Best MagSafe chargers 2023: the top magnetic chargers for your iPhone

Making sense of Apple’s messy MagSafe charging ecosystem, where the first-party options are far from the best ones.

By Antonio G. Di Benedetto , a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry.

UpdatedJun 7, 2023, 2:32 PM UTC |

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

Image: The Verge

Image: The Verge

Wireless charging is inefficient in many ways. It charges your phone more slowly than using a cable, uses more energy, and requires near-perfect alignment on a charging pad to even work. But inefficiencies aside, it’s just so dang convenient. So when Apple added a ring of magnets to the iPhone 12 and dubbed it “MagSafe,” things got much more interesting. Not only do the magnets guarantee perfect alignment every time but also, with a MagSafe-certified charger, your iPhone can charge at up to 15W — double the 7.5W they get with other wireless chargers. And the magnets also allow for nifty accessories, like car mounts and detachable card wallets.

The iPhone 14 is the third generation of MagSafe phones, but the ecosystem is still a little messy. It can be confusing to figure out whether a charger is “with MagSafe” (Apple’s phrase meaning real 15W MagSafe) or just compatible with MagSafe (read: a basic Qi charger with magnets slapped on). But the options on offer now — official and otherwise — are mostly pretty good. We’ve found the best MagSafe and MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers for your iPhone. Because once you go magnetic, it just starts to feel pragmatic.

What we’re looking for

Charging speed

Is it official MagSafe with up to 15W charging or just magnetic Qi with up to 7.5W? For overnight charging, magnetic Qi is fine.

Convenience

Does it include the AC adapter? Is the cable long enough? Can it charge more than one device?

Portability

Does the charger travel easily, or is it more likely to live in one spot and never move?

Design

Is it janky or refined? Does it have clever design elements or bonus features?

Value

Sadly, most MagSafe chargers are kinda pricey. Does this charger offer a better value than most, or at least justify its price?

The best MagSafe charger for most people

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe supports 15W fast wireless charging with MagSafe-compatible iPhones and has a lengthy 6.6-foot built-in cable. Its lengthy cable, 15W charging speeds, and little kickstand make the BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe the best all-purpose magnetic charging puck.

Official MagSafe: Yes / Wireless charge output: 15W / Cable length: 6.5ft (2m) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: Two years

Belkin’s new BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe is around $10 more than Apple’s own MagSafe Charger, but it outclasses the Apple puck in nearly every way. It’s the only other magnetic charging puck “with MagSafe,” which means it has the same 15W wireless fast charging as Apple’s charger, instead of being limited to 7.5W. But the BoostCharge Pro has a 6.5-foot (two-meter) braided cable — twice as long as Apple’s — and it includes a fold-out kickstand to prop your iPhone up in landscape orientation for watching or playing stuff as you charge.

Left to right: Belkin BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe; Belkin BoostCharge (7.5W); Courant Mag:1; Anker 313; and Apple MagSafe Charger. Notice how prohibitively short Apple’s cable is.

Since this charger came out, it’s become vanishingly difficult to see why you’d buy Apple’s own MagSafe Charger. Okay, Apple’s charger is cheaper, about 10mm thinner, and a little sleeker — fine. But it’s also hamstrung by a terribly short cable: at just 3.28ft / 1m, it feels like you’re on a short leash to your wall outlet if you want to use the phone as it charges, and it’s not long enough to reach a wall outlet from any furniture taller than a small nightstand. The Belkin BoostCharge Pro with MagSafe fixes the Apple puck’s biggest issue, and if you want that 15W charging, it makes sense to spend the extra money on the longer cable. (If you don’t need the 15W charging — say, for overnight charging — you can get a magnetic charger with a longer cable for much less money, but more on that in the next section.)

Apple’s MagSafe Charger does go on sale from time to time for around $30 or less — creating a bigger price delta between it and the BoostCharge Pro. But frankly, it’d have to be much cheaper for me to recommend it over this Belkin without slightly gritting my teeth. Make sure you also get a quality 20W USB-C power adapter — neither Belkin nor Apple pucks come with their own. 

