Our tech teams researched more than 50 top products before purchasing 11 of the best wireless chargers to test side-by-side. Wireless chargers are convenient, quick, and easy to use, but so many products on the market appear nearly identical. We tested these chargers head-to-head to determine which ones truly bring the juice. We evaluated the charging rate for various devices, assessed ergonomics, examined aesthetics, considered versatility, and noted whether a charger included any extra features. This round-up offers expert recommendations for which charger works the fastest and which is best for iPhones, and it surely will help you find the best wireless charger for your needs and budget.
Listed Power Output: 5W/10W | Input Power Connector: Micro-USB
REASONS TO BUY
Simple aesthetic
Solid charging performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Shorter included power cable
Tips forward fairly easily
The Anker PowerWave Stand is simple, quick, and efficient. This charger had outstanding charge time performance in our tests. It stood out by fully charging a Samsung S8 30-60 minutes faster than other options. You can orient your phone in portrait and landscape orientations using this charger, which means the PowerWave also effectively doubles as a phone stand. It stays stealthy with its spartan aesthetic and a discreet LED charging status light display.
One drawback we noticed is that it can sometimes be shaky if you knock it from behind. This becomes a problem due to the stand's lack of grip on the surface it sits on. Without a rubbery backing on your phone case or other non-slip material to help with the grip, your phone could freely slip out. This can make it difficult to charge your wireless earbuds, as well. All that aside, this model offers a quick and simple solution for wireless charging and is a great choice if you want a charging stand with a simple look that works quickly.
The Anker PowerWave Stand is an exceptional wireless charging stand and one of our all-around favorites.
Listed Power Output: Up to 15W | Input Power Connector: USB-C
REASONS TO BUY
Sleek
Low-profile
Magnetic attachment
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No indicator light
If your goal is a simple wireless charger for an Apple device, the Apple MagSafe Charger is what you want. The charger attaches magnetically to your devices, holding them securely, whether AirPods or an iPhone. The aluminum charger has a clean, sleek, aesthetic look, with a high amount of output at up to 15W for fast charging with Apple specific products. This charger puts out even with thin cases and charges devices at their max capacity.
The MagSafe is clean and slick right out of the box; however, with a magnetic charger, metal dust can get attached and stick, leading to possible scratches on the charger and the device. A brushed aluminum finish doesn't show fingerprints or dirt easily. It features a scratch-proof plastic ring for the phone to rest on. Overall, this is a great option for Apple devices.
The simple sleek design is expected from Apple and an extremely efficient charger put into a small package.
Listed Power Output: 5W/7.5W/10W | Input Power Connector: USB-C
REASONS TO BUY
Charges quickly
Grippy and stable
Great for earbuds
REASONS TO AVOID
Accumulates dust and dirt
If you prefer a pad over a stand, consider the Yootech Fast Wireless Pad. It has fast charging speeds and works with many phone case thicknesses. It continued to charge our test phone with a 7mm spacer between it and the pad. The entire charger lights up with an LED status light to give you an informative visual from any angle, and it has the grip needed to keep your devices—including your wireless earbuds—in place while charging.
However, while the LED ring light might prove useful for some, others could find it stands out too much for their liking. Thankfully, if you want a charger that blends in more, the LED light turns off after some time, so your nightstand won't be annoyingly glowing at all hours. It's one of our all-around favorites if you are looking for a wireless charging pad instead of a stand. It is usually a better option if you are hoping to charge both a phone and accessory devices, like wireless earbuds.
The Yootech is a simple docking station for a single Qi-compatible phone or accessory.
Listed Power Output: 10W | Input Power Connector: USB-C
REASONS TO BUY
Great charging performance
Can charge three devices at once
Doubles as a phone stand
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless is a unique product in this lineup, as it can act as both a wireless charging pad and a portable charger. You can plug in the PowerCore III to recharge its internal battery and set your phone on top to recharge while at your desk, or take this charger with you to act as a wireless charger or a wired portable charger. You can even charge up to 3 devices simultaneously — two wired, and one wireless. On top of all that, this charger has a small clip that can act as a phone stand and has a very sleek look.
However, this charger is a bit on the more expensive side. Also, it's fairly easy to accidentally knock your phone off while using the wireless charging feature, as there isn't a lot of nonstick material. And while we love the integrated phone stand, we wish there was a way to have your phone wirelessly recharged in this configuration. All in all, we highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a combination/all-in-one charging solution and doesn't mind paying a little extra for it.
The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless has solid charging capabilities and doubles as a wireless charging pad and a portable power bank.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Compare Products
There isn't much diversity in appearance when it comes to wireless charging pads.
