With Apple's AirPower off the table for now, three-in-one charging solutions have become popular, and multiple companies are now introducing multi-device charging options.

Native Union recently released the Apple Watch Edition of its Drop XL Wireless Charger, which is a three-in-one charger able to charge an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once.

dropxlmain
At $150, the Drop XL Wireless Charger is one of the pricier options on the market, but it's also one of more attractive solutions when it comes to design, and it has a unique perk that most other charging stations don't offer.

The main wireless charging base is oval in shape like many other multi-device wireless charging options on the market, but the variation in the fabric design on top gives it an edge when it comes to design. I like the different directions of the gray textile top, which provides grip, and the dark aluminum base is complementary.

nativeuniondropondesk2
There are two wireless charging spots included in the base, one where the circle design is located and another to the other side of it with the striped fabric design. Because this is a small, flat charger, you do need to charge your ‌iPhone‌ in a portrait mode orientation, which requires a bit more desk space at the top and bottom than an upright charger might need.

I much prefer upright charging options to flat charging options for this reason, and it's something to keep in mind. You can kind of place the phone a bit diagonally to save some space, but it needs a good inch and half of clearance at the top at bottom to accommodate Apple's larger phones.

nativeuniondropondesk
The neat part about the Drop XL Wireless Charger is the detachable Apple Watch charging puck, which plugs into the USB-A port on the back. You can plug it in if it's needed, or pull it out if you want to travel with the dock or if you need both of the main wireless charging spots free. It's not an entirely unique feature, but it's one that few wireless chargers offer.

nativeuniondropdesignapart
With the watch add-on plugged in, the available space is only suitable for the AirPods and it doesn't quite fit a phone, but with the Apple Watch charging puck unplugged, there's space for multiple smartphones.

Each of the two wireless charging spots offers a maximum of 10W of charging, or 7.5W for the ‌iPhone‌, which is the fastest charging speed available. The Apple Watch charger is a 5W charger, while the USB-A port offers 12W of power. During testing, everything charged as it should.

nativeuniondropdevicestop
I will say that with most of the flat chargers on the market, you do need to sometimes make sure the charger is in the correct position to make sure the ‌iPhone‌ is actually charging, and that was a problem that I ran into on the Drop XL. If it's not positioned right, it's not going to charge, and that can lead to some nasty surprises if you position the phone in the wrong way.

nativeuniondropdevices
I also ran into some problems with the ‌iPhone‌ X and XS where the Drop XL said that it was charging but the phone received no power, but this only happened twice in weeks of testing and it was not an issue I saw with the newer ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro. I suspect this was a self-caused positioning problem, but it's something to keep an eye out for if you get this charger.

nativeuniondropdesign2
There's a single charging cable and power adapter for the Drop XL, and it comes with different detachable plugs for different countries, so this is an ideal charger to pick up if you do a lot of traveling. The charging cable is a nice, high-quality braided cable, and it's clear that no expense was spared when making the Drop XL.

Bottom Line

If you're more concerned about the look of a wireless charger than the price, the Drop XL Wireless Charger with Apple Watch charging puck is a charger option worth checking out.

It's elegant and has a design that looks great in an upscale office or home environment, but it is expensive at $150 and it's not going to be for everyone as there are other more affordable options on the market.

How to Buy

The Drop XL Wireless Charger Watch Edition can be purchased from the Native Union website for $150.

Top Rated Comments

Logamaniac Avatar
56 months ago
What about that is elegant
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boatboy24 Avatar
56 months ago
They're going to sell dozens of these things!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ACB 123 Avatar
56 months ago
I like the looks but I agree it's over priced...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
decypher44 Avatar
56 months ago
I like my Nomad, as it lights up at the bottom (Small dots) if the items are charging correctly.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Braderunner Avatar
56 months ago
That price is ridiculous! It looks okaaaay...but, not anywhere near $150.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
56 months ago
This is moving towards what I want. I'd pay $30 for this without the phone qi (just the airpod and apple watch).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...