Best for overnight charging

Official MagSafe: No / Wireless charge output: 7.5W / Cable length: 5ft (1.5m) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: 18 months

Official MagSafe: No / Wireless charge output: 7.5W / Cable length: 6ft (1.8m) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: Two years

You don’t need to pay the extra money for a MagSafe-certified charger if you mostly charge overnight. Unless you’re getting a dangerously low amount of sleep every night, your phone is going to be topped off by morning regardless of which charger you use. In fact, even if you use a 15W MagSafe charger for overnight charging, your iPhone will automatically slow its charge speed to finish charging a little bit before you need it.

So unless you plan to use the same charger for both quick top-ups and overnight charging, you can save money by buying either the Anker 313 Magnetic Wireless Charger or the standard Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless charger. These non-MagSafe magnetic chargers charge iPhones at the same 7.5W rate as any other Qi wireless charger, and they both work just fine. The Belkin has a six-foot cable, but the Anker has a slightly thinner charging pad and its five-foot wire is adequate for most situations. 

If you primarily charge your phone overnight, save your money

What makes both of these exceptional is their value: you can pick up either puck for under $25 with a 20W USB-C power adapter or about $15 without one. They’re affordable enough that you can justify one (or more) even if you also own a fancier MagSafe charger for when you actually need the speed. 

Anker’s basic 313 charger is a very affordable way to get the job done for overnight magnetic wireless charging.

You’ll thank me when you can pick up your phone from your bedside table for your nightly doomscrolling without yanking the cable out of the wall. (Wait, I mean your in-bed guided meditation and breathing exercises.)

The best MagSafe charger for travel

$150

Mophie’s 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe unfolds to wirelessly charge a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch charger, and a pair of AirPods all at the same time. It comes with a 30W power adapter, USB-C to USB-C cable, and a fabric travel pouch.

Official MagSafe: Yes / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: No / Cable length: 3.5ft (1.07m) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: Two years

Any charger can travel, but that doesn’t mean it travels well. The Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe opens like a trifold wallet to charge your phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. It’s pricey at $149.95, but it’s an all-in-one travel solution: its folding multicharger pad, 30W power adapter, and USB-C cable all pack into a soft fabric carrying case. 

Mophie’s 3-in-1 Travel Charger is a great all-in-one package for frequent flyers.

It’s hard to overstate how handy this Mophie charger is if you travel with any frequency. I’m the type that stresses endlessly when packing for a big trip, and knowing I had all my charging essentials in this little gray satchel gave me a small sense of calm — like having a fully prepacked toiletry bag.

And since this charger actually supports MagSafe charging speeds, it’s good for quick top-ups when you’re only back at your hotel for a short break. You can also squeeze a short USB-C to Lightning cable into the carrying case with the other accessories so you always have slightly faster 20W wired charging on reserve in an emergency.

Mophie’s 3-in-1 Travel Charger when folded may be thicker than Apple’s MagSafe Duo, but when unfolded, it charges an extra device.

The fabric travel case Mophie includes is quite handsome and handy.

While Apple’s MagSafe Duo charger takes up even less space in your travel bag — it’s about half as thick as the Mophie — it only charges up to two devices at once. The $129 Duo also costs about the same or more once you factor in a 20W USB-C power adapter and carrying case, both of which the Mophie package covers.

If you don’t need simultaneous AirPods charging, the $99 Zens 2-in-1 MagSafe + Watch travel charger is a better buy than the MagSafe Duo. The Zens is a smallish folding charger that supports full 15W MagSafe on one side, charges an Apple Watch on the other, and has the added bonus of functioning as a little kickstand for your phone. I much prefer the Zens to the Apple Duo, unless you really prefer the way the Duo arranges your phone and watch side by side.

