The 5 Best Charging Stations of 2023

Best Overall Charging Station

SIIG 90W 10-Port USB Station

$62 at Amazon

84

OVERALL
SCORE

• Number of Devices 9.0
• Device Organization 8.0
• Charging Performance 8.0
• Aesthetics 8.0

Max # of Charging Devices: 10 | Includes USB Charging Cables: No

REASONS TO BUY

Lots of device holders

Provides an organized and efficient way to charge a ton of stuff at once

Handy nightlight and charging deck

REASONS TO AVOID

Slower charging if you have several high-consumption devices

Aesthetics may not appeal to everyone

If you find yourself needing to routinely charge more than six devices at once, our top recommendation is the SIIG 90W 10-Port USB Station. The SIIG has 10 USB ports that are each capable of outputting up to 2.4 amps, and it pairs with vertical holders for up to eight tablets or phones. It also features a charging dock with a non-slip rubberized surface, which holds the ninth device in optimal viewing position. It's perfect for keeping an eye on your phone while it's charging; it's also a great way to minimize clutter and keep all your devices charged and organized in one place. This charging station has a fairly plain, minimalistic design with an eye-catching LED nightlight encircling the charging deck.

While the SIIG is a superb option for those with multiple devices to charge, it has a few flaws. There is no denying that it is one of the larger products of the group, and our judges were split on its visual appeal. If you have a larger device on every single port at once, the charging time will decrease slightly because it can only source a combined 18 amps total. The LED light also doesn't shut off, so those who like to sleep in a dark bedroom may be disturbed by it and want to keep it in another part of the house. Short charging cables aren't included, and we could imagine using longer cables could result in a giant tangle of USB cords. Even with these shortcomings, this is an excellent option if you have many devices to charge at once and don't mind purchasing additional short cables separately.

Best Bang for the Buck

Soopii Quick Charge 3.0

$40 at Amazon

75

OVERALL
SCORE

• Number of Devices 7.0
• Device Organization 8.0
• Charging Performance 8.0
• Aesthetics 7.0

Max # of Charging Devices: 6 | Includes USB Charging Cables: Yes

REASONS TO BUY

Organized holders for tablets and smartwatch

Great charging performance

Includes a variety of different charging cables

REASONS TO AVOID

Dividers are fragile

If you are searching for a top-tier product to charge all your devices and cut down on the clutter while doing so, then we highly recommend the Soopii Quick Charge 3.0. This charging station can charge up to six devices at once and creates a very organized all-in-one charging station. The Soopii has plastic dividers and includes short cables for various devices — even for an Apple Watch. It has excellent charging performance, with some of the higher current outputs per port that we have seen and a single Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 USB port, for charging specific devices — like a Samsung Galaxy smartphone — at the fastest possible rate. It also looks quite stylish with its futuristic look, in our opinion.

Our main issue with the Soopii is the plastic dividers can be fragile. Take care, as we would expect some breakage if the charging station got knocked off a table. Regardless, this is one of our favorite charging stations of all time, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clutter-free and convenient way to charge various electronic devices at once.

Best for Value-Oriented Shoppers

Anker PowerPort 6 Wall Charger

$30 at Amazon

53

OVERALL
SCORE

• Number of Devices 7.0
• Device Organization 3.0
• Charging Performance 8.0
• Aesthetics 5.0

Max # of Charging Devices: 6 | Includes USB Charging Cables: No

REASONS TO BUY

Compact

Inexpensive

Good power output

REASONS TO AVOID

Devices usually get cluttered

The Anker PowerPort 6 Wall Charger is a high-capacity USB power adapter that makes an excellent charging option. Although this charger is essentially a USB power adapter with six plugs, it makes a handy charging station if you're shopping on a budget and don't mind its bare-bones nature. It can charge up to six devices at once, with a maximum output of 2.4 amps per USB port and 12 amps total, making it an effective tool for recharging most USB devices at their maximum rate. It's available with either a white or black outer case and features a relatively basic and unassuming design that blends in well with most settings. It's an excellent option if you routinely charge lots of devices that wouldn't fit well into a tablet stand, such as smartwatches, drones, cameras, fitness trackers, etc. On top of all that, it costs much less than many of the other multiple-device charging options, making it an attractive bargain option.

