The Best Options If You Need a Wireless Phone Charger

It’s easy to go into a mind panic when your mobile phone’s low battery warning is flashing, and you either can’t find your cable, or it seems faulty when you plug in your phone. There is a much easier way to ensure your Android or iOS is fully powered up: a wireless phone charger.

A wireless phone charger is an ingenious invention. It uses coiled wires in a plastic housing to produce a magnetic field that generates electricity. To use these devices, set your phone down on the pad and let science take over. Check out these top wireless phone chargers if you’d like to avoid wires and keep your iPhone or Android device charged all day.

Tip: before buying a new charger, learn the wireless charger criteria to watch for.

1. Best Overall Charger: Anker PowerWave II Pad

Price: $30

The Anker PowerWave II is the perfect wireless charger if you have an Android and an iOS device. It has anti-slip silicone rings on the top and bottom, to ensure your device is secure, and a small LED light that indicates the charging status.

Pros

• Automatically switches between 5W, 7.5W, 10W and 15W charging modes
• Compatible with all Qi-enabled gadgets
• Comes with a 5-foot power cord and wall adapter

Cons

• Relatively bulky
• Challenging to hide cables

2. Best for iPhone and AirPods: Apple MagSafe Charger

Price: $31

The Apple MagSafe Charger is a Qi-compatible gadget that easily snaps onto the back of your device so that the magnets align for faster charging. It comes with a three-foot USB-C cable and is compatible with iPhone 8 models and later.

Pros

• Compatible with all Apple devices
• Built for longevity
• Small and compact

• Provides a 15-watt charge

Cons

• Only available in one color
• More expensive than similar gadgets
• Will not work with Android devices

Good to know: to avoid overcharging, set up your iPhone to notify you when the battery is at 80 percent.

3. Best For Samsung Phones: Samsung 15W Wireless Charger

Price: $51

The Samsung 15W Wireless Charger has a sleek design that fits in with the decor of any room. It provides up to 15 watts of charging power and has a built-in cooling fan to ensure it doesn’t overheat.

Pros

• Compatible with Android and Apple devices
• Several indication lights for the charging status
• 15 watts charging power
• Built-in cooling fan

Cons

• Price is a bit steep
• Can only charge one device at a time
• Available in only one color

4. Best Bargain Wireless Charger: Yootech 10W Wireless Charging Pad

Price: $14

Not all wireless chargers need to cost you an arm and a leg. This Yootech 10W Wireless Charging Pad also gets the job done, as it has a 10W pad with a glowing light to show the charging status. It is compatible with Android and iOS devices and has a three-foot USB-C cable.

Pros

• Green charging indicator light
• Illuminates for 16 seconds, then automatically switches off
• Rubber rings on both sides to ensure the phone doesn’t move
• Includes three-foot USB-C cable

Cons

• It doesn’t ship with a wall adapter

Tip: a portable power bank may make it easier to keep your smartphone charged when you’re on the go.

5. Best for Charging Multiple Devices: Yoxinta 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station

Price: $29

If you have a few devices that support wireless charging, there is no need to buy separate pads for each one. The Yoxinta 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station combines three wireless chargers into a great convenient stand.

Pros

• Dedicated areas to charge mobile phones, earbuds, and smartwatches
• Compatible with Android and iOS devices
• Foldable
• Comes with a charging cable and wall socket

Cons

• Blue charging illumination on the earbud section is distracting
• Takes up a lot of space on a desk

Also helpful: if you need to charge your watch, this list of the best charging stands for your Apple Watch may help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other than the charger, do you need special equipment?

No. The wireless charger usually ships with a separate cable to connect it to a power source, and you only need to put your phone on the pad to work.

Does a wireless charger work through a phone case?

Yes. Most wireless chargers are powerful enough to work through a plastic or silicone phone cover. However, wireless chargers don’t work with metal cases or cases that carry credit cards or have finger grips attached.

Can you use a wireless charger with a power bank?

If the wireless charger uses a USB connection, it would be possible to use a power bank as the electrical source.

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