My only gripe with the Mophie 3-in-1 and Zens 2-in-1 travel chargers, aside from their high prices, is that, like Apple’s MagSafe Duo, they lift up from a table as you disconnect your phone — so you have to hold it down with another finger as you pull away from the magnets. That’s far from a deal-breaker, but be wary that trying to snooze an early alarm while severely jet-lagged could send your AirPods and Apple Watch crashing down to a hotel room floor.

The best MagSafe 3-in-1 stand for home

Official MagSafe: Yes / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: Yes, on 2022 revised model / Cable length: 4.8ft (1.47m) / Connector type: barrel (AC adapter) /Warranty: Two years

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand is another pricey solution for charging your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. But what makes this quirky modern art-like magnetic tree especially good is its MagSafe 15W charging, Apple Watch fast-charge support (for the Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra), and the fact that it puts your phone and watch at a readable level on a desk or table. 

In fact, the spacing of the phone and watch above the bottom 5W Qi pad means you can fit a whole other phone down there — making this stand especially good if you have a mixed iPhone / Android household and want to share a little of the wireless charging love.

It’s like a fancy charging sculpture for your desk.

The Belkin tree is built solidly, with enough weight to prevent your phone or watch from tugging or toppling the whole thing over when removing them. My biggest gripes with it are the high price of $149.99 and the fact that its traditional 12V AC adapter with built-in cable seems larger than it needs to be compared to much smaller USB-C power adapters used by other chargers. Though, since you’re most likely planting this tree in one spot of your home and not moving around with it, the wall wart is mostly forgivable.

The most versatile MagSafe multicharger for home and travel

Anker’s cube-shaped triple-charger is very compact but achieves 15W MagSafe charging with compatible iPhones. It also simultaneously charges an Apple Watch and set of AirPods.

Official MagSafe: Yes / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: Yes / Cable length: 5ft (1.5m) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: 18 months

Anker’s 3-in-1 Cube is its first to support proper 15W MagSafe charging (not simply magnetic Qi), and its nifty compact design makes it an excellent jack-of-all-trades for both home and travel use. It charges your phone in an angled position, with just enough space behind it to wirelessly charge your AirPods, plus a slide-out side drawer for your Apple Watch. I’m happy to see that Anker took the tilt-top design of its cute little soda can 623 MagGo 2-in-1 charger and turned it into an even better 3-in-1. Sadly, in addition to being more angular and much less adorable, it got much more expensive in the process; it costs $149.95 and is only available from Apple or directly from Anker. That means the Cube may not get the frequent discounts we see on Anker products at Amazon or elsewhere.

Technically, it’s a rectangular prism, not a cube

The price is a bit alarming, but $149.99 seems to be the going rate for MagSafe 3-in-1s. It comes with a 30W USB-C power adapter, and its pop-out Apple Watch charger supports fast charging on compatible models. The charger itself is about the size of a Rubik’s Cube, though it’s slightly taller than it is wide or deep. (Yes, I regret to inform any of you sticklers that the Cube is technically a rectangular prism, not a cube.) Mathematics heresy aside, it feels about as compact as this design can be.

You can’t get much smaller than Anker’s 3-in-1 Cube for charging an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch with one device.

The Anker isn’t quite as good for travel as the fold-up Mophie 3-in-1, and the Belkin tree thing is a better 3-in-1 for home use if you like that elevated height and versatile second Qi spot. But Anker’s Cube is the second-best MagSafe multicharger for home use and travel, which makes it the most versatile option if you travel occasionally and want a single 3-in-1 charger that does it all.

The best MagSafe-compatible battery pack

A portable power bank with magnetic wireless Qi charging, a convenient folding kickstand, and a USB-C port for wired charging.

Official MagSafe: No / Wireless charge output: 7.5W / Cell capacity: 19.25Wh (5,000mAh) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: 2 years

I tested a whole bunch of magnetic battery packs. They were all fine. The MagSafe-compatible options from Anker, Mophie, and Belkin all worked well enough for standard 7.5W wireless iPhone charging, and you’d probably be a-okay picking whichever one works for your tastes when it comes to price, physical size (some are chonky), and battery capacity. It’s nice to have a battery that clicks onto the back of your phone without worrying about cables.

