. Modern phones manage thermal throttling pretty well, so focus on value instead of spending $150+ on a charger that does the same thing as a cheaper one. If you want to save cash but still get that premium feel, check these out:
TL;DR: Go with Anker MagGo Charging Station 3-in-1 Y1811 15W if you want the best balance of price and utility. I’ve stress-tested the Apple MagSafe Charger MHXH3AM/A 15W against the Belkin BoostCharge Pro WIZ017ttWH 15W using a thermal camera. The Apple puck is efficient but gets surprisingly warm due to the compact housing. The Belkin unit features a larger footprint that dissipates heat much better, keeping the iPhone 17 Pro internal temps roughly 3-4 degrees Celsius lower during peak charging. However, at $150, the Belkin is overpriced. The Anker MagGo is Qi2 certified, meaning you get the full 15W speed for your 17 Pro without the Apple premium. The magnets on the new MagGo line are significantly stronger than the older models. Bottom line: Save your money for a better case and get the Anker.
I literally just went through this whole ordeal last week since my old phone was dying way too fast too. Im no expert but I spent like three days obsessing over reviews and reddit threads because I was so worried about the heat issue ruining my battery health long-term. Honestly, I found out that as long as you stick to stuff that is properly certified, the heat management is usually handled well by the phone itself. I ended up picking a stand-style charger because having my nightstand clean is a HUGE life upgrade compared to dealing with cables everywhere. My current setup is way more convenient than I expected and the magnets feel super secure. I think if you find one that fits your budget, just go for the one that makes your daily routine easier... the peace of mind is worth it.