Best wireless charger: Jump to a section
If one of your 2024 goals is to clean all the clutter off of your desk, using one of the best wireless chargers could be a great way to keep things tidy while still providing a handy way to charge your phone.
After extensive testing, we’ve picked out the chargers below as our favorite options. Some are simple Qi wireless chargers that will power up basically any device, some are MagSafe compatible for use with newer iPhones, and others are designed to charge multiple devices at once.
Charging sans cables is already fun enough, but with Apple introducing StandBy mode in iOS 17, there’s now even more of a reason for iPhone users to invest in a charging stand. Not to say that Android users won’t benefit either of course!
Take a look at our best wireless chargers below. If you need power while on the move though, here are our best portable chargers and power banks picks. And if you’d prefer a phone that lasts as long as possible without a trip to any kind of charger, these are the phones with the best phone battery life.
The quick list
1. Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe
The best wireless charger overall
This solidly-built and subtle-looking charging pad will take care of charging your iPhone, wireless earbuds and Apple Watch at full speed. You do pay for the privilege of charging so much at once though.
The best wireless charger for iPhone
The cheapest and simplest way to wirelessly power your iPhone 12 or more recent iPhone at Apple’s full 15W MagSafe standard. You can’t do much else though, and you have to provide your own charging brick.
3. Otterbox Wireless Charging Pad
Best value
Otterbox’s charger is as simple as it gets, but it’ll provide quick wireless power to any compatible device. There’s even a plug and cable included in the box!
The best wireless chargers you can buy today
The best wireless charger overall
This three-in-one charging pad from Belkin is my current favorite wireless charger. 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 only thing holding this charger back from perfection is its price, which is quite high. Also, the use of MagSafe and the Apple Watch charging cradle means this isn’t a great pick for Android users, although as you’ll see from other entries on this list, you’ve still got some good choices.
The best wireless charger for iPhone
As an iPhone 14 owner, Apple’s MagSafe charger made wireless charging ridiculously easy for me. The magnets built into the charger and the back of the phone mean the two easily snap together and start the charging process.
You can charge at up to 15W on most iPhone 12, iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 models if you have a 20W charging plug at the other end, which fortunately I do. However, if you own an iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini, then that’s limited to 12W. That’s still faster than basic Qi wireless charging though, and it remains just as convenient no matter which model you own.
Although my AirPods don’t have magnets in the back, I was still able to charge them fine with the MagSafe puck. It will be even easier if you own a newer pair of AirPods Pro though, which now comes with a MagSafe-ready charging case. If you’re a diehard Apple fan, this is probably the wireless charger for you.
The best wireless charger value
The Otterbox wireless charger isn’t much to look at, but it offers everything you could want from a universal charging pad. It’s well-priced and comes with a compatible plug that’ll deliver the maximum available power to your device.
About the only complaint we can make is that the design’s kind of plain, but that’s just the way Otterbox designs its products. It’s compact, features a convenient light to indicate charging status and a rubberized square in the center of the pad to avoid items sliding around. The lengthy included cable makes sure you can place the pad almost anywhere you could want it too.
The best wireless charging stand
This smart-looking charger offers the unique ability to position the iPhone anywhere on its MagSafe arm, which let me use it while watching video in landscape, for example. Meanwhile, the base provides a nice cradle for my AirPods charging case, and a USB-A port around the back let me use another cable to charge other devices, although it obviously wasn’t as tidy-looking as a dedicated 3-device charger.
About the only complaint I can make, other than needing an extra cable to use the stand to its full potential, is the white LED circle on the phone charging arm. It’s sort of useful when it’s dark as it shows you exactly where to put your iPhone, but if you’re not charging your phone, it’s distractingly bright.
The best wireless charging power bank
None of the other best wireless chargers on this list are designed to be portable. The OtterSpot is though.
The basic package includes a standard wireless charging pad, plus a portable battery pack that also acts as a wireless charger. These stack together to stay powered on, but the battery portion was easy to slip into a bag when I wanted some wireless power on the go.
The system is quite expensive, particularly if you want to add more batteries to increase the size of the stack. But this is one of the best wireless chargers to get if you’re often on the move, have many devices you want to keep charged at once, or like me just can’t decide where best to put your chargers.
The best premium wireless charger
With a solid metal and glass body, the Nomad Stand One stayed solid wherever I put it, even when pulling a MagSafe-equipped iPhone off of it. Coming in either black or white, and with a matching integrated USB-C cable, it proved a great-looking addition to my desk.
Boy, do you pay for the privilege though. This is one of the most expensive chargers on this list, and only really works with iPhone 12 models and later. Also, that price doesn’t include a charging brick, which is annoying since you need a 20W or more charger to get the full 15W speed. I’d find it hard to recommend to users who aren’t taken with the design, or who have more modest budgets.
If you prefer a flat charging pad with the same gorgeous build quality, then there’s the Nomad Base One for you to look at as well. And if you want a spot for your Apple Watch to charge as well as your phone, then you can upgrade to the Base One Max.