However, the biggest problem we found is this charger tends to create a lot of clutter. It doesn't include any built-in tablet or phone stands, so you usually end up with a spider web of devices with the charger at the center. If you use typical charging cables, this is made even worse because that could easily leave you with a combined 18'+ of USB cables when using all the ports — a situation that will inevitably lead to a tangled mess. To some degree, you can alleviate this if you buy short cables, but you're going to be hard-pressed to create the same compact and organized charging station that some other products offer off the shelf. The Anker PowerPort is a great budget option if you need a whole lot of USB ports, but it definitely can lead to a very cluttered charging station.

Best Combination Charger

Satechi Dock5

$60 at Amazon

72

OVERALL
SCORE

• Number of Devices 6.0
• Device Organization 8.0
• Charging Performance 8.0
• Aesthetics 8.0

Max # of Charging Devices: 5 | Includes USB Charging Cables: No

REASONS TO BUY

Doubles as a phone stand

Inexpensive

REASONS TO AVOID

Can only charge one wireless device at a time

Difficult to charge non smartphone devices

The Satechi Dock5 is a superb option if you have a mix of wired and wirelessly charging devices and looking for an all-in-one charging station. It has a sleek and stylish look, with integrated device holders that can be a bit nicer in our opinion than the models with snap-in plastic options. The pad in the front can wirelessly charge any Qi-compatible device, and there are four USB ports with decently high power output — two USB-A and two Power Delivery USB-C.

Unfortunately, the Satechi Dock5 doesn't include charging cables and doesn't appear to be capable of fast charging Qualcomm QC devices with the USB-A ports. It's limited to just the four wired devices simultaneously — a bit less than the comparable charging stations we have looked out. Despite that, this could be the perfect option for someone seeking a single charging station that is sleek, stylish, and able to charge both wired and wireless devices.

An Excellent Option for a Single Phone

Anker PowerWave

Max # of Charging Devices: 1 | Includes USB Charging Cables: N/A, wireless charger

Looking for a charging station for a single phone? The Anker PowerWave wireless charging stand is a great option. It's one of our all-time favorite wireless chargers, and it's capable of charging most Qi-compatible devices at their maximum charging speed. It also doubles as an excellent phone stand with the ability to charge your phone in either portrait or landscape modes. It has a simple and clean look, with a base that's entirely covered in a non-slip material to keep it from moving around when you don't want it to.

Of course, if you need to charge multiple devices at once, you'll need to look elsewhere. The PowerWave also offers a slower charge than many wired options, which typically outpace wireless alternatives. Additionally, it's not the most stable; we found it tipped forward fairly easily, and your smartphone can slide out when bumped, particularly if it isn't in a rubberized case, as there is no non-slip cushioning for your phone. The PowerWave stand is still a great bargain option if you want a compact and portable charging stand for a single Qi-compatible smartphone.

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	84	SIIG 90W 10-Port USB Station	$80
	75	Soopii Quick Charge 3.0	$43
	74	Hercules Tuff 6 Port	$45
	74	Poweroni 6-Port USB	$50
	72	Satechi Dock5	$60
	53	Anker PowerPort 6 Wall Charger	$34
	52	Aduro 40W 6-Port	$60
	47	Apple MagSafe	$39
	46	Anker PowerWave	$20
	45	Yootech Qi-Certified Fast Wireless Pad	$13

Why You Should Trust Us

We began by charging all manner of USB devices with these products, covering everything from low-power E-readers and wearables to large tablets and smartphones — occasionally throwing in an atypical device such as an illuminated dog collar. Next, we looked at the number of devices each station can charge and the number of devices each product could effectively store and organize. We also ranked and compared the charging performance of each product, measuring their maximum discharge rates using a dummy load, digital USB multimeter, and charge performance apps, as well as the actual time it took to charge specific devices. Finally, we compared any additional features these products had and convened a panel of judges to rate and score the visual appeal of each charging option, then aggregating their opinions to get well-rounded results.

Our testing of charging stations is divided across four different metrics:

• Number of Devices (40% of overall score weighting)

• Device Organization (40% weighting)

• Charging Performance (10% weighting)

• Aesthetics (10% weighting)

Our USB charging station review is spearheaded by David Wise. David has extensive experience with digital circuits and lithium batteries. This expertise contributed to the design and implementation of our comprehensive side-by-side charging station showdown. He has also tested hundreds of tech products for GearLab, including portable battery banks, wireless chargers, and other battery-powered consumer devices. All of this gives him plenty of experience — and opinions — when it comes to the best USB charging products currently available.