Credit: David Wise
Why You Should Trust Us
We charged various devices with these products, looking at how well each one did with smartphones and with things like wireless earbuds and smartwatches. We objectively compared charging performance side-by-side by timing how long each product took to recharge the same phone and used a set of spacers to see just how large a gap could be before charging didn't work. We also checked to see if these chargers could sustain your battery while watching a movie, as well as rating and scoring each product's aesthetics, ergonomics, and stability. Finally, we tested and compared other particularly noteworthy features of each model.
Here at GearLab, David Wise leads the charge when it comes to wireless chargers. David has rated and reviewed hundreds of tech and consumer products for GearLab over the last few years, covering categories like portable chargers, digital multimeters, 3D printers, and cordless tools. He also has formal mechanical engineering education, focusing on lithium battery-powered systems, including a wireless recharging autonomous underwater robot.
We used a series of 3D printed spacers of different thicknesses to measure and compare the effective charging gap.
We also consulted the AccuBattery app when comparing charging performance.
We used a Samsung S8, capable of Fast Wireless Charging at 10 watts, as our test phone to compare performance side-by-side.
Analysis and Test Results
We grouped our side-by-side comparisons into four separate metrics — charging performance, ergonomics/stability, aesthetics, and other features — with our wireless charger results discussed below.
Value
Fortunately, most of these products, even the top-tier options, are fairly inexpensive, making it much easier if you are shopping on a budget. The Yootech Fast Wireless Pad charging pad is a great choice if you are shopping on the slimmest of budgets.
Charging Performance
To assess charging performance, we looked at the claimed power output of each charger. We also used test phones — a Samsung S8 and an Apple iPhone 13 Mini — to compare charge times and 3D-printed spacers of varying thicknesses to determine the maximum effective charging gap between the charger and the device.
The Yootech Wireless Stand, Anker PowerWave Stand, and the Apple MagSafe Charger stood out in our charging time test. We used a Samsung S8 as our test phone, which can charge at a maximum of 10 watts, and an Apple iPhone 13 Mini, which can charge at a maximum rate of 15 watts. The PowerWave Stand took 2 hours and 18 minutes to achieve a complete charge, turning the phone on once it reached 5% battery with minimal use while charging. The Yootech Wireless Stand took longer, needing about 15 extra minutes to completely charge the phone.
In our experience, the wireless charging pads generally took longer than the charging stands to charge our test phones. The Yootech Fast Wireless Pad did very well, taking just under 3 hours to complete the task. Worth noting the ability of the MagSafe Charger to charge up to 15 watts for iPhone models, over the 7.5 watts available using other Qi wireless charging platforms with iPhones. This puts the charging in about 2hrs from 5%.
The PowerWave Stand delivered some of the fastest charge times in our evaluations.
Credit: David Wise
We also looked at the maximum effective charging gap of each charger. Using a series of spacers, we wanted to emulate case thickness to determine whether or not that factor would inhibit a model's ability to charge. It is worth noting that a metallic case or mount will immediately stop wireless charging, no matter which model you are using. The PowerWave Stand was able to effectively charge a phone with a 7mm spacer between the phone and the charger, while others were limited to more like 4mm. This charger can also handle a phone in portrait or landscape orientations without charging performance being affected.
For the charging pads, the Yootech Fast Wireless Pad impressed us. Our phone kept charging with a 7-millimeter spacer separating it from the Yootech pad, so even the thickest and most heavy-duty cases should still work with this model.
The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless also had great charging performance. It charges most Qi-certified devices at their maximum rate with its 10-watt output capability, performing similarly to the Yootech Fast Wireless Pad. On top of that, it can also charge most smartphones as quickly as possible using its 18-watt USB-C output.
The Yootech did quite well when it comes to charging performance.
Credit: David Wise
Ergonomics/Stability
Wireless charging requires your phone to be precisely placed, so we looked for products that made it easy to align your phone and hold it securely and chargers that didn't easily tip over or slide around. Consequently, our next round of tests focused on how well each charger holds phones and other devices.
The clear winner when it comes to the charging stands is the Yootech Wireless Stand. In comparison, the other stands have a small protrusion where your phone sits and a gap underneath. The front of the Yootech is solid, meaning that it can't tip forward in the way the other stands can. The Yootech Wireless Stand and the Anker PowerWave Stand have their entire bases covered in a non-slip rubber that keeps them from getting pulled around.
The Anker PowerWave has its entire base covered in a non-slip material, which unfortunately attracts dust and dirt.
