While any Qi-certified wireless charger can provide basic charging speeds, the best wireless chargers are not only widely compatible, but also deliver the fastest charging speeds for your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or other Android smartphone. After all, one of the benefits of wireless charging it being able to simply drop your smartphone down for a quick top-up, and in that case, you want to get as much power into it as quickly as you can. The best wireless phone chargers should be at the top of the list for anybody looking for safe and reliable wireless charging that won’t leave you waiting when you’re ready to run out the door. Samsung’s Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand earns the “fast” moniker, as it puts out the maximum 15W charging speeds that you just can’t find on most other Qi wireless chargers. This makes it a great choice for anywhere that you need to quickly top up your phone, whether that’s in your office or your kitchen. Of course, as a standard Qi-certified wireless charger, you can also use it with any other Qi-compatible smartphone, where it will offer the same standard charging speeds as most other wireless chargers. Since wireless charging can also generate quite a bit of heat, however, Samsung’s charger also incorporates a fan—something we rarely see on Qi chargers. This means you won’t need to worry about overheating your smartphone, no matter how long you leave it on the stand. Naturally, since it’s made by Samsung, it also features a really sleek design to complement your smartphone as well. Charging Speed: 15W, 12W | Compatability: Android and iOS | Adapter Included: Yes The MagSafe technology keeps the charging coil perfectly aligned with the iPhone, guaranteeing maximum 15W charging speeds without wasting any power by not having things lined up properly. This means it’s not only good for your iPhone, but it’s great for the environment too. It also works as a standard 7.5W Qi wireless charger for older iPhones and other Qi-compatible devices, so you can use it to juice up your AirPods Pro or even your friends’ Android smartphones. The slim and compact design of Apple’s MagSafe charger also lets you take it just about anywhere, and since it snaps onto the back of your iPhone 12 magnetically, you can even pick up your device and use it while it’s charging. Plus, thanks to a vibrant community of inexpensive and creative third-party accessory makers, you can find lots of versatile mounting options to use it as everything from a desk stand to a car mount. Charging Speed: 15W, 12W | Compatability: iOS only | Adapter Included: No What makes Yootech’s Wireless Charger Stand an especially great pick, however, is that it goes above and beyond what most budget-minded wireless chargers offer. Not only does it feature a nice minimalist design that props up your smartphone while it charges, but it can also support faster charging speeds—up to 15W for LG’s V50 devices, and 11W for the Google Pixel. Yootech’s two-coil design also means that it can handle a variety of different phone sizes, and you can even use it to charge smaller Qi-enabled accessories like AirPods and Galaxy Buds, which is rare in an upright wireless charger. It also lets you lay most smartphones sideways across the charger, making it a great stand for watching your favourite YouTube clips. Charging Speed: 15W (LG), 11W (Google), 10W, 7.5W, 5W | Compatability: Android and iOS | Adapter Included: No Each pad offers up to 7.5W charging speeds to whatever you drop onto them, but thanks to Fast Charge 2.0 technology, you can juice up a compatible Samsung smartphone on the larger main pad even faster—at speeds of up to 12W. While the smaller charging pad is specifically designed to accommodate Samsung’s Gear S3, Gear Sport, and Galaxy Watch smartwatches, it can also be used with any Qi compatible device. Samsung has also thoughtfully included a built-in fan here, so you won’t have to worry about your smartphone overheating while it’s on the pad. The minimalist aesthetic also means it blends in seamlessly, although since it’s designed to charge two devices at once it comes in at 8.5 inches wide—not too bad for a dual charger, but definitely bigger than a single-pad Qi wireless charger. Charging Speed: 12W, 7.5W | Compatability: Android, iOS, and Samsung wearables | Adapter Included: Yes While it doesn’t support any of the more proprietary fast-charging technologies like MagSafe or Samsung Fast Charge, it does deliver the standard Qi-compliant speeds of 7.5W to all the latest iPhone models, or 10W for compatible Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy lineup. The only catch is that you’ll have to supply your own power adapter that delivers enough wattage for those faster charger speeds. Set at just the right angle, Anker’s pad keeps your smartphone propped up so you can easily read its display and even authenticate with facial recognition. Plus, the twin-coil design lets you set it down in landscape mode for watching your videos. It’s fully case-compatible too, so you’ll have no problems keeping the power flowing through even some of the bulkiest cases—up to 5mm thick. Charging Speed: 10W, 7.5W, 5W | Compatability: Android and iOS | Adapter Included: No The Pixel stand also intelligently signals its presence to your Pixel whenever it’s placed on the stand, turning it into a smart hub for your desktop or bedside table. This lets you use it as a digital photo frame to automatically show off your favourite pictures, while also offering access to Google Assistant and Google