Analysis and Test Results

We grouped the results from our head-to-head tests into a series of different rating metrics, with the performance of each charging station outlined in the following sections. We ranked and evaluated the number of devices each product can charge and hold, as well as their charging performance and visual appeal.

Value

The Anker PowerPort is an excellent option if you are shopping on a budget. It provides plenty of USB ports with solid power output at a below-average price. However, it doesn't cut down cable clutter or act as a true charging station. If you are only looking to charge a single device at a time, and it is Qi wireless charging compatible, the Anker PowerWave stand is a great budget choice. This charger doubles as a phone stand and can charge compatible smartphones in both a portrait and a landscape orientation, all while costing a whole lot less than the multi-device stations.

Number of Devices

We first compared the number of devices these products can hold and charge at once. The vast majority of people have a phone and myriad tablets, E-readers, and other accessories that charge via a USB port, along with the devices of anyone else they might live with.

We found the SIIG 90W 10-Port USB Station to take the cake for charging the most devices at once. As suggested in its name, this product has 10 USB ports — the most out of any product that we tested. Even better, it has dedicated spots for eight tablets or phones and then a charging deck for an additional phone or smaller device, keeping all of your electronics recharged and ready to go in one compact package. However, we wish it included a variety of shorter USB cables rather than forcing you to provide your own.

The Soopii Quick Charge 3.0, the Poweroni 6-Port USB, and the Hercules Tuff 6 Port can all charge up to six devices simultaneously, as the name of the Poweroni and the Hercules would suggest. These products are all true charging stations, with integrated stands and storage for different devices.

The Satechi Dock5 is limited to charging only five devices simultaneously, four wired and one wireless. However, we like the non-slip integrated device holders on this option a bit more than the ones found on the Soopii, Poweroni, and Hercules Tuff. This charging station also has a pad on the front for Qi-compatible devices, like many smartphones or truly wireless earbuds.

The Anker PowerPort and the Aduro 40W 6-Port also have six charging ports but no integrated device storage. The rest of the test fleet only charges a limited number of devices at once, so they're much more appropriate as a personal device charging station than one for the whole family. The Anker PowerWave Stand, Apple MagSafe, and the Yootech charging pad can only wireless charge a single device at a time, making them convenient for personal use but a poor choice if you are looking for a charging station for multiple devices.

Device Organization/Stability

After comparing the number of devices each charging station could recharge at once, we took an in-depth look at how easy it is to keep your devices organized and securely connected when hooked up to these USB docking stations. We looked at the range of devices each product can comfortably hold, if it is easy to keep the cables neat and uncluttered, and if your devices are held securely and stably.

When it comes to keeping your device in place and charging in an organized way, it's hard to beat the Soopii Quick Charge 3.0, the Poweroni 6-Port, the Satechi Dock5, and the Hercules Tuff. These products can all comfortably hold most smartphones and tablets, even having high enough dividers that they can even keep a full-size Macbook in place — somewhat tenuously as the entire unit might tip over from the weight if you use any of the outer slots. It feels like you will break the divider before you can get even the tallest tablets to fall over.

The Soopii, Poweroni, and the Hercules Tuff all include short (8"-10") charging cables, which we feel is the only way to keep your charging station from getting overly cluttered. Even carefully managed, typical 3'-6' charging cables end up creating a giant tangle and an eyesore with this many devices in one place. The Soopii sets itself apart slightly by having a dedicated holder for an Apple Watch.

Unfortunately, the Satechi Dock5 does not include charging cables, leaving it up to you to purchase short ones to keep the cable clutter at a minimum. However, we do like the non-slip rubber on this model much more than many of the others, feeling like it provided a more secure grip for your devices.

Of the multi-device wired chargers, the SIIG does a great job of organizing many devices, provided you purchase the appropriate amount of short charging cables. In terms of stability, it doesn't fare as well. The dividers on this charger are triangular, with taller devices prone to tipping forward if they aren't slid in all the way and bumped from the back. There also isn't any non-slip material inside the slot, making it much easier for your tablets and phones to slide around. However, the charging deck does a fairly good job of keeping a smartphone in place while plugged in and letting you easily see the screen.

