Does my phone support wireless charging?
Not all phones support wireless charging, but most brands have models that do, so look up your phone model first. You'll usually see "Qi wireless charging" (the default standard) or simply "wireless charging" if it does.
Do wireless chargers work if you have a phone case?
Yes, most wireless chargers can charge through cases, unless it's a particularly thick case. Check the product listing—there's usually a case thickness limit in millimeters. Phones can get hot when charging wirelessly, so don't worry if your phone is really warm when you pick it up. Most smartphones have limits to stop accepting a charge if they get too hot.
Yes, cords will charge your phone faster
Some manufacturers like Apple and OnePlus make wireless chargers that recharge their respective phones faster than others, but if you're looking for speed, you're better off sticking with a cord. Wireless charging is best for desks or nightstands when you're not really using your phone or in a rush to recharge it.
What's a fast wireless charging speed?
We said this at the beginning of our guide, but you'll see “Compatible with iPhones and Android phones” under each slide, and that means the charger has a standard charging speed of 7.5 watts for iPhones or 10 watts for Android phones (including Samsung Galaxy phones). If a charger or phone combination has more watts, like 15, it will charge faster, though be sure to stick to high-quality chargers.
Is wireless charging safe to use?
There's no evidence that it's harmful. You may worry the phone's battery might degrade faster with wireless charging, but there’s no evidence of that. Manufacturers set safe limits for phone batteries, stipulating how much a battery can be charged and how far it can discharge. Regardless of the charging source you use, whether you plug into a wall adapter or use a wireless charging pad, these limits can’t be overridden. There’s no risk of overcharging your phone by leaving it on a wireless charger all night.
How do I keep my phone's battery healthy?
However, try to keep your battery between 50 and 80 percent for optimum battery health. Keeping your phone fully charged or fully discharging the battery will degrade it slightly faster, and regularly swinging between full and empty will shorten its life. Battery technology has improved in recent years, and phone batteries are more reliable than ever. If you switch phones every two to three years or don’t mind paying a modest fee for a battery replacement on that timescale, it’s not worth worrying too much about how often or when you charge your phone.
It's right about time for the technophiles of the world to yell out, "No wire chargers!" at people who still plug charging cables into their smartphones for pushing a backward, anti-tech agenda. Okay, that's a little dramatic. But the troubles are more than just having to untangle the wires, or losing the USB docks and being forced to buy new ones. When you have multiple electronics, from smartphones to headphones to smartwatches, it’s harder to keep track of the whereabouts of your USB-C or USB-A wires than it is to keep track of your actual devices.
A wired predicament requires a wireless solution, though many smartphone users are still resistant to wireless charging, whether they’re neo-Luddites or masochists for USB. But the future is wireless, as seen in mouses, keyboards, headphones, and now chargers. No plugging needed.
Well, technically there is a little plugging; a cord still needs to connect the charger with a power outlet. But that’s a reasonable trade-off when feeling for a cord behind the nightstand in the dark before sleeping at night is such a hassle. Just pop your phone on a charging pad and watch it fuel up—this quality-of-life convenience is worth the investment. First, here’s some important knowledge about wireless charging to inform your decision-making.
Wireless Charging Isn’t Faster
This is a hard pill to swallow, but wireless charging rarely competes against the rapid velocity of its wired counterparts. And just like the good ol’ cord options, the speed of wireless charging does rely on the power output of the
outlet. The measurement in wireless charging is wattage, or W. The higher the wattage, the faster the charging speed, but most wireless chargers seldom have an output beyond 10W. For comparison's sake,
Apple's USB-C power adapter, which we use for newer iPhones, charges at 20W.
Only Qi-Enabled Smartphones Are Compatible
“Qi” is the essence of wireless charging. Pronounced as “chee,” it’s a Chinese word that means "life force” (Kung Fu Panda fans should be familiar with it). It is the charging method in which the device, once placed on top of the wireless charger, is aligned with a coil inside the charging pad that triggers electromagnetic induction. The charger basically instills its life force into the device.
Only Qi-enabled phones can be wirelessly charged. The good news is that almost all new smartphones nowadays are Qi-certified: Samsung, Google, Apple, LG, Huawei, etc. But because of different proprietary operating systems between brands, like iOS versus Android, charging speeds vary considerably. Apple infamously limits the wireless charging input of iPhones to 7.5W on all third-party chargers like Samsung or Google. This slow-down is also true between Apple devices: You can never charge Apple Watch or AirPods as fast as iPhones, even on MagSafe, which charges iPhones at an ideal 15W.
Thus, the best wireless chargers are one-size-fits-all. These versatile Qi charging stations can juice up both iOS and Android devices, sometimes together, for users with multiple smartphones and gadgets of different operating systems.
If you want to power up with only one string attached, these are the 16 best wireless charging stations, hubs, stands, and pads that can transfer life force into your smartphones. They are of varying designs and some can even charge across devices—smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds, at once. Whether you have Android or iOS, as long as it's Qi-enabled, these chargers will keep it vitalized in style.
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Best Overall Wireless Charger
Belkin
Boost Up Wireless Charging Stand
Samsung
Convertible Charging Stand/Pad
Best Budget Wireless Charger
Anker
PowerWave Stand
Best Travel Wireless Charger
Nomad
Base Station Mini
Best 2-in-1 Wireless Charger
Hoidokly
2-in-1 Charging Stand
Best Wireless Charger Design
Einova
Dual Charging Stone
Best 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
Satechi
Trio Wireless Charging Pad
Best Luxury Wireless Charger
Courant
CATCH:3 Classics
MEISO
Dual Wireless Charging Desk
Raptic Rise Headphones Charging Stand
Best Family Wireless Charger
WAITIEE
5-in-1 Wireless Charger
Best Gaming Wireless Charger
Razer
Charging Pad Chroma
Best Portable Wireless Charger
Ekrist
Wireless Portable Power Bank
Mophie
Wireless Charging UV Sanitizer
Best Car Wireless Charger
Scosche
MagicGrip Wireless Charging Phone Mount
Best Camping Wireless Charger
ANYFONG
Solar Power Bank Phone Charger