The best basic wireless charging pad
If you want a charger with few frills but still want it to look good, I think you’ll be quite pleased with this Totallee charging pad. Its incredibly slim build meant I could take it and put it almost anywhere, and its textured black fabric surface let it fit into any room or spot I placed it.
The only major complaints I have is that there’s no supplied charger, and there’s a 10W maximum output which means I couldn’t charge some phones (notably my iPhone) as fast as they are capable of. However, I can forgive these considering the price, which is fairly low.
The best wireless charger for iPhone and Apple Watch
If space on your desk is at a premium, this handsome charger from Otterbox gives you the most compact footprint we’ve come across for a 2-in-1 charger. With its silver and white finish, it’ll match well with your other Apple gear, while the magnetic charging surfaces will keep your Apple Watch and iPhone secure as they power up. I particularly appreciated the 90 degrees of motion that the iPhone charger has, which lets you hold the phone at a specific angle (good for watching stuff while powering up), or charge non-magnetic accessories like a pair of AirPods by tilting it into its flat position.
I am not as much of a fan of the Apple Watch charger though. It’s placed behind the iPhone charger, which hides the smartwatch and may make it hard to get to without removing the phone or going in over the top of the charger. Also, there doesn’t seem to be support for the Apple Watch 7’s faster charging standard, which may bother users who need a quick refuel before their next workout.
The most versatile wireless charger
It’s fun just to play with the MagEZ Slider2, since the spinning mechanism that allows the stand to face any direction makes a satisfying clicking sound as it moves. But lock the stand in place and you’ve got a cleverly designed charging stand that’s ideal for users wanting to power up their phone and several accessories in a limited amount of space.
The main iPhone charging section only powers your phone at 7.5W rather than the full 15W, but it’s also a removable 4,000 mAh power bank in case you need a little extra juice on the move. The rear charging panel has a magnetically adjustable stand to help you charge your earbuds in the optimum position, plus there’s another USB-C output for charging other devices. Keep in mind though that the “Power Dongle” accessory that you need to charge your Apple Watch is not sold with the standard version of the charger. If you need a space for your Apple wearable on the Slider2, make sure you buy the more expensive version that comes with it included.
The most stylish wireless charger
Your eyes don’t deceive you, this really is a wireless charger made of marble. You can also get it in six other colors of travertine, sandstone, or lava stone if you want a different look for this simple but handsome charging pad. It’s incredible that you get something that will easily sit in a living room or kitchen without looking out of place for this price.
There are two small issues I found with this charger. First, the integrated USB-A cable, although braided for durability, looks cheap compared to the rest of the pad, and is only 90cm (3 feet) long, making the places where I could put the charger limited by how close my power outlets were. Plus, the charger is only capable of 10W output, which while available with any compatible device, is a bit slow.
Which company’s wireless charger is best?
It’s hard to pick one company as the ultimate in wireless charging, but of the brands represented on this list, we recommend Belkin, Otterbox and Nomad as our favorite wireless charger makers. But there are plenty of good ones out there!
Which 3-in-1 wireless charger is best?
The top 3-in-1 wireless charger on our list is the Belkin Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe. In fact, we like it so much it’s our overall top pick! It may not be the top choice if you aren’t an iPhone user though, since it does utilize Apple’s proprietary MagSafe connection.
What is the fastest wireless charger?
This is going to depend on what device you’re using. If it’s an iPhone 12 or newer for example, then it’ll be any device that uses MagSafe and provides 15W of charging. Other phone makers have their own standards, and often the only compatible chargers are the ones they sell themselves.
In terms of generic chargers, the fastest speed you’ll get is the Qi standard of 7.5W. This isn’t particularly speedy, but it’ll work with any wirelessly chargeable smartphone, or other devices like wireless earbuds at slower speeds.
Is 10W or 15W better for wireless charging?
When it comes to smartphone charging, the general rule is the more watts, the faster your phone charges. Therefore 15W (the highest available form of the near-universal Qi charging standard) will power up your phone quicker.
However, your phone may not support 15W wireless charging, meaning you’re better off with 10W, which your device may well still support. It’s good to check your phone’s specs before committing to one charger or another so you’re getting the best possible speeds.
How to choose the best wireless charger for you
The most important thing to look for when shopping for the best wireless charger for your needs is whether it’s compatible with your phone. If a wireless charger is Qi certified, it should support your iPhone, Samsung phone or other Android phone. But note that the wattage support will vary from charger to charger. Most chargers support 10W charging for Android phones and 7.5W charging for iPhones, although if they support Apple’s MagSafe standard, then you can charge an iPhone 12, 13 or 14 at up to 15W instead.
You’ll also want to pay attention to whether a charger and charging cable are included in the box. If there is one included, look for a charger that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0 technology, as these will ensure you get the maximum available speeds.
If you want to be able to charge multiple devices at once, there are some 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 chargers available that can juice your phone, earbuds and smartwatch all at once, but you’re going to pay more for these accessories.
