Review: HiRise 2 Deluxe, The Best Dock For Any Mobile Device?

UPDATE #1: I’ve been told that Apple’s Lightning to USB-C cable works with the current microUSB clips, making it possible to use the new cable if you have your dock plugged into something like a 12-inch MacBook or a late 2016 MacBook Pro.

UPDATE #2: Seems like I had a faulty clip 0, which would explain my clip not staying in place properly.

For someone who’s never used an iPhone dock before, or any dock rather, (aside from the first-party Apple Watch dock), one could say I don’t have much experience in this field. Having played with Twelve South’s HiRise 2 Deluxe dock for Lightning device for a month, it’s definitely opened my eyes.

Practicalities

The first thing that strikes me is that it works with more than just the iPhone, but rather with most of my Lightning accessories. The only device I couldn’t get working (and it’s listed on their website), is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro for obvious reasons. But everything else including the fourth-generation Apple TV remote will charge just fine with it.

On the same line of Lightning devices, the HiRise 2 also comes with various docking clips that can accommodate various case sizes. Personally, I don’t case any of my devices so “Clip 0” fit all of my devices just fine.

But if you use tougher cases such as Otterbox you’ll likely need “Clip 6” to get that Lightning cable in there. The rear support can be adjusted as well to get the right depth for your different cases and devices. And that’s where my first gripe with the HiRise is.

I’m not sure if it does it in the original HiRise, but nine times out of ten when I pull my iPhone off of the dock, the clip will push up. Not necessarily come off, but the force of the iPhone pulls the clip up a little. Is it a big deal? No. But it is a design flaw by the folks over at Twelve South. Maybe consider having a locking mechanism in place for the next iteration?

On the upside, the dock is sturdy. It’s evenly weighted so when I attempt to remove my iPhone off the charger it won’t be lifted with it.

Design

Twelve South sent me the black version of the dock and it blends well with my Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus. Though, it would work with any device with a black faceplate. It wouldn’t look awful with a device with a white face plate like gold or rose gold, but it definitely looks better with Space Gray/Black/Jet Black. For other colors, I would consider the silver model of the dock.

The back support is pretty sturdy as well. It doesn’t feel like it’ll fall off any time soon. It has a cushion to distant itself from scratching the device due to its metal build. This is especially important with a Jet Black iPhone being prone to micro-abrasions. No complaints here.

To put it simply, the dock looks very Apple-esk. No seems, breaks, or obvious design faults in terms of aesthetics. There’s also a place for cables under the stand that keeps it in place, and out of sight as well, nice touch.

Conclusion

In the end, the HiRise 2 Deluxe is a great stand for what it’s worth. No, it won’t work with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is a bummer. But most people won’t care about that. The cable clip could be a bit more sturdy, but it’s not like it’ll come off with a small tug.

Outside of Apple devices, it also includes a microUSB cable for pretty much all other devices that aren’t USB-C. Though, you could probably fit a USB-C cable through the included clips for either Lightning or microUSB.

For $59.99, it comes with the dock itself, a Lightning cable (black, might I add), a microUSB cable, and 3 cable clips for the respective cables. It works with any iPhone, iPad (that isn’t the 12.9-inch), or iPod. It could even charge your Apple TV Siri remote, Magic Trackpad 2, or Magic Keyboard. Overall, an incredible stand for the price.