I recommend Anker’s 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo) over the others I tested — even Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack — because it strikes the right balance of portability and battery capacity. It’s barely larger than the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, but its 19.25Wh cell is nearly double the capacity of Apple’s 11.13Wh. It supports passthrough charging while it’s plugged in, and its built-in origami kickstand is a handy addition that doesn’t add much bulk. The fold-out stand is even strong enough to support a hefty Max-sized iPhone in a protective case, and if you get the revised Anker 622 that now features a side-mounted USB-C port, you can do passthrough charging with your phone propped up at an angle on your desk. Lastly, the Anker’s battery comes in some fun colors to match your phone — or at least stand out among your other accessories.

Anker’s 622 MagGo battery is barely bigger than Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack (left) and holds much more juice.

Compared to the Anker 622, Apple’s kinda terrible MagSafe Battery Pack has very little going for it. Sure, it’s a little smaller, and its tight iOS integration lets it show its exact battery percentage on your lock screen, which the Anker doesn’t offer. But it’s mostly for top-ups: the meager battery could never fully recharge my iPhone 12 Pro Max that I was testing it with. It doesn’t even charge your phone any faster than the Anker since Apple limits it to 7.5W when on the go. That’s baffling for a $99 battery pack.

If you want true 15W MagSafe charging from a power bank, you can get the Mophie Powerstation 10K stand with MagSafe for $129.95. It’s expensive, awkwardly chonky, and rimmed with cheap-feeling soft-touch rubber that may not age well, but it can reach 15W wireless charging without the assistance of a power plug. Plus, the Mophie’s sturdy metal stand means it could be your desktop charging base that you can fold up and take with you on the go. 

Other MagSafe and magnetic chargers worth considering

While the ones above are the best, here are some more options that are still perfectly fine:

• Apple MagSafe Duo charger: If you’re going to spend as much as $129 on this Apple charger, I think it’s better to add another $30 and get the Mophie travel charger, but the Duo is perfectly adequate for travel or home use if you have just an iPhone and Apple Watch. You’ll need to BYO 20W AC adapter. If you’re lucky, it can go on sale for as low as $99.99, the same as the Zens 2-in-1, but I like the Zens better even when they’re the same price.
• Courant Mag:1 Essentials / Classics: Sometimes having something a little “premium” is just, well, nice. Courant’s magnetic charging pucks don’t get you MagSafe speeds, but for $50 to $80 (discounted to as low as $40) and without a USB-C AC charger, you get a sleek design wrapped in soft linen material or posh leather. It’s totally unnecessary, but if you want your tech to not be an eyesore to your home decor, I think they’re totally justifiable. Plus, the Mag:1 has a lengthy six-foot cable.
• Courant Mag:2 Essentials / Classics: Courant’s same elevated formula but this time in a 2-in-1 charger for your phone and earbuds. If you’re the type that obsesses over mid-century modern stylings like hairpin legs and Eames chairs, here’s your (non-MagSafe) magnetic charger. It’s even sold at the Herman Miller store — need I say more?
• Nomad Base One Max: Speaking of premium, the Nomad Base One Max offers full MagSafe charging support and a built-in Apple Watch charger in a sleek and minimalist metal slab. I love this thing as a bedside charger because it’s so hefty that your phone lifts right off without shifting the base even a millimeter. You could also use this thing as an improvised weapon against any would-be intruders since it’s two whole pounds of metal! Melee combat preparedness aside, though, you can get a more useful 3-in-1 charger for the $149.95 price.
• Anker 637 Magnetic Charging Station (MagGo): Ponder the almighty charging orb and all you can potentially plug into it. The Anker 637 is like a weird amalgamation of a magnetic charging stand and a power strip — it has the magnetic Qi charger, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and three AC ports. The Qi charger and USB ports can output up to about 65W combined; you can charge up to seven devices at the same time (not counting the AC ports) or plug in a lone USB-C cable and get up to 65W of power — enough to power even some smaller MacBook Pros. If you think you can find a good use for the Anker 637 in your space, just buy it. It’s super handy and there’s nothing else quite like it. Then email me and teach me the ways of your cable management skills because I always end up turning this thing into a spaghetti monster of cords.
• Anker 623 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger (MagGo): This charger’s real name is terrible, so you should just call it the soda can. As mentioned above, Anker’s soda can is like the precursor to its excellent new 3-in-1 Cube, but it’s much cheaper and does a fine job charging your phone at 7.5W alongside a set of earbuds. Just keep in mind that, if you use it on your bedside table, it will briefly light up your dark room with an obnoxious LED when you put your phone on it to charge.

