RUXELY Upgraded Apple Watch Charger Review: tiny travel puck that keeps your watch alive

I’ve been using this RUXELY upgraded 5W Apple Watch charger for a bit now, mainly as a travel and backup charger. I already have the original Apple puck on my nightstand, so I wasn’t looking for something fancy, just something small that I could throw in a bag and forget about until I need it. On that front, it does the job. It’s about the size of a big coin and light enough that you don’t notice it in a pocket.

In daily use, it’s very straightforward: you plug in a USB‑C or old iPhone (Lightning) cable on one side, slap the watch on the other, and it charges. No app, no lights, no extra features. If you’re used to Apple’s usual polished feel, this is a bit more basic, but in practice that’s fine for a spare charger. I mainly used it with a USB‑C power brick and a power bank when I was out.

The brand talks about 1.5–2 hours for a full charge, and that’s roughly what I’ve seen on my Apple Watch in normal conditions. It’s not the fastest charger on earth, but for topping up during the day or charging overnight in a hotel, it’s more than enough. The magnets grab the watch properly, and I didn’t have issues with it slipping off, even when it was just hanging from a power bank in my backpack.

It’s not perfect: it can get a bit warm, and the charging speed drops if it’s in a hot room or stuck under a pillow or blanket. But for the price and the size, I’d say it’s a pretty solid little backup charger. If you’re expecting something premium like Apple’s own stand or fancy dock, you’ll be disappointed. If you just want a small puck that works with the cables you already own, this is kind of exactly that.

In terms of value, this charger sits in a nice spot. It’s clearly cheaper than buying another official Apple Watch charger, and for what it offers, I think the price is fair. You’re paying for a compact, metal puck that works with the cables you already own and supports all recent Apple Watch models. If you travel even a few times a year or like having a spare charger at the office, it’s an easy purchase.

The main thing that helps the value is the cable-free design. You don’t get a cable in the box, which might annoy some people, but it also means you’re not paying for yet another cable you don’t need. Most of us already have USB‑C and Lightning cables lying around. For me, it’s actually more practical: I use a short USB‑C cable with a power bank when I’m out, and a longer one at home.

On the downside, you’re not getting the fastest charging or any special features. No stand, no multiple device charging, no foldable travel design. It’s literally just a puck. If you compare it to some 3‑in‑1 chargers that can handle phone, watch, and earbuds at once, those might be a better deal if you want a full setup for your nightstand. But then you lose the ultra‑portable aspect.

For me, the value is clear if you fit in one of these cases:

• You want a small spare charger for your bag or car
• You share a single cable between phone, laptop, and watch
• You don’t care about stands or docks, just want the watch to charge

The design is pretty straightforward: a round silver puck with a white charging surface and two ports on the side (USB‑C and Lightning). It’s a bit thicker and wider than Apple’s original charger, but we’re talking small differences. In a pocket or bag, you don’t really notice it. The dimensions they give (about 3.5 cm diameter and 1 cm height) seem accurate. It feels more like a small metal coin than a classic charger.

What I actually liked is that it’s fully self-contained. The Apple charger has a fixed cable that can get tangled or fray over time. Here, the cable is separate, so you choose the length and type. For travel, I just bring one USB‑C cable and use it for phone, laptop, and this puck. That’s one less thing to manage. It’s also easier to position on a desk or on top of a power bank because you’re not fighting with a stiff, attached cable.

The magnets are strong enough but not crazy strong. When you drop the watch on it, it snaps in place like the original Apple puck. I tried it with and without a protective case on the watch. With a fairly chunky case on a Watch Ultra, it still aligned and charged, which is not always the case with some stands. On a soft surface like a bed, it still held the watch, but if you tug the cable, it can come off. That’s normal for this type of charger.

Visually, it’s neutral. Silver and white, no big logo screaming on top, no colored LEDs. If you like things minimal, it fits in well. If you want something that looks fancy on a nightstand, this is more on the functional side. Overall, the design is practical and compact, with the small downside that the puck is a touch bulkier than Apple’s, but not enough to be a real problem.

Just to be clear, this charger doesn’t have its own battery. It’s not a power bank. It’s basically a small puck that you plug into any USB‑C or Lightning cable, and that’s what feeds your watch. I used it mostly with a 10,000 mAh power bank and a 20W USB‑C wall adapter. In both cases, the watch charged reliably, and the power draw seemed modest, as you’d expect from a 5W device.

In terms of how it treats the Apple Watch battery, I didn’t notice any strange behavior. No overheating of the watch, no sudden drops from 100% to 90% right after taking it off the charger. It behaves pretty much like the official charger: you put it on, it climbs steadily, and once it hits 100%, it just maintains. I used it several nights in a row as my only charger, and the watch battery health stats didn’t show any weird spikes.

What’s nice is the flexibility with different power bricks and banks. I tested it on:

• A USB‑C laptop charger
• A cheap generic USB‑C adapter
• An old 5W iPhone charger using the Lightning port
• Two different power banks

The only minor downside is that because it maxes out at 5W and can drop lower when it gets warm, you don’t get that “fast charge before leaving the house” feeling. This is more of a slow and steady charger. If your routine is charging overnight or letting it sit on a desk while you work, it’s fine. If you constantly run your watch to 5% and then need a fast top‑up before going out again, this might feel a bit sluggish compared to Apple’s faster options.

