The best wireless chargers: A buyer’s guide

There are few things as convenient as putting your phone on a wireless charger or putting it on a stand to top it off. The convenience of being able to pick up the phone, answer a call, and put it back to recharge without fiddling with cables cannot be overstated. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of wireless chargers and charging accessories for your phone.

Don’t forget to read our guides on all phone accessories and other options for charging accessories.

What to look for when buying a wireless charger

As with any accessory, there are a few factors to consider before purchasing a wireless charger.

• What kind of charger do you need? The two most common types of wireless chargers currently available are pads or stands. A pad may be a better option on a bedside table, while a stand is great on a desk.
• How fast does it charge? A standard Qi charging pad can take a long time to fully charge a device. To get the fastest possible charge, a first-party charger is definitely the better way to go. Some third-party chargers offer fast charging capabilities, but this mostly applies to Samsung flagships and iPhones.
• How many devices do you need to charge wirelessly? Smartphones aren’t the only devices that can be charged wirelessly. You can also put accessories like wireless headphones and smartwatches on a wireless charger to make sure they don’t run out of juice. Instead of getting multiple charging pads, you can opt for two or three charging pads that allow you to charge two or three devices at the same time.

OEM versus third party wireless chargers

Third-party phone accessories usually offer a better deal, be it in terms of features or price. However, things are different with wireless chargers. An OEM wireless charger is probably the best experience. This is especially true for devices that support fast wireless charging. For example, the OnePlus charger only gives you the amazing Warp Charge 30 speeds from OnePlus and fast wireless charging of the Pixel 4 with the Pixel Stand.

Third-party wireless chargers are catching up, so it won’t be long before many more options become available. For example, some accessory manufacturers have already released chargers that support Samsung’s fast wireless charging feature, and some offer good charging speeds for Pixels and iPhones.

Even if charging isn’t the fastest, a third-party accessory likely has the price advantage. However, it is important to be extra careful when purchasing a charging accessory in particular. A bad charger can cause irreparable damage to your device.

Things to Look For When Buying Third-Party Accessories

Before buying an accessory from a brand you are unfamiliar with, check the following:

• Search owner submitted reviews through sites like Amazon. Do these short reviews look legitimate? For example, it is possible for them to receive paid or sponsored posts if they are vague and poorly written.
• Look for oddities. Sometimes product reviews aren’t really for the product you are looking at! Surprisingly, this happens a lot with third-party charging accessories from unknown brands. A 5-star rating on a foot massager is not what you want to see when trying to buy a portable power bank.
• Familiarize yourself with the return policy of the product. While many products have return deadlines, some may only have a replacement window. In this case, no refund is possible.
• We are here to help! We have a guide to the best wireless chargers you can get, and we’ll be testing even more options shortly. Below are some of our top recommendations.

Samsung wireless chargers

Samsung DUO Pad

The Samsung Duo Pad is as good as wireless charging pads can be. As the name suggests, the pad can charge two devices at the same time. However, the Samsung Duo Pad wireless charger goes a step further and offers fast charging support. This means you can charge compatible Samsung phones up to 15W while charging an additional phone or possibly your wireless headphones on the second pad.

Samsung Fast Charge 2.0 wireless charging stand

If you don’t need to charge multiple devices, Samsung’s wireless charging stand will do the trick instead. The stand that supports Fast Charge 2.0 allows you to charge your phone on supported devices up to 15W. Additionally, the angled pad is great for when you want to take a look at the screen while it’s charging. If your phone doesn’t support fast charging, the wireless charger will fall back on the standard Qi charging speeds.

Samsung 2-in-1 power bank with wireless charger

Samsung’s 10,000 mAh charger is unique in that the wireless charging pad is located right on top. It is capable of quickly charging a compatible Samsung phone up to 7.5W in wireless mode and up to 25W via a USB cable. The device is Qi compatible which means you should be able to use this with other phones without any problems.

OnePlus charger

OnePlus Warp Charge 30 wireless charger

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the company’s only phone that has wireless charging. However, it seems like a feature that will remain, especially considering how great the wireless charger is. The Warp Charge 30 wireless charger stays true to its name. This allows you to wirelessly charge the phone at speeds that are only slightly slower than the charger.

Connected: The best phones with wireless charging

The quick charger delivers a 50% charge in 23 minutes, and the wireless stand is not far behind for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. This quick charge is sure to generate some heat, so the stand has a great built-in fan. Since you only charge 5W or 7.5W using third-party options, the Warp Charge 30 wireless charger is sure to be the best go for OnePlus 8 Pro owners.

Google Pixel wireless charger

Pixel Stand

The Pixel Stand is the best option if you are looking for a wireless charger for the Pixel 4 or Pixel 3 series. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 lines allow you to quickly charge 10W and 11W, while most other wireless chargers limit you to 5W or 7.5W. It’s not the fastest charger out there, but your phone essentially works as a Google Home device once it’s placed on the stand.

The best third party wireless chargers

Anker PowerWave II radio charger

The Anker PowerWave II wireless charger is similar to other affordable wireless charging pads with one key difference. The pad is at an angle and allows you to view the phone’s display while it is charging. The flagship Pixel 4 and LG are charged with 15 W. Using Samsung hardware, the pad allows for fast wireless charging with an output of 10W, but it is as good as the best wireless chargers for the iPhone and can fill it up with 7.5W.

Belkin wireless charging pad

The Belkin Wireless Charging Pad offers up to 15 W fast charging for Samsung, Apple and Google smartphones that support it. Every other Qi-enabled device charges at 5W, including Apple’s Airpods and other true wireless earbuds. Since Apple doesn’t have a first-party wireless charger yet, the Belkin Wireless Charger is a great option.

Further reading: Other cell phone chargers worth checking out

frequently asked Questions

Q: What is Qi charging?

A: Qi (pronounced “chee”) is a wireless charging standard that has been adopted by most device manufacturers. There are some competing standards, but if the current generation smartphone supports wireless charging, it is likely Qi-enabled. This universal standard also ensures that you can charge any supported device using any wireless charger. However, you may not get the fastest loading speeds.

Q: Does my phone support wireless charging?

A: You need to look at your phone’s datasheet to make sure it supports wireless charging. Keep in mind that wireless charging will remain a high-end feature for now, although that may change soon. Here are some smartphones that support wireless charging:

• Samsung: All Samsung flagships go back to the Galaxy S7
• Apple: All iPhones go back to the iPhone 8
• Sony: Sony Xperia 1 II, Sony Xperia 10 II
• Google: Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL
• LG: Velvet, V60, G8
• OnePlus: 8 Pro
• Motorola: Edge Plus

Q: Can I wirelessly charge a phone without built-in support?

A: You could get a wireless charging receiver so that you can charge your phone using a wireless charger. Options like the one from the Nillkin slot in your phone’s USB-C port are thin enough to fit under a case. However, the user experience has been different in terms of the effectiveness of using this product. However, if you want to add wireless charging to a phone that doesn’t support it, this is the best way to go.

Q: Can I wirelessly charge a phone with a case?

A: You can only charge your phone with a case if the cover is relatively thin. A case manufacturer will usually point out that wireless charging is also supported.

Q: Is wireless charging faster than a charger?

Unfortunately not. Most wall chargers still offer a much faster charge time. Only OnePlus comes closer to Warp Charge 30 with its wireless charger, but even that’s a bit slower.

Q: Can I wirelessly charge one phone with another?

Only with devices that support reverse wireless charging, such as B. Samsung’s flagships. In this case, you can use your phone to wirelessly charge your earbuds, a smartwatch, or another phone.