Travel Product Reviews
Travel Tuesday: Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger Review – Travel With Fewer Cables
To me, one of the most annoying parts of traveling in 2025 is ensuring that I pack chargers for all of the various devices I plan on bringing with me. That’s why, in the past, I’ve been a fan of Rolling Square’s InCharge multi-purpose cables that have built-in adapters. But, even then, I still find my hotel nightstand covered in plugs — which can be even more of a problem if the property in question doesn’t have ample outlets. Enter the Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 charging station.
I first saw this odd-looking device somewhere online and immediately loved the idea: a wireless charging pad built to fit up to three devices that can then fold into a super-packable size. So, when the item went on sale circa the holiday season, I decided to pick one up for myself and see if it fit the bill for the travel power needs. What’s the verdict? Let’s take a quick look at what to know about the Anker MagGo UFO charger and my experience with it.
Anker MagGo UFO Charger Review
Anker MagGo UFO Charging Station: A Useful, Space-Saving Solution for Travel or Home
Save $18
Retail Price
$89.99
Color Options
White, black, pink, or blue
Size
$2.36″ x 2.36″ x 1.4″ (when closed)
Discount Code
WS24P1TRV3R1
Pros
- Collapses down to a small, packable size
- Charge three devices at one time
- Includes Qi 2 MagSafe support
Cons
- Retails for $90
- Mostly designed for Apple products
- Wireless charging can be slower than wired
The Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 charging station is a clever device that allows travelers to power up multiple devices while using a single plug. This includes a phone, headphones, and an Apple Watch. On that note, though, those who don’t utilize Apple devices won’t get as much of a benefit from the product. Additionally, at a retail price of $90, it is on the pricey side. However, if you like a tidy nightstand while traveling or while at home, this super-packable and well-built device could be worth it.
Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charging Station Review: What is it and is it Worth it?
Pricing and colors
As of this writing (February 2025), the Anker MagGo UFO retails for $89.99. However, also as of this writing, Amazon is selling it for 20% off — $71.99. When I bought it in December 2024, it was on sale for slightly less: $67. Meanwhile, the Anker site has it for $89.99 but with an $18 coupon code WS24P1TRV3R1 – so $71.99 again.
The device comes in four options: Black, White, Pink, and Blue. Personally, I would have gone with the blue overall — but at the time that I purchased it, only the white one was discounted, so that’s what I went with. Luckily, it doesn’t matter all that much as they function just the same.
3-in-1
If you’re wondering what the 3-in-1 part of the UFO’s name means, well, it references the fact that the charging station can be used with three devices at once. This includes a smartphone, headphones, and a smartwatch. Specifically, Anker calls out an iPhone, AirPods (with wireless charging, of course), and an Apple Watch. Other devices that support wireless charging will also work on the regular pads for the most part, although the Apple Watch portion is proprietary. Thus, if you’re strictly an Android person, this probably isn’t for you.
Size
I’ll admit that, while I figured that the UFO would be pretty small, it was even more compact than I anticipated. Had I seen the photo on Anker’s site that compares the product to a macaron, I probably would have gotten a better idea of its size first. Specifically, the folded-up dimensions are 2.36″ x 2.36″ x 1.4″. All this is to say that the MagGo UFO is very packable and can easily slip into a backpack or even a purse.
Alas, while the charging station itself is small, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a power bank and will need to be plugged in to work. Thus, in addition to the UFO, you’ll also need to pack the 3A charging brick and USB-C to USB-C cord for it. The good is that the wall charger is also pretty small, coming in about the size of an Airpods case width size and probably 50% thicker.
My experience
When I first got my UFO, for whatever reason, I was so excited that I failed to fully look in the box and pull out the included charging brick. This led me to use a 2A charger to power it initially. Then I wondered why the device had an annoying blinking. As it turns out, I really needed the brick in the box not just for aesthetics but also because it’s more powerful! Sure enough, making this switch fixed the blinking issue.
The next minor issue I ran into involved the MagSafe charging pad. Even though my phone doesn’t have MagSafe, it should still work on this section of the UFO. Yet, although it will start to charge initially, I’d notice that it would stop after a couple of minutes. This is especially true if I have multiple items on at the same time, as I could continue to charge just fine if it was solo.
While I’m guessing it has something to do with the age of my phone (Anker doesn’t even list it as compatible technically), I’ve actually had more success swapping the intended phone and headphone pads. In those cases, I could continue charging. When I eventually get a new phone and can assess whether devices that are actually supported work better, I’ll be sure to let you know.
As for how traveling with the Anker MagGo UFO went, it was great! Even though the hotel I ended up staying at on this most recent trip had plenty of charging outlets near the bed, that’s not always the case. That’s why it was awesome to simply use one plug and charge the majority of the items I needed to power up overnight. Of course, this also helped keep my nightstand tidy, which was quite zen.
Final Thoughts on the Anker MagGo UFO Charger
For those who like to travel as light as possible but don’t want to leave anything important behind, the Anker MagGo UFO Charging Station can be a great tool as it not only cuts down on how many chargers you need to pack but also reduces how many outlets you’ll need to hog at your destination. Because of that, I loved traveling with the device and appreciated the peace of mind it provided me.
That being said, there are a few potential downsides — starting with the price. Is this device worth $90? Probably not. Is it worth the $67 I paid? That’s also debatable. However, keep in mind that you don’t just have to use the device on the road as I’ve found it works fantastically on my nightstand at home too. With that in mind, the expense is a bit more justifiable.
Another thing to be aware of is that wireless charging may not be as quick as wired. So, while I think this station is perfect for overnight charges, if you need your device powered quickly, you might still want to pack a backup cord. Also, the UFO is mostly geared toward Apple users and won’t be nearly as useful to those without an Apple Watch.
All in all though, I do think the Anker UFO charging station could make a great gift for the minimalist traveler in your life — or for yourself. But, unless you need it this minute, you may want to wait for a good sale before buying.
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