Credit: David Wise
We also liked that the Yootech Wireless Stand and the NANAMI Wireless Stand have a small amount of rubber to cushion your phone and keep it in place. This is particularly handy if you don't have your phone in a rubber case. It makes the most difference when using these chargers with your phone in landscape mode since phones in portrait mode tend to tip over rather than slide out (meaning that the non-slip material doesn't help).
Most of the charging stands can charge your phone in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Credit: David Wise
Among charging pads, the Mophie Wireless Pad impressed us with how well it resists your phone from getting nudged off. The charging pads also have grippy material to keep your phone from sliding around on top, but the Mophie and the Yootech Fast Wireless Pad are slightly better at keeping your phone in place.
The raised rubberized ring on the Yootech securely holds your wireless charging earbuds right where you want them.
Credit: David Wise
The Apple MagSafe Charger connection is better than the alternatives. For a relatively small charging base, the magnetic attachment connects to the phone exactly where it is supposed to for maximum efficiency. Strong enough to pick up the phone, and the pad stay attached, allowing users to wirelessly charge the phone while in hand and being used. This ability, while convenient, isn't as convenient as a wired charger. However, it is an advantage this wireless charging pad has over the competition.
There is still enough magnetic attraction from the MagSafe charger to lift with a smaller device like AirPods.
Credit: Jacob Clark
The Mophie Wireless Pad and Yootech Fast Wireless Pad also do a great job keeping earbud cases in position with a raised ring of rubbery material. The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless also has a raised ring of non-slip materials. Still, it is considerably smaller than many of the others, making it a bit easier to knock your phone off, but not by much.
The PowerCore III 10K Wireless has a ring of non-slip material, but it has a smaller overall footprint than most modern smartphones.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Aesthetics
These devices often end up on a nightstand or desk as a fairly prominent feature, so it is worth considering their appearance before making your final selection. Admittedly, these products all have a fairly generic appearance, but a few standout products are worth mentioning in the aesthetics department.
While most wireless charging pads seem to have a hockey puck-inspired design, the Tozo W1 breaks that mold considerably. With one of the lowest profiles, this sleek and stylish pad is barely thick enough for the USB-C connector — and has a glossy mirror-like finish. The charging indicator lights on the side are nice accents to the overall look as well. However, this glossy finish is a bit more prone to showing fingerprints.
The TOZO W1 has a mirror-like finish but can easily get covered in fingerprints.
Credit: David Wise
The remainder of the charging pads are all fairly similar in looks. The Anker PowerWave Pad and the Mophie Wireless Pad are a bit thicker, with a matte black finish that does an excellent job keeping dust, dirt, and fingerprints at bay. The Yootech Fast Wireless Pad has one of the higher profiles of the entire group. A concentric ring of non-slip materials makes them a bit more attractive visually, with the solid illuminated ring on the Yootech providing another nice accent feature.
The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless is fairly bland in appearance, resembling just about every other portable charger on the market. However, we do like the textured finish.
The PoweCore III 10K Wireless has a sleek and streamlined design with a lightly textured finish.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
As far as charging stands, none are particularly striking, and many look quite similar. However, our judges appreciated the design of the Yootech Wireless Stand and the Anker PowerWave Stand. If you prefer a more rounded look, Yootech is a good option.
The Anker PowerWave Stand has a simple and clean aesthetic.
Credit: David Wise
If you are a fan of a more angular look and want your charger to blend into the background a bit more, there is something to be said about the Anker PowerWave Stand's minimalistic square design.
Other Features
While these products are all primarily designed to charge a smartphone, a few are a bit more versatile and have some bonus features.
The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless easily claims the top spot. It can charge three devices at once, act as both a wired and wireless charger, and even function as a phone stand with a slide-out clip.
None of the other products can charge more than one device at a time, but all of the charging pads can charge any Qi-compatible device, so they can charge phones and also earbuds with wireless charging cases. The charging stands can do this as well, but it can be much more work to get earbuds or other devices aligned in the right spot to charge successfully.
The Anker PowerWave Pad doesn't have a raised ring to help align and secure earbud cases.
Credit: David Wise
All of the charging stands can double as phone stands when disconnected. Some of the charging pads — like the Yootech Fast Wireless Pad — thoughtfully turn off any charging status lights after a certain amount of time to make them a little nicer if you have them on your nightstand, but that about sums up any extra features.
The PowerCore III 10K Wireless is one of the most versatile models we tested. It can wirelessly charge a phone while simultaneously charging up to two other devices with its USB and USB-C connections.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you are looking for the fastest charger, the best-looking one, or one that can handle multiple devices, we hope that this has been a helpful review in your search for a new wireless charger.
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GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
