This Game Boy-style MagSafe stand tickled my retro gaming synapse – now all I need is a matching controller for Nintendo emulators
I like a wireless charger, but I’ve never been too concerned about trying out MagSafe for iPhones… until now.
That’s because gaming brand Elgato has come up with the MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand. Ignore the clunky name that feels like a wandering cat has walked across a keyboard, and focus on the fact that this MagSafe charger is styled after a Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP – aka the most stylish portable gaming console (sorry, PS Vita fans).
And, my oh my, do I want one.
This is despite the fact that the charging stand is essentially a piece of stylized plastic that doesn’t fold shut, has no functioning button, and does nothing other than hold up a MagSafe-compatible iPhone. Sure, it will facilitate the StandBy mode introduced by the iPhone 14 series and seen on the iPhone 15 quartet, but it won’t really do much else.
So kill that hope of getting a Nintendo emulator from the opened App Store and playing retro Game Boy games on an SP like device. Maybe another third-party accessory manufacturer will figure out how to do the latter, but the Elago MagSafe MS W5 Charging Stand isn’t alone, chief.
However for $25.99 / £29.99 / €24.68 at Amazon (Sorry Australians, there’s no availability for you downstairs), it’s definitely worth it for the game style points alone. I could definitely see it fitting nicely on a desk next to a Steam Deck or a docked Nintendo Switch. Please note that you will need to purchase a MagSafe charging kit separately as Elgato simply provides a stand and nothing more.
Plus, the stand holds an iPhone in landscape orientation, making it useful for watching YouTube videos while doing something else, and it could work great for video calls. There’s also a cable reel underneath the stand, so you can keep another wire from sliding across your desk or bedside table and getting tangled with all kinds of other winding wires.
And that’s actually it. If you’re looking for a feature-rich stand, look elsewhere – our round-up of the best MagSafe accessories is a good place to start – but if you want a MagSafe charger stand that has some cool retro gaming vibes, then is the Elago MagSafe MS W5 charging stand is worth a look.