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Wireless cell phone charging isn‘t a new feature, and it isn’t always the best or fastest option when it comes to charging your phone compared to some cable chargers that can get the job done quicker. The charging dock itself, whether it’s a pad or a stand still needs to be connected to a cord that plugs into the wall, but it’s still convenient to be able to set up a few charging stations around your house or office that you can drop your phone on to charge without fiddling with a cord. The best wireless phone chargers top your phone battery off quickly while still looking sleek in your space.
How often do you use your phone? It might be a much larger percentage of your life than you think. According to the RootMetrics’ Lifestyles of Mobile Consumers survey, nearly one in four people grab their phones less than a minute after getting up each morning. While 23 percent of survey participants overall check their phones in less than than 60 seconds after waking up, another 34 percent wait five to 10 minutes. Conversely, about six percent wait at least two hours. Though we don’t encourage cell phone addiction, a wireless phone charger might be a great way to make sure your phone is powered up for the day!
Not having a charged phone ready to go can be a pain and add stress to an already chaotic life. A survey of 2,000 American millennials, commissioned by CBD oil company Endoca, reveals that one-third of millennials believe their lives are more stressful than the average person’s life. One-third feel that having their phone die is a more miserable scenario than seeing a fraudulent charge on their credit card bill. The researchers found that the average remaining-battery percentage for when millennials begin to feel stress is 23 percent. If you know anyone whose phone battery is constantly low, perhaps gifting them a wireless charger might be a good idea!
EdNews did the research, finding the best wireless phone chargers to keep your mobile device's charge replenished and ready to go. Our list contains recommendations for both Androids and iPhones. If you already use a wireless charger, let us know your favorite model in the comments below!
The List: Best Wireless Phone Chargers, According to Experts
1. Apple MagSafe Charger
If you have an iPhone and are a fan of using Apple accessories, the Apple MagSafe charger was the top recommendation across all the sources we consulted. “Apple's first-party MagSafe charger is the best option for iPhone users,” says XDA Developers. “It has a compact footprint, so it won't take up too much space on your bedside tablet, and it features magnets to securely attach to your phone while charging.”
The MagSafe charger has to be purchased separately, and can also be used to charge AirPods. The magnet keeps your devices securely attached to the charging pad. “The most obvious MagSafe Charger to buy for your Apple iPhone is, of course, the Apple MagSafe Charger,” writes Mac World. “It’s the charger that Apple would have shipped with the iPhone if it did such things anymore. It’s as minimalist a design as you’d expect from Apple – it looks a lot like the Apple Watch Charger.”
“If you’re a huge Apple fan, you want to have a matching set of tech,” explains Pocket Tactics. “The MagSafe charger fits the bill perfectly. It has a magnetic attachment (for iPhone 12 and newer models) so the charger snaps into place and connects quickly. The charger can fall off when using the phone, though, so don’t make it do strenuous activity if you want a complete charge.”
2. Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe
If you need to charge multiple Apple devices at once, this charging pad is a great addition to your nightstand or desk. “If you’re looking for a MagSafe charger, chances are you’re an Apple user. And if you’re a committed Apple user, you’ve almost certainly got more than one Apple device,” writes Mashable. “That’s why the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Charger is a great option. It’s a nice, minimalist charger that looks smart of the bedside table with room and tech to charge three Apple devices at once — an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch (or, indeed, any combination of those).”
The MagSafe makes sure that all your devices stay securely in place, and the 15W of charging power ensures a fast charge. “This three-in-one charging pad from Belkin is my current favorite wireless charger,” writes a reviewer at Tom’s Guide. “It offers 15W MagSafe charging for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, as well as fast charging for the Apple Watch 7 and regular wireless charging in an AirPods-sized recess, meaning all my Apple mobile devices could charge simultaneously from a single charging brick. That brick comes included too, so I didn't have to go rooting around in a cupboard for one with the correct wattage.”
“The Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 charges at 120 volts, which allows it to charge up to 33% faster than other wireless chargers, and it will work with your Apple Watch and other Apple devices like your AirPods Pro,” says ZDNet. “Plus, it's MagSafe-compatible, so you can simply place your device on the pad, and it'll begin charging.”
3. Anker 313 PowerWave Pad and Stand
This is the simplest and most affordable option on the list that will charge both iPhones and Androids. “Anker's pad and stand prove you don't need to spend much for wireless charging,” explains Wired. “They're both made from plastic with a rubbery finish on the bottom to prevent slips and slides, though it's not too grippy. A tiny LED lights up blue when it’s charging and flashes to indicate there’s a problem. We prefer stands over pads, because you can easily see your phone notifications, but Anker's pad is so cheap you could grab a few to scatter around your home.”
There are no frills when it comes to this wireless phone charger, but you can’t beat the price. “Over the years, Anker has sold a few different budget Qi wireless charging pads,” writes CNET. “There's nothing terrible fancy about its 315 Wireless Charger, but it delivers up to 10-watt charging speeds for Android smartphones and 7.5-watt for iPhones and it does look fairly sleek with a slim design (it also has some grippy material on top so your phone doesn't slide off).”
“Anker’s strong value in pad chargers also applies to stands,” writes Engadget. “The 313 Wireless Charger tops out at 10W (5W for iPhones), doesn’t include a power brick and uses a microUSB cable...You can buy an adapter and still undercut the price of some equally competent alternatives. It can charge while your phone is in landscape orientation, too.”
4. Belkin BoostCharge 15W Stand
The Belkin BoostCharge is a bit more powerful than the Anker with 15W of power and is a good choice if you want a better looking stand for your table or desk. “If you like to be able to use your phone a little bit while it's wirelessly charging, then you'll want a stand rather than a pad,” explains IGN. “Belkin's BoostCharge wireless charging stand is a strong option that can deliver a fast rate of charge while giving you some flexibility for how you use it.”
The stand feature of this charger allows you to use your phone in an upright or vertical position while charging. “The BoostCharge 15W is reasonably priced, charges well and avoids the pitfalls of many other stands,” says CNN. It connects via USB-C, comes with a wall adapter and, unlike some cheap-looking stands we tested, it looks good enough to fit in anyplace.
“There’s fierce competition in the wireless charging stand space, and it’s easy to get a good 15W charger if you’re willing to pay,” writes Engadget. The device “costs less than some alternatives while including a power adapter in the box. The lip at the bottom will keep your phone stable, and dual charging coils let you use the device while watching a video in landscape mode.”
5. Google Pixel Stand
If you own a Google Pixel, the Google Pixel stand is an exceptional choice. “Anyone with a Pixel handset will get the most out of Google’s charging stand,” says Esquire. “While it'll work for any Qi-charging phone, it's more powerful if you're rocking a Google phone such as the Pixel 7 Pro. For Pixel owners, the stand is a bit of a smart display, operating as a mini photo frame which pulls from your Google Photos albums.”
Though the charger will work with any Qi wireless charging enabled phone, the extra features of the Pixel elevate this charger to the next level. “Chances are you don't want too many LEDs in your face when you're sleeping. The LED on the second-gen Pixel Stand briefly lights up when you place a phone on it and disappears quickly so as to not bother you,” explains Wired. “This charger is best paired with a Google Pixel smartphone because it enables additional perks, like turning your Pixel into a sunrise alarm clock that sees the screen glowing orange right before your alarm starts to ring, mimicking the sunrise.”
“It can rotate through photos, act as a sunrise alarm and help to triage an influx of notifications,” writes CNN. “These proved handy in our testing and worked without flaw — additionally, it could save you some money if you opt for this instead of a fully functional smart display like the Nest Hub.”
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. EdNews is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
