This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Disclosure: ORICO provided the MG7 for this review.
Quick take
The ORICO MG7 magnetic M.2 docking station combines a USB-C hub, a card reader and an SSD enclosure in one unit that sticks to the back of your iPhone with MagSafe. It is especially handy if you travel without a laptop and want to pull photos and video from your camera onto your iPhone.
What I tested
- ORICO MG7, mainly the orange version (silver and navy are also available): list price around ¥9,000 on Amazon Japan at the time of recording
- Connected to an iPhone 17 Pro Max: read SD and microSD cards and played video through its audio jack
- Connected to a Mac
- Opened it up to look at the M.2 SSD slot (I did not install an SSD)
| Spec | ORICO MG7 |
|---|---|
| Ports | 8-in-1: 2× USB-C, USB-A, SD, microSD, audio, HDMI |
| Charging | PD 100W pass-through |
| HDMI | Full-size, 4K@60Hz |
| USB | 10Gbps |
| SSD | M.2 2230 NVMe (sold separately) |
| Weight | 52.9 g (measured) |
Specs are based on what is shown in the video and its description.
What I found
- The orange is very close to the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s orange, maybe slightly redder. Since it is not something you keep on all the time, the small difference doesn’t matter.
- The MagSafe magnet is strong. The included cable is a bit stiff, so the hub lifts slightly when the phone is set down, but it never came off.
- Ports: a “PC in” port connects to your computer or phone, and a PD 100W port lets you charge through it. Then there are extra USB-A and USB-C ports, SD and microSD slots, an audio jack and a full-size HDMI port, so no adapter needed for a display.
- The headline feature: undo the centre screw with the included screwdriver and it opens up so you can add an M.2 SSD. In other words, the hub itself becomes an external SSD.
- A silicone thermal pad is included; it goes on the SSD so the housing works as a heat sink. That means the body will likely get warm with an SSD inside, but when it sits on the back of the phone you rarely touch it. When filming, just mind where your hand goes.
- On the iPhone, SD card footage played directly and I could access all the files. microSD worked the same way. During playback, sound came out of the MG7’s audio jack, so it works as a headphone port too. Without an SSD installed, it didn’t get very warm playing video from microSD.
- It weighs 52.9 g, so I expect it to stay under 100 g even with an SSD.
- The silver version is subdued and would suit a white iPhone. Orange isn’t guaranteed to be an iPhone colour every year, so silver may be the safer pick.
- It worked without any issues on a Mac. There are other products for recording iPhone video to an external SSD, but few offer this many ports and work as a full docking station.
- With the MG7 on the back, the iPhone’s own MagSafe is covered. Stick the included metal ring on the outside of the MG7 and you can attach MagSafe accessories such as a ring grip to it.
Who it’s for
People who want to import SD or microSD footage onto an iPhone while travelling, save iPhone video to an external SSD, or carry one unit that covers USB, HDMI and audio. You need to buy the SSD separately, but it fills a lot of small gaps, and just having it expands what you can do with an iPhone.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
ORICO supplied the MG7. I did not install an SSD, so I could not test SSD speeds or how hot it gets with one inside. I mainly used the orange version with an iPhone 17 Pro Max and a Mac. The price is the Amazon Japan list price at the time of recording.
Products
ORICO MG7 magnetic M.2 docking station: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Chargers & Cables (29) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.