If you constantly lose charging cables or live in a household whereAndroid phones and iPhones peacefully coexist, consider investing in a wireless charging pad. In addition to serving as universal charging options for compatible iPhones and Android devices, wireless chargers help reduce cable clutter and are much more difficult to break or lose.
We gathered some of our favorite chargers that work well with any phone that supports wireless charging. Some don't cost much more than a replacement cable, so pricing shouldn’t be a barrier to making the switch to wireless no matter how much you want to spend.
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Most Affordable Charging Pad
Anker PowerWave II Pad
The Anker PowerWave II Pad is an excellent value. It intelligently switches between 5W, 7.5W, 10W, and 15W charging speeds and sports a silicone ring that prevents your device from slipping. It plugs in directly to a wall outlet via the included DC power adapter.
Most Portable
Native Union Drop Wireless Charger
Native Union’s stylish Drop Wireless Charger has a slim aluminum base and a fabric pad with a unique silicone tread pattern. It's available in black, blue, green, or pink and supports all Qi-compatible smartphones and accessories with speeds of up to 10W. A 6.5-foot, USB-A-to-USB-C cable comes in the box, but you need to supply a power source.
Best for Luxury Seekers
Courant Catch:1
A luxurious take on the wireless charging pad, the Courant Catch:1 features a matte aluminum base and an Italian pebble-grain leather charging area. It charges all Qi-enabled smartphones and wearables at up to 10W. It ships with a USB-A-to-USB-C cable, but you need to provide a power adapter.
Best Wireless Charging Stand
Belkin Boost Charge 10W
The Belkin Boost Charge 10W's integrated stand and grippy charging surface make it one of the most versatile entries on this list. If you want to watch a movie while your phone is powering up, this is the charger to get. For reference, the upgraded version of this charger offer faster 15W speeds.
Best for Charging Two Devices
Belkin BoostCharge Dual Wireless Charging Pad
Dual wireless charging docks tend to be expensive, but the Belkin BoostCharge Dual Wireless Charging Pad isn't. This oblong plastic pad features two charging areas, each of which offers up to 10W of power. Non-slip grips prevent your devices from moving around, while handy LEDs show the charging status. Belkin includes a power supply in the box, as well.
Best for a Disappearing Design
Humanscale NeatCharge
The Humanscale NeatCharge is the only option on our list that doesn't take up (visible) desk space: This 10W Qi wireless charger is powerful enough to work through furniture that’s over an inch thick. Simply install it on the underside of your desk or nightstand and place a small positioning sticker on top so you know where to put your phone. Humanscale provides excellent setup instructions, whether you choose to install with small screws or heavy-duty adhesive.
What Type of Wireless Charger Should You Buy?
If your new iPhone didn't come with a charger or you also want to charge your AirPods or Apple Watch, check out our roundup of the best wireless chargers for your Apple devices. The chargers we list in that story use the Qi (pronounced "chee") standard, which works at speeds of up to 15W. Just keep in mind that older iPhones top out at wireless speeds of 7.5W, regardless of what the charger theoretically supports.
If you have a more recent Apple device, you can use MagSafe charging. MagSafe chargers power your device at the same maximum rate as Qi, but feature a built-in magnetometer that keeps your device in place and a compass that prevents interference.
Although Android phones also support Qi charging, they don't support MagSafe. But the next version of the Qi standard, Qi2, employs a new Magnetic Power Profile that ensures more efficient and sustainable charging. Phones and chargers with Qi2 support haven't started to appear yet, however.
Also keep in mind that some Android phones can charge much more quickly than others. The OnePlus 10 Pro, for instance, supports 50W wireless charging via the company's $69.99 Warp Charge 50 dock. If your phone supports a proprietary charging standard and dock, that's the one you should get if you want the best speeds.
Dave LeClair and Steven Winkelman contributed to this article.
