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ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
I like to have chargers in my various travel setups, so I’m not always having to remember to pack cords/chargers. I’m struggling to justify the $29 price tag for a third watch charger to put in my camper, and wondering if there are any quality aftermarket ones.

I’d like to put a block or two with an Apple and phone charger (since the phone cord does my iPad and phone) in my camper so I don’t have to think about it when I’m packing up.
 
Other cheap chargers might charge very slowly and might create excess heat. There are third party chargers that are from reputable brands incorporated into charge stations or wireless chargers but these would cost more than the simple cable. I have collected about half a dozen charge cables over the years from various Apple Watch purchases but it you don’t have that you might know someone who has an extra cable around. Especially if that person had a SE watch in the past which came with a slow plastic charger that is essentially worthless now. It still gets the job done but more than doubles charge time on a modern S11.

In any case I don’t trust cheap no brand crap with expensive Apple hardware.
 
I like to have chargers in my various travel setups, so I’m not always having to remember to pack cords/chargers. I’m struggling to justify the $29 price tag for a third watch charger to put in my camper, and wondering if there are any quality aftermarket ones.

I’d like to put a block or two with an Apple and phone charger (since the phone cord does my iPad and phone) in my camper so I don’t have to think about it when I’m packing up.

I've tried several from Amazon and they work; although they often don't charge as fast as a genuine one in my experience. I suspect any with some decent reviews would meet your needs; worse case is it dies unexpectedly. It all depends on what you value more - price or quality.
 
I’ve used combo “MagSafe” (usually just Qi with magnets) and Watch charging stands for bedside & travel for years. The travel ones fold up into a compact package. Never ran into problems.
 
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I once bought a Satechi? Apple charger at a local Best Buy when I went on a work trip (forgot my AW charger at home) - it charged at half the speed of the charger that came with the Apple Watch.

I’ve had the AW so long that I usually have a few Apple Watch cables in my drawer - I don’t like my tech to sit and rot so I usually try to give it away.

Unless it’s name brand (a brand I recognize) - I probably wouldn’t use it unless I was in a pinch.

I did buy these for emergency purposes and put one in my backpack since I now do some side work that requires being on the go for long periods of time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM2W96CQ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_11&th=1 They work but they don’t charge very fast. lol.
 
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I once bought a Satechi? Apple charger at a local Best Buy when I went on a work trip (forgot my AW charger at home) - it charged at half the speed of the charger that came with the Apple Watch.

I’ve had the AW so long that I usually have a few Apple Watch cables in my drawer - I don’t like my tech to sit and rot so I usually try to give it away.

Unless it’s name brand (a brand I recognize) - I probably wouldn’t use it unless I was in a pinch.

I did buy these for emergency purposes and put one in my backpack since I now do some side work that requires being on the go for long periods of time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM2W96CQ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_11&th=1 They work but they don’t charge very fast. lol.

Oh I’ve seen those and wondered about them.

I don’t really need anything to charge quickly - overnight is fine. I obviously just don’t want anything that is gonna do damage to my watch battery or break after I use it 2-3 times.
 
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Oh I’ve seen those and wondered about them.

I don’t really need anything to charge quickly - overnight is fine. I obviously just don’t want anything that is gonna do damage to my watch battery or break after I use it 2-3 times.
I've used it a handful of times - with a battery - seemed to be just fine 😛 (the one I linked anyway).

The watch will monitor its temperature and reduce charge rate / or shut off charging completely if it thinks it's getting too hot. A lot of third party chargers don't handle charging as well as Apple's chargers imo (as other posters here mentioned) - but I only used my small charger a few times and it seemed ok. 😛
 
I've used it a handful of times - with a battery - seemed to be just fine 😛 (the one I linked anyway).

The watch will monitor its temperature and reduce charge rate / or shut off charging completely if it thinks it's getting too hot. A lot of third party chargers don't handle charging as well as Apple's chargers imo (as other posters here mentioned) - but I only used my small charger a few times and it seemed ok. 😛

I’ll likely just get another Apple one. I don’t want to be on a long trip and wind up with a charger that won’t work.
 
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I’ll likely just get another Apple one.
I think this is the best answer.

I have trusted third party brand watch chargers from Belkin, Anker and ESR that supposedly are MFi approved fast chargers. None of the three seem to charge as fast as a genuine Apple charger.
 
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I think this is the best answer.

I have trusted third party brand watch chargers from Belkin, Anker and ESR that supposedly are MFi approved fast chargers. None of the three seem to charge as fast as a genuine Apple charger.

Picked one up yesterday along with another charging block. It’s with my camping gear ready to put in my camper!
 
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Other cheap chargers might charge very slowly and might create excess heat. There are third party chargers that are from reputable brands incorporated into charge stations or wireless chargers but these would cost more than the simple cable. I have collected about half a dozen charge cables over the years from various Apple Watch purchases but it you don’t have that you might know someone who has an extra cable around. Especially if that person had a SE watch in the past which came with a slow plastic charger that is essentially worthless now. It still gets the job done but more than doubles charge time on a modern S11.

In any case I don’t trust cheap no brand crap with expensive Apple hardware.
That’s right! I only have one third party portable Apple Watch charging puck from Merkury brands, which is just $6 at TJ Maxx. I mainly use it when I’m traveling or in the car to charge my Apple Watch using a cigarette charger or power bank. The downside is that it’s slower than the official Apple chargers, and the magnets aren’t as strong, so if I move around a lot I end up making a makeshift setup with my power bank and other objects around the Apple Watch (covered with a glasses cloth) to keep it from slipping and stopping charging.

I also use it when I’m at my desk during work trips, and if I can’t wear my Apple Watch in the formal testing centers that use lockers, I let my watch charge flat with the power bank.

At home, I use the official Apple charger with my dock, and I’m planning to upgrade it with the ESR Halolock 3 in 1 dock, which is MFi certified!
 
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