ESR HaloLock wireless chargers and power bank with CryoBoost

ESR’s CryoBoost wireless chargers are designed to eliminate the biggest flaw of wireless chargers – Heat. Those that have used wireless chargers know how warm the device gets when charging wirelessly. But what if your wireless charger had an in-built heat dissipation system?  

That would be cool, right? Like, quite literally, it would help your device maintain temperatures and be on the cooler side when charging. An added benefit of these ESR wireless chargers is that they feature HaloLock, essentially ESR’s MagSafe implementation.  

Before we delve into the review of the products, let’s first understand what CryoBoost is and how it works.  

What is CryoBoost? 

CryoBoost is a unique technology developed by ESR that prevents your device from heating when charging wirelessly. It comprises a cooling fan that works with a set of first-of-their-kind heat dissipating components. When paired with HaloLock, CryoBoost enables cool, fast, and safe (due to a strong magnetic connection) wireless charging.  

I got my hands on HaloLock 3-in-1 wireless charger, HaloLock wireless car charger with CryoBoost, and HaloLock 5,000mAh mini kickstand wireless power bank, and here’s what I think about these products. 

HaloLock 3-in-1 wireless charger with CryoBoost review

As the name suggests, the HaloLock 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with CryoBoost is a wireless charger that can simultaneously charge an iPhone, AirPods, and the Apple Watch. It is compatible with iPhones that feature MagSafe, i.e., iPhone 12, 13, and 14 series, or you will have to use a MagSafe case/ring with iPhone 11 or older.  

The AirPods charging area can wirelessly charge AirPods 2, 3, Pro, and 2nd-generation AirPods Pro with a compatible MagSafe charging case. And the Apple Watch Charger is just a stand that houses the Apple Watch charger and hides the cable within its base.  

Build and design 

The wireless charger comes in matte white, and the stand boasts a metallic silver finish. The base, which doubles as a charging dock for AirPods, features a stand to house the Apple Watch charger. It has one of the best implementations to house the cables, so there is no cable clutter at all. 

To hide the cables of the Apple Watch charger cable, there is smartly-designed cable routing enclosed within the base of the charger. It has USB-A and USB-C ports, and you can use whichever you want. The base also has four anti-skid pads at the bottom. It ensures that the charger doesn’t wobble or skid when detaching your devices from it.   

The power input port is on the rear and can be neatly hidden when you mount the stand on a table. However, the ferrite bead is near the end of the cable, which can be intrusive if you are a cable-management freak. 

While all other components feature a polycarbonate build, the iPhone charger stand and the Apple Watch charger stand and housing are made from aluminum alloy. The iPhone stand is adjustable. And this adjustability provides great viewing angles when your iPhone is mounted on the device in both portrait and landscape modes.   

The holding force of the magnets of the HaloLock charging pad is 1000 grams. It means it can hold the weight of 4 Pro Max iPhones. The material of the charging pad has a glossy finish and ESR branding at the center.   

Just beside the pad is a circular ridge that displays the CryoBoost status light and doubles as a vent for the fan and the heat dissipation technology. You can disable CryoBoost cooling whenever you want, as the backlight can be distracting when you’re trying to sleep.   

Utility  

The HaloLock 3-in-1 wireless charger is great if you want to mount it on your work table or just beside your bed before you go to sleep and keep all your devices on charge in one place without the hassle of wires. The HaloLock charging pad can wirelessly charge a caseless iPhone that supports MagSafe charging and an iPhone with an official MagSafe case or a HaloLock case.   

Luckily, the iPhone 13 Pro Max in the office has a clear HaloLock case on. I tried attaching the iPhone to the charging pad with and without a case, and I’m surprised with the results. The magnetic lock is visibly stronger with the case! 

To wirelessly charge your iPhone, whether you use a case or not is up to you. However, the magnetic lock is stronger with a case on. You can attach your iPhone in portrait or landscape orientation. And since the stand is adjustable, you can also set it at a comfortable angle.   

While MagSafe provides wireless charging speeds of up to 15W, the total power output of the ESR charger is 12.5W. This means the maximum speed it provides is 7.5W for the iPhone, 5W for the AirPods, and 5W for the Apple Watch. I’ve learned over time that, no matter what the power output is, the charging speeds will be slow if there’s no proper heat dissipation.  

When charging your iPhone with the ESR charger 3-in-1 wireless charger, you can expect a similar or slightly higher charging time than MagSafe. ESR claims a charge time of three hours to fully charge the iPhone, and their claims are close to actual results, but it will largely depend on your room temperature.   

Should you get the ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 wireless charger? 

The ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 wireless charger is priced at $69.99, and the price-to-performance ratio is on par with other wireless chargers available in the market. If I had a bone to pick with this charger, it would be the lack of support for Qi wireless charging. That would enable a 10W charging speed.   

The charger features an active in-built cooling system and can easily handle higher-wattage wireless charging. Maybe the next iteration features higher charging speeds. Nonetheless, you cannot go wrong with this ESR HoloLock wireless charger for the price.  

