Satechi OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger Review

Multi-device wireless chargers are a dime a dozen these days, especially with a wave of Qi2 devices appearing everywhere. Satechi’s OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger throws its hat in the ring with a Qi2-ready trifold design that can handle your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time.

It’s sleek, folds neatly, and promises faster speeds for both MagSafe and Qi2 devices—though like most travel tech accessories, it comes with tradeoffs worth considering.

The Rundown

Build quality is something we’d expect Satechi to do well, and the OntheGo doesn’t disappoint. Most of the unit’s body is made of leather-like material, and we say “leather-like” because we sincerely doubt they’ve gone for the real thing—we’d imagine that would double the price. More to the point, the leather finish has held up well throughout testing, with no scratches whatsoever. As an aside, we’re really pleased when brands use anything other than glossy plastic; that is a scratch magnet of the highest degree.

Okay, the Black colorway isn’t exactly the most exciting option, even if it’s the safest one. For a splash of color, you can opt for the Sand and Desert Rose colorways instead. Don’t worry that these lighter colorways are guaranteed to smudge—the OntheGo comes with its own travel pouch.

Build quality aside, the OntheGo layout is pretty straightforward and nothing too unique. It’s a trifold design that folds in a Z-shape like a pamphlet. Fully laid out, you’ll see three puck-shaped pads (which remind us of Oreos, but we’re snack-minded that way) connected by soft rubbery ribbons. On the left-most is the primary Qi2 charging pad, followed by the 5-watt pad for your wireless earphones, and then the smartwatch pad, which charges at the same 5-watt rate.

The included one-meter USB-C cable connects to the middle puck. On that note, it’s worth noting that there’s no included charging adapter in the box. Not only do you need to supply that yourself, but it also needs to be a 36-watt charger at a minimum. So, you’re looking at a GaN charger like an Anker Nano or something similar.

Satechi’s webpage for the OntheGo is very explicit that this charging station is designed for Apple products. MagSafe-compatible, AirPods-compatible, and Apple Watch-compatible—the terminologies are all there. All of that said, the headlining feature here is Qi2, which means that the main pad is technically compatible with devices outside the Apple ecosystem. Android smartphones with Qi charging support can receive limited charging speeds up to 15 watts, while newer ones with Qi2 can receive 15 watts at a minimum. Better still, if your particular Android smartphone supports the Qi2 magnets, it’ll stick to the pad just like iPhones with MagSafe do.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem like we are, you’ll be pleased to know that StandBy mode is still supported. All that feature requires is for your iPhone to be charging while in landscape mode. So, with some creative configuring of the three pucks, you can prop up your iPhone correctly. That said, Satechi’s promotional materials are a bit optimistic, as they show that you can charge your iPhone in StandBy mode while also charging an Apple Watch. In our experience, that setup is possible, but requires a decent amount of balancing to keep everything stable.

Packability

As for packability, the OntheGo is quite beefy once folded. It doesn’t look too bad, until you consider that you still have to account for the wall charger it needs alongside the included cable. With that in mind, this isn’t the type of charger you whip out while waiting for your next flight, or even when sitting at a cafe doing some journaling. That kind of charging is still the specialty of battery banks and GaN chargers, whose fast-charging capabilities outstrip even Qi2’s 15-watt charge rate.

The OntheGo makes more sense as a charging station. Imagine a single adapter, cable, and spot in your hotel room where you can leave your AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone to charge overnight without fussing over three cables and a three-port wall charger. It’s a convenient solution for those who prefer neat setups with serviceable charging speeds.

Quick Comparison

If we’re talking about similar form factors, the SnapWireless PowerBase Go is very similar. Its three square-shaped charging pads are technically bulkier for no added benefit. More importantly, while it does have MagSafe compatibility, it doesn’t support Qi2, so charging an Android phone may be slower unless you opt for the Samsung-specific version.

The Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger is also an option for those who want a smaller package. Not only does it forgo a dedicated charging pad for AirPods, but its pucks are also significantly smaller than the OntheGo’s. So, if real estate is a premium in your tech pouch, this one might be the better option. Otherwise, you’re getting the same charging performance, just with the added caveat that your Apple Watch and AirPods will have to take turns charging.