The body of the charger is made from an aluminum alloy, and it does feel sturdier than Apple’s standard plastic puck. When you pick it up, it has a bit of weight for the size (about 17 g), and it doesn’t feel cheap or hollow. I’ve tossed it in my backpack with keys and other junk, and so far there are only minor hairline marks on the metal, nothing deep. The top charging surface is the usual smooth white plastic you see on most Apple Watch chargers.

The ports (USB‑C and Lightning) are embedded pretty cleanly into the metal. There’s no weird flex when you plug cables in, and the connectors don’t feel loose. The fit is a bit tight, especially with Lightning, but I’d rather have that than a wobbly connection that might break over time. After multiple plug/unplug cycles, I don’t see any visible wear or bending, which is reassuring for something that will probably live at the bottom of a bag for many people.

One thing to keep in mind: because it’s metal, it does heat up a bit when charging at 5W, especially if the room is warm or if the watch is very low on battery. It never got burning hot for me, but warm enough to notice when you pick it up. The product page even mentions that if it gets too warm, the power drops down to 2–3W to protect things. I actually prefer that behavior to something that just keeps pushing and cooks the watch.

Overall, materials are pretty solid for the price range. It feels more durable than the usual cheap plastic third-party chargers you find online. It’s not luxury gear, but in hand, it gives a decent impression of quality. If you’re rough with your stuff or travel a lot, I’d trust this more than a flimsy, all‑plastic puck with a fixed cable.

So far, on the durability front, it’s holding up well. I’ve been tossing it into my backpack without any protection, along with keys, pens, and other junk. The aluminum shell has picked up a couple of tiny marks, but nothing serious. The white charging surface hasn’t yellowed or scratched noticeably yet. It still looks presentable enough to leave on a desk at work without shame.

The two ports are usually the weak point on this kind of accessory. After a good number of plug/unplug cycles on both USB‑C and Lightning, I don’t feel any looseness. The click is still firm, and there’s no play in the connector. That’s a good sign. Some cheaper chargers start to feel wobbly after a couple of weeks, but this one still feels tight. Obviously, I can’t say what it’ll be like after a year, but early signs are positive.

I also tested it in a few less friendly situations: charging from a power bank in a moving train, hanging off the side of a couch, etc. The magnets kept the watch attached, and the puck didn’t randomly disconnect or reset. That’s important if you’re the kind of person who charges on the go and doesn’t always have a flat, stable surface.

That said, long-term durability will depend a lot on how you treat your cables. Since the puck itself has no fixed cable, you’re not going to get the usual fraying at the base of the charger like with Apple’s original one. That’s actually a big plus: if a cable dies, you just replace the cable, not the whole charger. For me, that’s smarter and probably cheaper in the long run. Overall, I’d say durability looks pretty solid so far, but I’d want 6–12 months of use before calling it bulletproof.

On the performance side, this is a 5W charger, and you feel that in real use. On my Apple Watch Series 8, going from around 20% to 100% usually took me about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on whether the watch was doing stuff in the background. That lines up with what the brand claims. It’s not the fastest I’ve tried, but it’s consistent. For quick top‑ups, 20–30 minutes on the puck got me enough battery to finish the day without stress.

With a Watch Ultra 2, it’s slightly slower, which is expected because the battery is bigger. For a full charge from under 10%, I was more in the 2-hour range, sometimes a bit more. Again, for a travel or office backup charger, that’s fine. If you want the absolute fastest charging, you’re better off with Apple’s official fast charger and a higher‑power adapter. This one is more about reliability and convenience than speed.

One thing I did notice: temperature matters. When I used it in a warm room or had it charging under a blanket on the bed (not smart, I know), the puck got warmer, and the charging speed seemed to slow down a bit. The brand even mentions that when it gets hot, the output can drop to 2–3W. That’s probably a safety feature, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re trying to top up quickly in a hot environment.

In terms of compatibility, I tried it with different power sources: a 20W USB‑C wall charger, an older 5W iPhone brick with Lightning, and a power bank. It worked with all of them. As long as the source gives a stable 5V, the charger behaves fine. No random disconnects, no weird behavior, and the watch always recognized it immediately. Overall, the performance is decent but nothing more: it gets the job done, just don’t expect miracles in terms of speed.

So, to be clear, this RUXELY thing is just the magnetic charging puck, with a USB‑C / Lightning port on the side. No cable in the box, no wall plug, no fancy stand. You get a small metal puck in silver, with a white charging surface on top, and that’s it. If you don’t already have a USB‑C or Lightning cable lying around, you’ll need to buy one separately. For me, that’s not an issue because I already have too many cables, but it’s worth mentioning.

The official specs say it’s a 5W charger and compatible with all recent Apple Watch models: Series 6 to 11, SE, and Ultra versions. I tested it on a Series 8 and a Watch Ultra 2 (friend’s watch), and it worked fine with both. The magnets are strong enough to hold the watch in place, even when the charger is hanging from a power bank in a vertical position. It’s clearly designed as a small travel or backup accessory, not as your main bedside station.

What I liked is the dual input: you can plug either a USB‑C cable or an old Lightning cable. That’s handy if you’re slowly moving to USB‑C but still have old iPhone cables around. In practice, I mostly used USB‑C because that’s what my phone and laptop use now. Both ports feel snug; you have to push the Lightning cable in a bit firmly, but once it’s in, it doesn’t wobble.

In terms of expectations, you need to see it as: a small, metal, no-frills puck that replaces Apple’s white plastic puck when you travel or want something compact. It doesn’t add features, it doesn’t charge multiple devices at once, and it doesn’t magically speed up your watch. It just keeps things simple and takes less space in your bag. If that’s what you’re looking for, the product description matches reality pretty closely.