Best Wireless Charger
Wireless charging with an induction pad and compatible device is some real sci-fi stuff, where you can keep your device’s battery topped up by simply placing it on a pad, and letting it gradually charge without having to connect a charging cable.
By buying one of these relatively cheap wireless charging pads, or perhaps several of them if you want to charge in a few different places, lets you forget about fiddling around with a charging cable. It’s a lovely modern convenience that might even change how you think about charging.
You can use Qi wireless chargers for devices such as Phones, Tablets, Headphones, smartwatches, and even the Philips IconiQ shaver! It’s a broadly adopted standard, that manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, Motorola and many others support. If there’s a specific device that you are wanting to charge wirelessly, you may wish to check with the manufacturer that is in fact supported.
Here’s our roundup of the best options for Qi wireless chargers.
Products at a Glance
Best Wireless Charger
- Good value
- Great build quality
- Nice color options
- Connects via dated Micro USB
- Somewhat plain design
- Faster wireless chargers are available.
- Really cheap
- Offers 10W charging
- 30 month warranty
- Not particularly visually appealing
- Charging surface not fully rubberised
- No support for 7.5W charging
- 15W charging
- Very durable
- USB-C connector
- Pricy
- Still slower than wired charging
- No color options.
- USB-C connectivity
- Decent speeds
- Reliable brand
- Not the cheapest option
- Not the fastest option
- Plain design
What power cable should I connect these wireless chargers to?
For optimate performance, all of these wireless chargers should be connected to a port that offers wattage higher than the wireless charger. So for example in order to get the full 15W capabilities from a 15W wireless charger, it should be connected to a port that is supplying it with 24W or more, and a 10W wireless charger should be connected to a port that is supplying it with 15W or more.
Can I wireless charge my phone while it’s in a case?
Qi charging can in general be used with phones in cases, but there are a few caveats. You can wireless charge phones in cases, but not any cases that contain metal or magnets. You also cannot wirelessly charge in a case if you’re using a case that features protruding grips or stands. You also cannot use it in cases that you use to store credit cards in.
Keeping your phone in a case might reduce charging speeds somewhat, and each individual charger is rated for different case thicknesses.
Where can I find out more about Qi Wireless charging?
Head over to the Wireless Power Consortium website for more information about the Qi wireless charging standard.
Our Verdict
The Anker PowerWave Pad 10 is our top pick for wireless charger. It’s a great value charger that offers decent speed, and a thoughtful design. One or several of these placed around your home or workplace would let you leave behind the hassle of having to physically plug in your phone or other devices in to charge every time they’re running low.