Home features. Plus, you can set your smartphone up to automatically enable Do Not Disturb or trigger a bedtime or work routine for your Google Home devices whenever you drop it onto the stand. Unfortunately, while this stand is an obvious pick for Pixel owners, especially since it’s one of the few ways to get faster wireless charging on your Google smartphone, it’s important to keep in mind that it only delivers 5W charging speeds to non-Pixel devices, making it a far less practical option for everyone else—especially considering its higher price tag. Charging Speed: 11W (Pixel 4), 10W (Pixel 3), 5W | Compatibility: Android | Adapter Included: Yes A non-slip rubber ring complements the soft fabric coating to make sure your smartphone stays in place, while also charging at the fastest Qi-certified charging speeds—up to 7.5W for iPhones and up to 10W for compatible Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy series. The flat surface can also be used to charge smaller devices like Apple’s AirPods or Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. Since the iON isn’t much larger than a deck of cards, it’s small enough to take with you on the go, and the standard USB-C power connector means you won’t even necessarily need to worry about packing a power adapter, since it can be plugged into any powered USB-C port, whether that’s on your laptop, or in your car or hotel room. Charging Speed: 10W, 7.5W | Compatability: Android and iOS | Adapter Included: Yes Thanks to MagSafe support, Belkin’s stand packs in the latest charging technology, meaning it can power up your iPhone 12 at full 15W charging speeds while charging your Apple Watch, plus a set of AirPods, AirPods Pro, or any other Qi-compatible device. This makes it a great option for families, since you can charge any other smartphone simply by placing it on the base, whether that’s another iPhone or even an Android device. Best of all, this is accomplished with a single power adapter, so you won’t have to worry about taking up multiple outlets or adding a power bar. Plus, it includes the adapter in the box, guaranteeing the fastest possible charging speeds for all of your devices without the need to supply your own compatible adapter. Charging Speed: 15W | Compatability: Android and iOS (MagSafe) | Adapter Included: Yes
The frame is made from solid and attractive New Zealand Pine, making it a nice furnishing for your home even without the charging capabilities, however it’s the 10-watt Qi-certified wireless charger behind the picture that makes this one special. You can insert any photo you like into the frame, and you wouldn’t even know it’s a wireless charger just from looking at it, but lay a smartphone against the photo, and it immediately begins charging wirelessly. Sadly, the PowerPic doesn’t include an AC power brick, which means you’ll have to supply your own, which we found a bit disappointing considering the price—you’re definitely paying a premium for style here. The surrounding frame can also get in the way of charging the largest smartphones; it’s just big enough to handle an iPhone 12 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it doesn’t leave much room for bulkier cases. Charging Speed: 10W | Compatability: Android and iOS | Adapter Included: No Armando Tinoco has contributed to numerous top publications including Latin Times, The Cheat Sheet, and La Opinión, and has over eight years of experience covering technology. He reviews consumer tech products for Lifewire and has also contributed entertainment coverage to outlets like POPSUGAR. Andrew Hayward has been covering tech, games, smart home, and mobile devices for Lifewire since 2019. He’s a Chicago-based writer who’s previously been published on TechRadar, Stuff, Polygon, and Macworld.
What to Look for in a Wireless Phone Charger
Charging speed
Time is precious and you can’t always afford to sit around and wait for your phone to charge up. This is where a fast-charging option makes all the difference. The iPhone has a standard fast-charge speed of 7.5W, but Android devices have more, so if you have one of those, choose a charger that puts out 10W. Even higher charging standards, with iPhones, support 15W which is even faster. Certain phones from companies like Huawei and Xiaomi even support an incredible 50W. Also, you’ll want to use a fast-charge model with a 2.0 or 3.0 USB adapter to guarantee the speediest charging time.
Compatibility
Most newer phones come equipped with built-in wireless charging capabilities, but before you spring for a wireless charger, make sure it’s compatible with your model. Even if you buy a “fast wireless charging” option, but your phone doesn’t support that, you can often still charge most Qi-enabled devices at regular speed. Also, be sure to check if the charger is compatible with your phone case, so you don’t have to pry it off every time you want to juice up. It’s also worth getting a wireless charger that supports USB-C rather than an older and increasingly outdated standard like micro USB.
Qi Certification
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) manages the Qi standard and offers certification for all wireless chargers that claim to adhere to this standard. Qi-certified chargers have been tested and are guaranteed to include important safety features like Foreign Object Detection and temperature regulation. You can rest assured that all of the chargers we’ve included on this list are Qi-certified, but if you’re shopping around and want to make sure, you can look any model up in the WPC’s Qi Product Database.