 

Buy now: Amazon | ESR 

HaloLock wireless car charger with CryoBoost review

There’s a plethora of wireless car chargers available in the market. But very few come close to the minimalistic yet practical design of the HaloLock Wireless Car Charger. It is a MagSafe-compatible charger with no clamps or belts to hold your iPhone, but it still can hold your iPhone stronger than those.  

Build and design 

Wireless car chargers are usually bulky. That’s not the case with the ESR HaloLock wireless charger. The HaloLock charging pad holds the iPhone in place without clamps or mounts crowding it. It sports a sleek, minimal design with a matte black finish which ESR calls Frosted Onyx.  

Alongside HaloLock technology, the wireless charger also boasts CryoBoost technology and has a circular ridge at the side of the charging pad, doubling as a status light and air vent.  

The mount features a ball mount mechanism that offers various viewing angles. Since it is an AC vent, at the rear, there is a clip-on attachment with an adjustable support arm that can be positioned on a solid surface below the air vent.  

The power input is at the bottom of the device and is a USB-C power input port, which I think is perfect. Also, I’m glad ESR provides USB-C.

Overall, the build quality of the charger feels robust, and the design is sleek.  

Utility 

I mentioned earlier that, by implementing its HaloLock technology, the ESR HaloLock wireless charger replaces the traditional mount and clamps. The holding force of the magnetic lock on the charger is a whopping 1400g. That’s more than the combined weight of five units of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.  

It can easily hold your iPhone 13/14 Pro Max; you don’t have to worry if it’ll drop your device on bumpy roads. However, since the HaloLock technology works better with MagSafe or HaloLock cases, I recommend you use your iPhone with a case. The magnetic lock is stronger, but with a case on, you can be assured that your device is protected.  

The ESR HaloLock wireless charger provides speeds of up to 7.5W. You need to connect the charger to a minimum power output of 18W to attain this speed. Excessive heat is why wireless chargers tend to charge your iPhone slower than advertised speeds.  

However, the built-in CryoBoost technology eliminates this issue and facilitates fast charging while keeping your device temperatures relatively cooler.  

Should you get the ESR HaloLock wireless car charger? 

The ESR HaloLock wireless car charger is priced at $45.99. While there are cheaper alternatives, the feature set offered by this charger is unmatched. It might not be the fastest, but it can efficiently charge your device without heating like a pan on fire.  

If your country or state has tropical weather, you know how important cooling is, especially in the car. Also, can’t forget the sleek, clean, and minimal design.  

 Buy now: Amazon | ESR

HaloLock 5,000mAh mini kickstand wireless power bank review

The battery backup on iPhone 13 or later is in a league of its own. But there can be times when you would need some extra juice. In such cases, a power bank comes to the rescue. And I’m not sure if there’s anything better than a Power Bank that magnetically attaches to your iPhone and doubles as a kickstand.  

Build and design 

The HaloLock 5,000mAh mini Kickstand Wireless Power Bank is available in black and white color options. The product’s name is a testament to its size and battery capacity. It is a compact device with a dimension of 3.9 x 2.52 x 0.65 inches. However, it weighs 8.8 ounces or 249 grams.  

The top of the charger has an array of LED lights to display the battery capacity of the power bank. On one side, there is a power button, and on the other is the USB-C port for charging.

The power bank has a kickstand at the back and supports pass-through charging. So, placing the charger input on the side is a thoughtful design choice.

You can attach your iPhone to the power bank and use it as a mobile stand. The magnetic force is strong thanks to HaloLock technology, and you can mount your iPhone in both portrait and landscape mode.  

Utility 

Before we begin, let’s address the elephant in the room. Let me rephrase, let’s address the calf in the room, i.e., the weight of the HaloLock 5,000mAh mini Kickstand Wireless Power Bank. As mentioned in the design, the charger weighs 8.8 ounces or 249 grams. 

If you plan on attaching the power bank to the back of your iPhone while simultaneously using it, trust me, don’t. The power bank won’t fall off, thanks to HaloLock. It can hold up to 1000 grams without breaking a sweat.

However, suppose you’re used to carrying your iPhone with a power bank. In that case, this is the best solution, as it can charge your iPhone at a speed of 7.5W.

It also doubles as a pass-through charger which can provide charging speeds of up to 12.5 watts, which is a great option when you want to watch content and charge your iPhone rapidly.  

Also, the kickstand serves its purpose. You can mount your iPhone in portrait or landscape orientation, adjust the stand, and set it to different viewing angles.  

Should you get the ESR HaloLock mini kickstand wireless power bank? 

The ESR HaloLock mini kickstand wireless power bank is priced at $49.99. And I have no complaints about the product or its price. The compact form factor does mean you will have to compromise on the battery backup it will provide, but convenience usually comes at a cost. Also, remember that it is not just a power bank but also a kickstand. So, the utility of the product is doubled.  

Buy now: Amazon

And that’s a wrap!

ESR has been making great accessories for a while now, and these three products are a symbol of their quality and performance. In the comments below, let me know your thoughts if you’ve used any of these products.