The appeal of MagSafe is undeniable in the car. The magnetic snap that perfectly aligns the charging coils ensures you are getting the most efficient power transfer possible while also never worrying about a cable. Frankly, once you use MagSafe in the car, there is no going back. Even prior to MagSafe, people loved mounts, but they also needed to charge as well. MagSafe mounts combine both! Today, I am taking a look at the ESR OmniLock with Qi2.2.
MagSafe Monday: Every Monday, Bradley Chambers looks at the latest and greatest in the MagSafe and wireless charging industry to help you get the most out of your Apple devices that support wireless charging.
What’s needed for Qi2.2 in the car?
The ESR OmniLock is not shy about its headline feature: 25-watt Qi2.2 charging in the car. It delivers, but you need the correct power setup. A USB-A port built into your car, or even a USB-C port, is probably not going to provide enough power. It’ll work, but likely not at Qi2.2 speeds.
The ESR OmniLock requires a minimum of 35 watts of power input even to attempt the QI2.2 speed. This is a crucial detail. For most people, this means you need to use the included DC adaptor that’s in the box. If your car has AC power and you have an adaptor that’ll work, you might be covered. As I said earlier, it’ll likely work with anything, but you may not get the fastest charging speeds. I love that ESR includes an adaptor in the box, though. It always drives me a bit crazy when manufacturers are sticklers for a specific wattage, and then don’t include one in the box.
ESR OmniLock: What’s in the box?
The ESR OmniLock box contains the main Qi2.2 charging puck, which is attached to the arm, and the vent mount adapter that secures the charger to the air vent blade. As I mentioned earlier, it includes the DC adaptor in the box. There is a USB-A that tops out at 18 watts and a USB-C that is 40 watts (the one to use with the charger). It includes a USB-C cable as well. I do love having the extra USB-A to charger another device in the car at the same time.
Installation and setup
If you’ve installed one of these products before, you’ll know what to do here. Put the puck on the arm, and then find a vent mount to lock it in. You’ll then snake the USB-C to USB-C cable to the included DC adaptor. Once all that is done, it’ll turn on when you start your car, and you can drop your iPhone on it to start charging.
Wrap up: overall thoughts on ESR OmniLock
There are hundreds of MagSafe car chargers to pick from. This one covers all the bases:
- Qi2.2
- Vent mounted for airflow
- Cooling function
- Included DC adaptor
If you’re in the market for a MagSafe car charger, I can easily recommend this one. ESR makes a ton of great MagSafe products, and the ESR OmniLock is no different. You can buy it from Amazon.
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