MagSafe was one of the main features for the iPhone 12 series this year. While there are plenty of first- and third-party options to charge at home, the only MagSafe-compatible car holder does not keep your iPhone charged. For the past month, I have been using the ESR HaloLock car exhaust suspension to keep my iPhone 12 mini charged in the car, while giving a clear overview of the turn-by-turn directions.
Belkin MagSafe engine exhaust
The only MagSafe-certified car suspension is Belkin’s MagSafe car exhaust that Apple announced during the iPhone 12 announcement. We recently reviewed it here 9to5Mac, and we found it to be good, but not great. The main problem is that your iPhone does not keep charging, but otherwise it worked well. For long trips, it’s very important to charge your iPhone, so it’s not surprising that other manufacturers fill the gap.
Watch the video below to hear our thoughts on the Belkin model, and watch the full review.
ESR HaloLock: MagSafe compliant certified
The ESR HaloLock was announced just after the iPhone 12, and I ordered it right away. But first things first. It is MagSafe compliant but not MagSafe certified. Does it matter in practice? In my experience, no, it does not. I have been using the product for weeks without delay. It hasn’t fallen off a single time, not even when going over bumpy roads. ESR says it is only compatible with Apple’s official case and their ESR HaloLock cases.
I used a third-party case that originally claimed MagSafe compatibility, and although it worked, it was not as secure as with Apple’s official iPhone 12 mini-case. Since the switch to the official case, the magnetic connection has been powerful. I would recommend using an official case if you plan to use the ESR HaloLock.
Installation process
The HaloLock is installed within five minutes. All you have to do is click the unlock on the charging pad and then slide it into a free car support. If you prefer to have a MagSafe compatible car suspension on the dashboard, ESR sells a similar model for that purpose, but I like to have it at the outlet so it’s easier to look at the directions.
ESR HaloLock loading
The ESR HaloLock charges over the included USB-A cord. My truck has a dedicated USB charging port, and I ran the cable under my steering wheel to hide it. If I now turn my iPhone 12 mini on the HaloLock, it snaps into place and starts charging immediately. It supports 7.5 watt charging if the USB port you are connecting supports the output. A charging block is not included with the product. If your car does not have a USB charger, you will need a car adapter. I use the stock USB adapter in my car, and I have had no trouble charging my iPhone while using GPS or having my kids use my LTE hotspot.
Overall thoughts
The product is pretty simple to explain. It slams into the air vent of your car and then connects it to USB to allow charging. If you place your iPhone 12 on the HaloLock, it will click into place and start charging. It supports vertical or horizontal orientation, so you can easily use one to travel through the city and one for long journeys. Because it uses the MagSafe technology on your iPhone 12, you do not need to connect a second charger. You will point your phone at it while driving and grab it when you park.
Check out the ESR HaloLock if you want an easy-to-use car exhaust suspension that is compatible with MagSafe and charges your iPhone. Check out this model if you want a dashboard mount.
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