If you’re tired of looking for the right cable every time you have to charge your phone, you might want to consider a wireless charger. These stationary chargers can sit on your desk or nightstand, giving you a convenient way to keep devices fully charged without the clutter that cables bring. Here are the best wireless chargers for your iPhone, Android, AirPods, and other devices.
How Does a Wireless Charger Work?
Wireless chargers contain copper coils that generate an electromagnetic field when an electrical current runs through them. Then all you need to do is place the receiver coils in a compatible device on top of the coils in the wireless charger, and your device will start charging immediately.
What to Look for in a Wireless Charger
When looking for a wireless charger, you should make sure it is Qi-certified. This is the modern standard that ensures chargers will work with different devices. You also want to look for wireless chargers that have a high-power output, which will be represented as Wattage.
Generally speaking, wireless chargers with a higher wattage will charge devices faster. So, if you have a phone with fast-charging capabilities, you should look for a wireless charger with a power output of at least 10-15W (Watts). For best results, you should also use a USB-C cable and a fast power adapter.
Read More: How to charge your iPhone faster
Which Phones are Compatible with Wireless Charging?
In order to use most wireless chargers, you need a Qi-certified phone or device. This includes the iPhone 8 and newer models, except the 2nd-generation iPhone SE. You can also use the Samsung phones made after the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy Note8 and Google phones made after the Pixel 3.
Yootech F500: Best Budget Wireless Charging Pad
- Power: 7.5-10W
If you’re on a budget, the Yootech F500 is the cheapest wireless charger you can buy, especially when it goes on sale. This simple charging puck has a green light that turns on to let you know when it is connected to a device, but it does turn off after a few seconds, so it won’t keep you up at night.
With its flat design, this budget wireless charger is great for AirPods, Galaxy Buds, and other wireless earbuds. While the Yootech F500 will charge Android devices at 10W, iPhones will charge slower at 7.5W. But it’s still powerful enough to charge phones with cases that are up to 4mm thick.
Anker 313: Best Budget Wireless Charger Stand
- Power: 5-10W
With a wireless charging stand, you can prop up your phone at the perfect angle to see the screen. This makes it great for watching movies or making video calls. Plus, if you have an iPhone with Face ID or an Android with facial recognition, you can quickly glance at your phone to unlock it without reaching over to enter your passcode.
The Anker 313 has a thick lip at the bottom that lets you stand your phone in portrait mode or landscape mode, even if you have a thick case. It can also charge through cases that are up to 5mm thick. While the Anker 313 will charge Android devices at 10W, it only delivers 5W of power to iPhones.
Belkin Wireless Charging Stand +: Best Wireless Charger for Music
- Power: 7.5-10W
The Belkin Wireless Charging Stand+ looks a little bulky because the back is actually a Bluetooth speaker, so you can charge your phone while listening to music at the same time. The design also makes this wireless charger sturdy and wide enough to hold the biggest phones in portrait or landscape orientation.
You can pair the speaker with your phone by pressing a big button on the back, even if your phone is not connected to the wireless charger. However, the quality of the little speaker isn’t the best. This wireless charger works with cases up to 3mm thick, and it will charge Android phones up to 10W, while iPhone will only charge at 7.5W.
iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2: Best Wireless Car Charger
- Power: 7.5-10W
Fiddling with cables at your desk can be annoying and unsightly, but it can be downright dangerous when you’re driving. With the iOttie wireless car charger, all you need to do is place your phone against the back, and the arms will close in around it, so you don’t ever have to take your eyes off the road.
This wireless charger was made for the Google Pixel and other Android phones, but it also works with iPhones. However, Android phones will charge at 10W, and iPhones will only charge at 7.5W. You can mount this wireless charger on your dashboard or windshield with a suction cup. There is also another version that mounts to an air vent or in a CD slot.
Pixel Stand 2: Best Wireless Charger Google Pixel Phones
- Power: 15-23W
If you have a Pixel phone, this new wireless charger made by Google will give you the fastest charging speeds possible. While the Pixels Stand 2 delivers up to 15W of power to regular Qi devices, it can charge the latest Pixel phones up to 23W, which is the same power you would get from a wired charger.
Once you pair your Pixel phone, you can use it to control the built-in fan, which keeps your phone cool during higher-power charging. The stand can also turn your Pixel into a digital picture frame and a sunrise alarm clock that slowly brightens your screen to gently wake you up before your alarm goes off.
Samsung Fast Charge 2.0: Best Wireless Charger for Samsung Phones
- Power: 12-15W
If you have a Samsung phone, the fastest wireless charger you can get is the Samsung Fast Charge 2.0. Once you place your Samsung phone on this wireless charger, it will light up with a message that lets you know you are getting fast-charging speeds.
To get the fastest charging speeds, the Samsung Fast Charge 2.0 stand has a fan in the back and vents on the bottom to cool your phone down and help it charge even faster. This is especially important if your phone has a bulky case, which can heat up while charging. Luckily, this wireless charger also works with some of the thickest cases, even OtterBox cases.
However, you will only get the full 15W of power with the Galaxy Note 10+ and newer models, while the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S 10 and older models will only charge at 12W. While it was made for Samsung phones, this wireless charger will work with iPhones and any other Qi devices as well.
Anker MagGo 633: Best MagSafe Wireless Charger for iPhones
- Power: 7.5W
The Anker MagGo 633 doesn’t deliver the fastest charging speeds, but it is still one of the best wireless chargers for iPhones you can get. This 2-in-1 wireless charger has a MagSafe stand that will hold up your iPhone, while you can place your AirPods on the base to charge them at the same time.
But, unlike other charging stands, the back can slide out of the stand and turn into a portable wireless charger. With a capacity of 5,000mAh (milliamp-hour), the removable battery should give you enough juice to fully recharge an iPhone 13 Pro Max at least once.
Then, when you get back home, all you have to do is slide the portable charger back in the stand to automatically recharge it. However, it is important to note that this wireless charger will only work with the iPhone 12 and newer models and MagSafe-compatible cases.
Read More: The best iPhone cases for every budget
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