Nomad Stand One Max charger review – Everything in its (charging) place

REVIEW – Your phone is likely the last thing you use before going to bed and one of the first things you check after waking up. A good bedside charger is a must have. If you’re also running an Apple Watch and AirPods; well you’re going to want a 3-in-1 charger to keep things simple. Nomad provided me with their version, the Stand One Max. It’s gorgeous, heavy and absolutely gets the job done.

What is it?

Nomad Stand One Max is a 3-in-1 charger designed specifically for charging a phone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously, making it a perfect beside or desk solution for keeping your devices topped off.

What’s included?

• Stand One Max
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• REQUIRED: 30w charger (not included)

Tech specs

Design and features

Nomad definitely has an aesthetic eye for design and the Stand One Max puts it front and center.

It’s available in either Carbide (effectively black) and Silver (with more white than silver), either of which look striking in any setting.

The Qi2 charging is embedded in a magnetic puck that sits atop a reclined layer of glass over metal and is obviously 100% MagSafe compatible.

The Apple Watch fast charger is more vertical than the phone charger but securely holds and charges well for any style watch band including closed bracelets. A single USB-C port is at the rear behind the phone charger.

Behind the watch charger is a slight indentation that charges any AirPods that have a wireless charging case. They also will work with any similarly sized products including some hearing aids with compatible cases.

Assembly, Installation, Setup

Set up is easy, though you’ll need a 30w charger at a minimum which Nomad also sells, but does not include with the Stand. I’ve had this one for a bit and it’s held up well through some adventures.

Place the Stand where you need it and connect the included USB-C cable. Then put each device you want to charge into it’s requisite location. Note that the phone will charge in any rotation so it supports nightstand mode well.

Performance

The key to what makes the Stand One Max work so well is the user experience. It’s almost 2 pounds with a non-skid base so it does not move around unintentionally.

The magnetic pull for the MagSafe phone location is impressive. Due to the monolithic shape of the phone charger you can find it in the dark and then your phone just jumps into position either portrait or landscape depending on your preference.

The Apple Watch charger works really well holding even the larger, heavier Apple Watch Ultra. It doesn’t matter what kind of watch band you have as the vertical position supports hinged clasp bands as well as ones that fully separate.

While the AirPods Qi charger works well and the AirPods specific indentation still allows for other similarly small devices to charge, its location is directly behind the watch charger. This potentially creates an issue if you have a hinged-clasp watch band set for a really small wrist.

There might not be enough room within the closed band loop to allow a pair of AirPods to sit flat. If that sounds like you, unhinge your band and see if you can lay your AirPods inside with your Apple Watch charging cable attached to verify you’ll have enough room.

It’s worth noting that if you track sleep and prefer to charge your Apple Watch at work, this stand makes a great desk solution keeping your AirPods and Watch charged and close at hand while keeping your desk tidy.

What I like about the Nomad Stand One Max

• Beautiful, sturdy and no moving parts
• Qi2 phone compatibility, Fast Apple Watch charging, Qi AirPods charging
• Strong magnetic retention makes locating phone for charging a breeze
• Weighty with a non-slip base to keep from moving around

What needs to be improved?

• 30w adapter should be included since none of the 3 devices you’re charging are likely to come with an adapter that powerful
• Watch users with a small wrist and hinged-clasp band might not be able to charge AirPods. (see note in performance section)

Final thoughts

It’s hard to argue with a product that charges your core 3 devices simultaneously, is beautifully designed with an immaculate attention to detail and is made with premium materials that will outlast the devices you’ll be charging. Are there cheaper chargers out there? Sure, but you get what you pay for. I’m super happy with the Stand One Max.

Price: $150 | Currently on sale for $135
Where to buy: Nomad
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Nomad. Nomad did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.