Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station review: fast charging and unbelievable cooling

The Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station is the latest in a growing trend of packing as many charging devices as possible into one single unit. With more and more people owning phones, earbuds, and smartwatches, the need for tidy charging solutions is becoming increasingly important.

The station is a premium, Qi2-certified hub capable of wireless charging at speeds of 25W and boasts "aerospace-grade" TEC active cooling to prevent overheating during high-speed sessions. The standout feature is the integrated 1.65-inch HD smart touchscreen that provides real-time updates on wattage and temperature.

As for competition, the closest on paper are Ugreen's MagFlow 3-in-1 wireless charger (15W) and the MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Desktop Charger (25W). These are both very good products, with the former offering an unrivaled compact build. Unfortunately, neither features an integrated display.

So, is Anker's less compact unit rescued by its integrated screen and fancy cooling tech, or are these fancy gimmicks that most users could do without? Read on to find out.

Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station Specifications

Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station Design

The Anker Prime 3-in-1 adopts an industrial, premium aesthetic, leaving cheap, plastic alternatives in its wake. The base and charging pads are finished in what Anker calls "Black Stone" and "Shell White," offering a textured, premium feel that resists fingerprints. The arms are finished with a polished chrome, although I would have preferred it if Anker had continued the textured finish throughout.

One of the most important elements of any station capable of housing multiple devices is stability. It's no use having a flimsy piece of kit that wobbles or even falls when placing and removing your phone and smartwatch. These issues are avoided thanks to the 620g heft and the anti-slip silicone ring on the base. The unit remained stationary despite, at times, pretty rapid and rough removals of my iPhone.

The engineering class continues with the hinges. The main phone charging pad uses a high-tension friction hinge that allows for an 80-degree vertical rotation. That means you can tilt your phone from a steep upright angle for FaceTime calls down to a completely flat orientation. The movement is smooth and beautifully weighted, meaning the phone won’t cause the pad to tilt or droop over time.

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One of the standout features is the AirCool system that is integrated directly into the phone charging head. This includes "Aerospace-Grade TEC" (Thermo-Electric Cooling) technology and a couple of vents that are located behind the magnetic pad and allow for the silent dissipation of any heat. It's surprisingly effective and helps avoid either your phone or the unit becoming hot.

Last but certainly not least is the 1.65-inch HD smart display with capacitive touch support. The dynamic interface shows real-time wattage for all three charging pads as well as internal temperatures. The flush-mounted glass over the screen blends seamlessly into the base, maintaining a clean look with no protruding buttons.

Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station Performance

The Prime 3-in-1 utilizes the Qi2 25W standard, which effectively doubles the speed of traditional 15W MagSafe chargers. If you have a compatible device, such as any iPhone from the 16 or 17 Series, then you'll be able to reach a 50% charge in just under 30 minutes. Charging speeds with the Apple Watch and earbud pads are set to 5W, which means an Apple Watch Series 10 charges to 50 per cent in just 19 minutes. That's as nippy as wireless phone/watch charging gets, and if you can afford it, you won't be disappointed with the Prime's speed.

You'll no doubt be interested to know how the Prime handles the inherent heat that is produced during wireless charging. This is one of the challenges that I've faced in the past, and I was keen to see whether Anker had found a workable solution. With my devices connected and set to the fastest charging possible, I didn't experience any thermal throttling or issues with overheating, even when using FaceTime. The tradeoff is a little bit of fan noise, but I'm pleased to report that Anker's AirCool tech appears absolutely up to scratch.

The HD smart display provides a natural way to interact with the devices and stay informed about how each charging pad and device is performing. The display is easy to use and not just responsive but also highly accurate to both touch and swipe gestures. I also love that it's customizable with the ability to choose between the different clock faces, screensavers, and themes.

To enhance the overall experience, I would highly recommend getting the companion Anker app. I found it to be particularly helpful for setting and scheduling charging cycles as well as tracking real-time temperature and wattage curves. The app is also required to keep the firmware of the station up-to-date to ensure the dock stays compatible with future iPhone and Apple Watch models.​

Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station Verdict

The Anker Prime 3-in-1 is a high-performance hub that justifies its price tag by delivering Qi2-certified 25W speeds and a premium build quality. It sits stably on any surface thanks to its 620g base, and high-tension hinges keep your devices firmly in position. Maybe the most impressive thing about the Prime station was the AirCool TEC technology, which was able to keep charging speeds fast and temperatures down.

Beyond raw power, the Prime actually stands out against its competitors because of its 1.65-inch HD smart touchscreen that offers real-time data on wattage and temperature. While less portable than competitors like Ugreen, its combination of customizable displays, silent cooling, and app integration makes it the top choice for all types of users.