No matter how hard you try to keep them neatly stacked, it's tough to keep your devices organized with the Anker PowerPort or the Aduro. Their natural tendency is for the devices to fan out and take over whatever surface they are on.

The remaining chargers — the Yootech Charging Pad, Apple MagSafe, and the Anker PowerWave Stand — only wirelessly charge a single device, so they are at a bit of an advantage when it comes to keeping the charging devices organized. However, it doesn't take a ton of force to knock your phone or other devices out of the proper charging position, particularly with the Yootech. However, we liked that the MagSafe has relatively strong magnets that hold it in place on the back of compatible smartphones, making it a bit easier to maintain proper alignment than with the Yootech or Anker PowerWave.

Charging Performance

Our third metric focused on these products' actual electrical and charging performance, looking at the time it took to charge a particular device, max power output per USB port, and maximum shared power output for all devices.

Starting with the wired chargers, the Anker PowerPort and the Soopii Quick Charge 3.0 excelled in this metric. These chargers are both capable of a combined 60 watts of output, according to the manufacturer. They can output up to 2.4 amps per port to fast charge even larger devices and have a shared output of 12 amps, so if you have six devices all drawing the maximum power at once, the maximum output per port will only drop to two amps. The Soopii also has a single Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port, allowing for maximum charging speed for certain devices.

The Satechi Dock5 also excels in charging performance. It has a pair of USB-A ports that can output up to 2.4 amps each and a pair of USB-C Power Delivery ports, each with a 20W maximum. Additionally, the wireless charging pad is capable of outputting up to 10W, depending on the device's capabilities.

The SIIG 90W 10-Port USB Station followed, also capable of outputting up to 2.4 amps per port. However, this unit can only source a maximum of 18 amps among its 10 USB ports, so the maximum output current will drop to 1.8 amps if using all the ports at once with high-power consumption devices. This product also delivered one of the better performances in our test, taking around one hour and 42 minutes to completely recharge a Samsung S8 with minimal use and showing an average charging rate of 67.2% per hour, according to the Accubattery app.

The Hercules Tuff and Poweroni came next, with almost identical charging stats. This pair both have a maximum power output of 50 watts, meaning a maximum current of 10 amps at the five-volt USB standard. They both can output a maximum of 2.4 amps per USB port if the device requests it, but this will drop to around 1.667 amps per USB port if you have all six of them being used by a high-current device.

The wireless chargers — the Yootech Charging Pad and the Anker PowerWave Stand — all are going to be slower than a wired charger. However, we appreciate that this pair can fast wireless charge most Samsung and Apple Qi-compatible devices at their maximum rate — either 7.5 or 10 watts. However, we found the Anker PowerWave to be remarkably speedy, fully charging our test Samsung S8 in around two hours and 18 minutes — significantly faster than the Yootech's two hours and 53 minutes. The Apple MagSafe is capable of outputting a whopping 15W to compatible iPhones, practically matching the performance of a wired charger but will perform similarly to other wireless chargers when using other Qi devices.

Aesthetics

According to our judges, the SIIG 90W 10-Port, and the Satechi Dock5 came out on top when it came to looks, scoring just a tiny bit higher than the Hercules Tuff, Poweroni, or the Soopii Quick Charge 3.0.

Both the Satechi and the SIIG have integrated dividers that give it a cleaner, more minimalistic look than the models with the snap-in options. We like this clean aesthetic considerably more, and the SIIG even has an accent LED light around the charging dock, giving it a nice touch.

The Hercules Tuff, Poweroni, or the Soopii Quick Charge 3.0 are fairly run-of-the-mill in appearance but still decently stylish. These chargers all have clear plastic dividers, putting the visual focus on your devices and not the charger itself. The remaining products all have a fairly nondescript appearance and seem designed to fade into the background rather than make any style statements. However, we appreciated that the Aduro, the Anker PowerPort, and the Yootech are offered in a few color options to better match your current decor and preferences.

The Apple MagSafe is also very stylish, with a matching white and silver look to go along with many other Apple products.

Conclusion

We hope this has been a helpful breakdown of the most compelling device charging stations currently available and has been useful in your search for a system to keep all your devices juiced up and ready to go. Our expert recommendations are here to help you find the perfect charging solution, whether you want a basic, budget option for just a few devices or a top-tier heavy-duty charger that can handle your family's entire collection of smartphones, tablets, E-readers, and more.