Best Wireless Chargers

How to Choose a Wireless Charger

Cables fray, connectors wear out, and fumbling with ports in the dark is annoying. Wireless charging solves all of that. Drop your phone down, pick it up charged. The future is here, and it's pretty convenient.

Speed Matters (But Not Always)

Standard Qi (5W): Glacially slow. Charges overnight, basically trickle charging.

Fast Wireless (10W): Reasonable speed. Fine for overnight or desk charging.

Qi2/MagSafe (15W): As fast as wireless gets. Phone to full in ~3 hours.

The reality check: Wireless is always slower than wired. If you need fast emergency charging, grab a cable. Wireless excels at passive charging—nightstand, desk, car mount—where it charges without thinking about it.

### Pad vs. Stand

Charging Pads

Lay flat on desk or nightstand
- Phone can be harder to see/use while charging
- More stable placement
- Often cheaper

Charging Stands
- Phone visible at an angle
- Perfect for StandBy mode (iOS) or Always-On Display
- Can use phone while charging
- Takes more desk space

For nightstand or desk use, stands win. For drop-and-go spots, pads work fine.

### The Ecosystem Question

Apple's MagSafe and Qi2 hit 15W on iPhones. Samsung's chargers optimize for Galaxy phones. Using the "wrong" charger usually still works—just at standard Qi speeds.

If you're mixing ecosystems in a household, standard Qi chargers keep everyone happy, even if nobody gets maximum speed.

### Heat Is the Enemy

Wireless charging generates heat. Heat degrades batteries. Quality chargers include cooling (fans or heat dissipation design) and reduce power when temperatures climb. The $15 charger charges slower partly because it's being smart about heat.