Other chargers tested include the Nomad Stand One, Twelve South HiRise 3, Mophie Snap Plus Wireless Charger with 3-in-1 Wireless Stand for MagSafe Charger, and various Mophie Snap Plus Juice Pack power banks. These did not make the cut for various reasons, and the recommendations above present better alternatives.

Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Update June 7th, 2023: Added Zens charger to best travel category.

Source

Google Home: How to start a smart home

How to start a smart home using Google Home

How to start a smart home using Google Home

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After a messy start, Google’s Home ecosystem is finally starting to come together. 

By Megan Wollerton

Jun 13, 2023, 1:00 PM UTC |

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

Illustration by Samar Haddad for The Verge

The smart home isn’t perfect. No matter how many times a company claims “seamless” integration with third-party devices or “effortless” use of voice commands to bend your connected gadgets to your will, there’s no one platform that gets everything exactly right. Depending on your specific needs, any of the major options — Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (now just Home), Google Home, Home Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings — could be the best fit for you and your home. Recently, I’ve been taking a long look at Google Home.

The Google Home app has recently been updated.

Google got a lot right when it bought Nest in 2014, but it ramped up too slowly, releasing only a modest trickle of new connected home hardware before eventually introducing its first Google Assistant-powered smart speaker in 2016. That was followed by a protracted rebranding once Google decided the smart home was indeed a thing. The tech giant brought Nest officially under the Google name in 2019, which involved a frustratingly glitchy software migration from the Nest app to Google Home.

But now, at last, a Google-led smart home is starting to make sense. 

The newly updated Google Home app improves a lot of basic smart home functions. Google’s refreshed software also comes with a long-awaited addition: support for Matter on the Google Home app with an iPhone running iOS 16.5. 

Put all that together, plus Google Nest’s pretty strong lineup of branded products, and the Google smart home is finally hitting its stride. But before I talk about where it is today and how I use it, let’s take a brief look at the history of Google’s smart home attempts.

Working backward

Google didn’t take a linear path to building its smart home platform. In 2014, it bought Nest, then a startup with just two products: the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Later the same year, Nest, now a part of Google (but still operating separately from its corporate owner), purchased startup Dropcam, maker of Wi-Fi security cameras, and replaced the Dropcam Pro with a similar Nest-branded camera, the Nest Cam. Nest also introduced a couple next-gen versions of its thermostat and smoke detector and created Works with Nest, its own platform consisting of third-party device partners that integrated with its products.

Then things began to change. Google Assistant arrived, followed shortly after by Google’s first smart speaker. Finally, five years after buying it, Google announced it was moving Nest under its purview, making the former startup Google’s official smart home brand.

The move from Nest to Google Nest was fraught with all kinds of problems

The move from Nest to Google Nest was fraught with all kinds of problems. Google did away with the Works with Nest platform, which ended certain integrations for existing Nest users. The Google Home app didn’t support all Nest devices, which meant that, in some cases, you had to use the old Nest app for certain products and the new Google Home app for others (this is still an ongoing issue for some legacy products). 

There were also some privacy concerns around the same time concerning an undisclosed microphone built into the Nest Secure security system. The Nest Secure has since been discontinued and will no longer be supported in the Nest app starting in 2024. 

