With its WatchStand, accessory maker Griffin has come up with a unique take on an Apple Watch charging dock, incorporating a cord management feature that sets it apart from the many other stands on the market. Made of plastic instead of aluminum or wood, Griffin's stand is also one of the more affordable options available.

I've been testing the Griffin WatchStand for the past week and have been impressed with the level of functionality vs. the price, but there are a few drawbacks that might not make it the best stand choice depending on which Apple Watch you own.

griffinwatchstandopenbandside
When it comes to looks, the Griffin WatchStand is not quite as attractive as some other options on the market. Its black plastic design doesn't complement the Apple Watch and other Apple devices, it feels overly tall, and it doesn't blend into a range of different decors as well as aluminum or wood.

griffinwatchstandnextotwelvesouth

Griffin WatchStand next to Twelve South HiRise for Apple Watch

Aesthetic preferences vary heavily by person, so the form and material of the WatchStand may not be a negative for some. Though it's made of plastic, the WatchStand doesn't really look cheap and there are no flaws in its construction -- it has a wide, heavy rubber-bottomed base for stability and the part of the stand that holds the Apple Watch charger is well-designed and at an ideal viewing angle.

Size wise, the base of the WatchStand measures in at 5.5 inches by 3.15 inches, and the stand portion is nearly eight inches tall. That height feels less ideal than a shorter stand when glancing over at the watch from bed or on a desk, but it is necessary for the cable management feature. It weighs just over a pound, which makes it feel sturdy, but with its height, I was worried I might knock it over accidentally.

griffinwatchstandbasebottom
There are three components to the WatchStand: a base, the main stand with grooves for the cable, and a cable cover. The Apple Watch charging cable fits into the top of the stand, which is made from a soft rubber so the metal of the watch is never in danger of being scratched.

griffinwatchstandrubberwatchholder
If you have a stainless steel Apple Watch with a metal charger, you'll need to add in a small rubber insert to make it fit correctly. There's a hole below the circular cutout for the charger where the cable is fed through, and then excess cable can be wound around the base.

griffinwatchstandparts
The cable fits into the grooves in the rubber stand and you can wind up as much or as little as you like, depending on how much cord you need to reach a wall socket. Winding the cable up can be fiddly, because it needs to be pulled tight as you wind so there's room for the cable cover.

griffinwatchstandinnerpost
Being able to wind up excess cord is a great feature that other watch stands don't offer. Apple shipped the Apple Watch with a two-meter cord, resulting in a lot of excess cable for users who have sockets located in close proximity to nightstands or desks. With other watch stands, I often have a lot of unsightly cable to deal with, but it's out of sight with the Griffin stand.

griffinwatchstandcovergoingon
After the cable's been wound, a plastic cover fits over the inner rubber stand and secures it to the base. If you didn't wind the cable tightly enough, it'll be difficult to get the cover on. Once the cover is in position, the end of the cable is fed through a hole in the base and underneath the base's rubber feet.

griffinwatchstandsideview (1)
Unlike some other stands, the Griffin WatchStand does not have a slot to accommodate closed-loop bands like the Milanese Loop. Open bands sit fine on the dock, but to charge a band in the closed position, the watch needs to be put on the dock sideways. It's not a huge deal, but sideways is not an ideal viewing position

griffinwatchstandclosedband
Easy viewing at night or while charging is one of the main features that these Apple Watch stands advertise, and having to charge sideways negates that function. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend this dock to someone who plans to use it with a closed-loop band.

griffinwatchstandbackside
For other bands, the WatchStand works perfectly well. The angle makes it easy to glance at the watch at night, and if desired, you can also change the position of the post in the middle to face left or right rather than moving the whole stand. It's also worth noting that Griffin has designed the front of the WatchStand to hold an iPhone.

griffinwatchstandwithphone

Bottom Line

Griffin's WatchStand offers a lot of value for the price. Its cable management feature is excellent if you have excess cord to deal with, and the ability to hold an iPhone is also a nice add-on. For those of you with bands like the Milanese Loop, the WatchStand works, but it's not ideal.

griffinwatchstandontable
If you're looking for an affordable stand for an Apple Watch with an open-loop band, the Griffin is a solid choice.

Our previous Apple Watch stand reviews:
- Mophie Watch Dock
- Duet Two-in-One Apple Watch Stand
- Twelve South HiRise for Apple Watch

How to Buy

Griffin's WatchStand can be purchased from the company's website for $29.99.

Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.

Top Rated Comments

nfl46 Avatar
126 months ago
This is the stand I have. I love it. Thanks for the review!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
extricated Avatar
126 months ago
Owl lamp and gin gins FTW!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
126 months ago
I imagine he's talking about the buttons on the Apple watch I think they have stickers on them.
The Digital Crown and side button on my Apple Watch are covered with WatchDots. I'm going to be sharing a review in a day or two.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
126 months ago
I like the owl.
Thanks, it's a lamp!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
studio¹³¹ Avatar
126 months ago
Why are the buttons white?????? Custom make?
It has no buttons. It's simply a stand to feed your Apple Watch charger through.



I just picked this up the other day at Best Buy. The first night i used it, i rested my watch on it and it said and made the audible 'it's charging' sound. I go to sleep and wake up to it being still at 52%. Since then, I've noticed that sometimes when setting the watch on the stand, the watch slowly droops and settles into place, losing contact and the charge. If the charger magnet were stronger, this probably wouldn't happen -- I'm going to look for an upright solution rather than an angled one.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive an All-New Perk

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:21 am PST by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. iCloud+ is the official name for Apple's paid iCloud storage plans, which range from 50GB for $0.99 per month to 12TB for $59.99 per month in the United States. iCloud+ plans already come with multiple perks for free, such as Hide My Email and HomeKit Secure Video, and now there is another one...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Thursday February 6, 2025 7:31 am PST by
Apple is internally testing iOS 18.3.1 for iPhones, according to our website's analytics logs, which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released within the next few weeks. iOS 18.3.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor

Friday February 7, 2025 2:37 am PST by
The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post. The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before...
Apple Leak Feature

Apple Leaker Issues Apology: 'Profound and Expensive Mistake'

Friday February 7, 2025 9:21 am PST by
Last year, we reported that Apple sued its former software engineer Andrew Aude for providing journalists with confidential information about the company's future plans, including details about the Journal app, Vision Pro headset, and more. As reported by 9to5Mac, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit after Apple and Aude reached an agreement to resolve...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses to Expand to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday February 5, 2025 6:27 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states and territories offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in...