HiRise 2 ($60) is the latest version of Twelve South’s Lightning dock, which we’ve seen in its original incarnation, HiRise for iPhone, and its upgraded sequel, HiRise Deluxe. Twelve South has reduced the overall footprint of the dock this time around, while increasing the weight to give HiRise 2 a sturdier presence. As before, HiRise 2 comes with different clips to adjust the position of a device based on which case is being used. HiRise 2 also comes with a Lightning cable and micro-USB cable, for those who use battery cases. Twelve South’s newest dock comes in white, silver, or black — the latter is pictured here.
HiRise 2 uses the same familiar design as past HiRise docks. It’s an aluminum dock with cable management at the bottom. A sliding back support is used to bear the weight of a docked device — something we know certain users keep in mind when looking for a dock. And the three clips (for either Lightning or micro-USB) should make the dock a good fit for nearly every case available. The biggest differences in HiRise 2 are in the measurements: the dock is now up to half a pound, and its footprint is nearly a square, at 3.5” x 3.75”. It’s basically a heavier replacement for Deluxe which doesn’t take up as much room on a desk or table.
The only real downside to using HiRise 2 is that while it can dock all Lightning devices — though neither we nor Twelve South recommend docking the 12.9” iPad Pro — the clip sizes could make for a wobblier fit than you might expect, based on what case you’re using. That being said, most Lightning docks have at least a little wobble, based on the small size of the connector, so it’s a minor issue. Considering that HiRise 2 is just a more refined version of HiRise Deluxe at the same price, we don’t see a reason to change our high recommendation. But we also must point out that a number of other very good Lightning docks have been introduced in recent years, so Twelve South has more competition than it did years ago.
Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: Twelve South
Model: HiRise 2
MSRP: $60
Compatibility: iOS Lightning devices