Currently, there are over a dozen Google Nest products, including four Google Assistant-driven smart speakers and displays that support “over 50,000 smart home devices from more than 10,000 popular brands,” according to Google. The latest version of the Google Home app, now live and rolling out to users, makes significant improvements for smart home configuration and control. 

“OK, Google, build me a smart home”

Google’s smart home platform has broad appeal due to its wide variety of third-party partners and easy setup and control, especially now that the app has been overhauled. 

If you have an Android phone, you can simply use that to command your various compatible connected devices. If you have an iPhone, you can access Google Assistant through the Google Home app. In either case, you can also use one of their smart speakers or displays. 

Personally, after years of testing Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and other voice assistants with all sorts of products and different commands, Google Assistant overwhelmingly feels more natural. It does a great job answering general questions clearly and thoroughly without either misunderstanding me or not knowing the answer.

The Google Nest Hub Max’s audio quality and display resolution were strong enough for the author to overcome her general dislike of smart displays.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

My current setup includes an iPhone with the Google Home app, a Google Nest Hub Max smart display, a couple of Nest Protect smoke detectors and a Nest Thermostat E. As far as third-party integrations go, I currently have a bunch of Wyze lights and an old Wyze Cam v2, though as a product reviewer, I’m regularly swapping products in and out for testing. 

The Google Nest Hub Max’s audio quality and display resolution are strong enough for me to overcome my general dislike of smart displays. I can easily view my connected products on the display and make adjustments there if I don’t have my phone handy — or use a quick voice command. 

I also really like being able to control my thermostat on my smart display. Unfortunately, the Nest Thermostat E has since been discontinued in the US, though you can still find it on Amazon. I’ve also tested the Nest Learning Thermostat and the newer Nest Thermostat, and they’re both solid products as well that I can comfortably recommend as part of a Google smart home. 

The Nest Thermostat is being updated to the Matter standard

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

While I don’t currently have any Google Nest cameras or doorbells installed at home, I’ve tested most of them and consider them excellent security devices. In fact, a huge part of my interest in a Google smart home lies with these Google Nest products. I’ve tested many Nest devices over the years, and most of them have stood out from the competition due to their attractive hardware and strong performance. It’s worth noting, though, that Google typically charges a premium for its products, which won’t fit with everyone’s budget. That’s especially true if you want to outfit your home with multiple thermostats, smoke detectors, cameras, and doorbells to cover different levels and entry points.

If you have a Chromecast with Google TV, you can view your Google Nest camera or doorbell’s live feed on your TV — and use Google Assistant on the Chromecast remote to play your favorite shows.

I’d also wholeheartedly suggest Wyze light bulbs as part of your setup. They’re cheap, they work well, and they’re compatible with Google Assistant. I have a combination of their white-light-only and color-changing bulbs. All of them are dimmable and have adjustable white-light color temperature, so you can switch between cooler-toned white light during the day when you’re trying to get things done and warmer light in the evening as you wind down. 

In fact, you may already have a device at home that’s compatible with Google. Check out your device options to see what companies and specific products will work.

Working with Google Home

While you can use the Google Home app or the touchscreen on your smart display to control your smart home devices, the core (and, in my opinion, best) functionality is tied to voice commands. Say, “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google” to kick things off.

I use these types of commands often, especially when there’s something I can’t schedule, like asking Google for the current weather in my area or the local traffic report. I also use commands to make one-off adjustments to my lights and thermostat separate from their normal schedule. 

Google lets you add a number of routines to your devices.

It’s very simple to assemble a Routine.

Those individual “OK, Google” commands are nice, but Routines (Google’s word for customizable smart home automations) are even better. Routines can modify the thermostat, lights, and garage door simultaneously, and all with just one command. For example, if I say, “OK, Google, goodnight,” the voice assistant adjusts my various connected lights for bedtime, as well as the thermostat. You can also create schedules with Routines so it’s a bit more automated and doesn’t require a voice command as a prompt, such as, “At sunrise, open my window shades and turn off my outdoor lights.”

It’s basic, but having a single “OK, Google” command to handle multiple things saves me a small amount of time each day. It probably also means I’m saving money and energy over time because I’m less likely to leave lights on or forget to adjust the thermostat during parts of the day when we need less heat or AC.

Google has also updated the available options for triggers in Routines. Rather than just a voice command, a specific time, at sunrise or sunset, or turning off an alarm, you can now start a routine “when a device does something,” which is a major upgrade. That means you can start an automation when your camera detects motion or when your lights, smart plugs, or any other compatible devices do something. 

Room for improvement

On the other hand, I wish Google’s smart home (or any of them, really) was a bit more predictive. The smart home is likely some time off from this, but I’d love to see Google’s platform advance to the point where it knows exactly what you want and automatically makes those changes on your behalf. 

For example, what if in the morning when I woke up, the shades opened and the lights turned on automatically? Then, as I headed downstairs, what if my electric kettle started boiling and the smart display in the kitchen started giving me a news briefing, all without me saying a word? Yes, I could schedule some of these things today, but I don’t always get up at the exact same time every day. I could use a voice command, too, but it would be even easier if I didn’t even have to ask Google Assistant to read me the news. 

The Nest Protect detector still isn’t supported by the Google Home app.

Photo: Google

There are other improvements I’d appreciate. In addition to Nest Secure and Dropcam (both of which are being discontinued next year anyway), the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector still isn’t supported by the Google Home app. The lack of support for the Protect seems particularly odd since it was one of Nest’s first devices. Google has had plenty of time to figure out how to migrate it over effectively. And yet, it doesn’t work. 

That means anyone who uses a Protect smoke detector along with other Google Nest devices likely needs both apps, which is annoying. Fortunately, that’s supposed to change soon, but again, as with motion triggers for Routines, I haven’t seen it yet in the latest version of my Google Home app.

What’s coming

I’m curious to see how Matter works with the Google Home app on my iPhone running iOS 16.5. The software update only just went live, so I haven’t had much time to mess around with it. In theory, it should make it even easier to set up and use smart devices. Despite my feelings about smart displays, I am interested in trying out my Google Nest Hub Max as a Matter hub. I’m also excited to experiment with the refreshed Google Home app a bit more. The updated app and iPhone support for Matter make Google’s platform significantly more appealing.

Things still aren’t perfect in the Google smart home, but many of the pieces we’ve been waiting for are finally coming together. We just had to get through Google Nest’s awkward teenage years. 

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Google will shut down Dropcam and Nest Secure in 2024

Google will shut down Dropcam and Nest Secure in 2024

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Google is giving one year’s notice as it ditches more products it can’t migrate to Google Home, but there’s still no official end-of-life for the Nest app.

By Nathan Edwards , a senior reviews editor who's been testing tech since 2007. Previously at Wirecutter and MaximumPC. Current fixations: keyboards, DIY tech, and the smart home.

UpdatedApr 7, 2023, 3:54 PM UTC |

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.See our ethics statement.

One more year.

Will Joel / The Verge

Google is ending support for the Dropcam and the Nest Secure home security system in one year, on April 8th, 2024. They are among the few remaining Nest products that haven’t been brought over to Google Home, and their demise hints that the new Google Home app might almost be here. At least, no more than a year away. Surely.

Google is also winding down the last few legacy Works with Nest connections, but not ‘til September 29th.

Good looking out.

Image: The Verge

Dropcam had a good run

Existing Dropcam cameras will keep working until April 8th, 2024, after which you won’t be able to access them from the Nest app. To soften the blow, Google’s offering a free indoor wired Nest Cam to Dropcam owners who subscribe to Nest Aware. Nonsubscribers will get a 50 percent-off coupon. The promotion runs until May 7, 2024, so you can keep using your Dropcam until it stops working.

The Dropcam (fka Dropcam HD) came out in 2012, and the Dropcam Pro in 2013. Then, Google bought Nest, and Nest bought Dropcam. In 2015, Google spun Nest out when it formed Alphabet, and for a while, Google and Nest were both making smart home products. Then, Google reabsorbed Nest in 2018, and there’s been a whole lot of messy business trying to integrate Nest products into the Google Home app — and killing off the ones that can’t be integrated.

Now that it’s dropping Dropcam and Nest Secure, the Nest Protect smart smoke alarms are the only Nest App-only devices left, and Google has promised to bring them to the new Google Home app. The updated app has been in public preview since October, and there’s still no firm date, but it must be getting close, right?

Presumably, there are people out there who bought the very first Dropcam back in 2010 and traded it in for a free Dropcam HD in 2015 who are now gonna be trading that in for a Nest Cam. That’s kinda neat from a customer service standpoint but not that great from an e-waste standpoint (though Google will ship you a prepaid recycling box if you ask.)

Nest Secure, we hardly knew ye

The Nest Secure had... a less auspicious run and a less graceful offramp. It launched in 2017 and was canceled three years later, right after Google invested a bunch of money into ADT. Like the Dropcam, it’ll continue to work until April 8th, 2024, but Google would sure like you to upgrade before then. Google’s statement says,

We will be contacting eligible Nest Secure customers on Friday with an exclusive offer for a complimentary next-generation security system from ADT (up to $485 value), or $200 to use on the Google Store.

That’d be the ADT Self Setup system Google announced last week, with an ADT smart home hub, two door / window sensors, a motion sensor, and a year of free monitoring. That promotion also goes until May 7, 2024. While it’s better than a kick in the pants, I’m not sure the people who bought the Nest Secure are eager to run back into the arms of a traditional security company. (Maybe they’ve changed! Google’s statement says you can cancel the $20 / month monitoring fee for the self-setup system at any time). The ADT system does have the advantage of working with Google Home, which is kinda the whole point here.

Works with Nest won’t

Google sorta shut down the Works With Nest program back in 2019 in favor of Works With Google Assistant, but it let existing connections slide. That door officially closes on September 29th, 2023. Ruchi Desai, Group Product Manager at Google Nest, told The Verge, “All WWN connections will be impacted: for example legacy Alexa skill, legacy Google Assistant integration, all legacy Nest integrations with 3P partners (IFTTT, Lutron, etc.), and individual developers who use the WWN platform in their solutions.”

Most legacy Works with Nest integrations, including the Alexa one, have already been replaced with Google Assistant ones, but not all features of the IFTTT integration, for example, seem to be available in its replacement. Google says the web-based script editor it teased in October should close some of the remaining gaps. It isn’t live yet — Google would only tell me “it’ll be launching in 2023” — so it remains to be seen whether any features will get lost in translation.

A less messy home, eventually

Google previously committed to supporting Nest products for at least five years, and it did meet that standard. If you’ve been holding onto a Dropcam for more than a decade, it’s hard to argue that you didn’t get your money’s worth, I guess. And the new one is much better. Though on the other hand, if the hardware still works, why shouldn’t it keep working?

If I was a Nest Secure owner, though, I’d be pissed! Nobody wants to buy a new security system ever if they don’t have to, and having to get a new one from ADT feels like salt in a wound, even if it is a year off.

It’s great that the Nest and Google Home ecosystems are finally almost merged. I’m sure the headwinds were considerable! I am looking forward to the new Google Home app when it gets here. Now if only they’d do something about that Nest Hub Max interface...

Updated April 13, 2023, 10:54AM EST: Google reached out to confirm that there is a Google Assistant equivalent for the Works with Nest Alexa skill.

Correction April 7, 2023, 11:53AM EST: Removed a line that erroneously stated that Google had dropped support for the Nest x Yale lock and Nest Guard door sensor in 2022. The Matter update for the Nest Hub Max removed the ability to connect those devices directly to the Hub Max via Thread , but they are still supported through the Nest Connect device, which Google offered for free to those impacted by the update. We regret the error.

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