The best wireless chargers for iPhone
Over the last few years wireless charging has gone from novelty concept to a conventional function of any modern iPhone. We won’t pretend that wireless charging is always an ideal substitute for plugging in, but it’s a very hassle-free way to keep your phone topped off throughout the day. Freed from the bother of plugging and unplugging, a wireless charger on your desk is as good a place as any to set your phone, knowing the battery is being steadily replenished, ready for your next outing. A wireless charger by your bed makes it easy to grab and go in the morning or to “just check one thing” without fussing with the lightning cable.
We’ve tested a big heap of wireless chargers, and these are some of our favorites.
Update 05/16/22: We’ve cleaned up our guide by removing some old produces and double-checking our recommendations.
MagSafe, the next generation
Apple officially gave up on its ambition to bring the AirPower wireless charger to market back in 2019. Instead, the company has moved ahead with a far more useful and intriguing idea: MagSafe. It debuted on the iPhone 12 (every model) but we expect it to continue to be available on future iPhones.
MagSafe combines a ring of magnets for secure attachment, an single-coil NFC to identify accessories, and a magnetometer to know when an item is attached, all around a more powerful Qi-based wireless charging coil (up to 15 watts, up from 7.5 watts in other iPhones). Note that a lot of devices are being billed as “MagSafe compatible,” but that doesn’t mean they support the faster charging or NFC—they merely have a ring of magnets in them. MagSafe compatible is not necessarily real MagSafe.
iPhones with MagSafe still work with regular Qi wireless chargers, they are just limited to the same 7.5-watt charging rate as earlier iPhones with them. And MagSafe is used for more than just charging—the magnetic attachment feature will make it possible to snap on all sorts of accessories.
Since MagSafe accessories are not all just for charging, and require an iPhone 12 or later, we have a separate article for them.
Read more about MagSafe in our guide.
The best wireless chargers
Wireless chargers tend to come in three variants: stands, pads, and multi-device chargers. There are times when a stand makes more sense. In particular, they’re useful for iPhones with Face ID, as a good stand with a steep angle will point your phone at your face enough for Face ID to work. This makes it a lot easier to unlock your phone to quickly check something without taking it off the charger.
Stands are great for reading your phone while it charges, but sometimes you want it to lie flat. It’s less conspicuous on your desk or bedside table, and easier to just plop it down in any direction. Wireless charging pads tend to be a little less expensive than stands, too.
Now that AirPods have an optional wireless charging case and the Apple Watch is so popular, we’ve also seen an explosion of 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 chargers meant to charge several Apple devices at once.
These are our picks for the best pad, stand, and multi-device charger, but there are a great many such products out there; you may find a different device at a different price better suits your priorities.
Logitech Powered 3-in-1 Dock
Most iPhone users don’t really need a 3-in-1 wireless charging dock. It’s only of use if you have an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods with the wireless charging case, and you really want to charge them all in the same place.
If you want something clean and simple to put on your bedside table or desk to charge all that stuff at once, Logitech’s Powered 3-in-1 dock is a quality solution, though at $129, it’s going to cost you.
The dock is a little on the large side, but with clean lines and a nice matte finish that keep it from being an eyesore. It also includes its own Apple Watch charger, while many similar docks require you to insert your own.
The steep angle of the phone stand makes it easy to use your phone while it charges, and is well-placed to ensure Face ID works without requiring you to pick up your phone. The wide flat area to the left of the stand can charge any Qi-compatible device, including other phones or AirPods.
I had no trouble charging my phone with a thick case on it, either on the stand or the pad area, and you don’t have to be too precise with the placement. The charging lights are tiny and dim, so as not to be distracting next to your bed at night.
The charging cable is a proprietary DC barrel connector, which is more annoying than USB-C, but not uncommon on these multi-device chargers. The cable is at least thin and flexible, with a nice matte finish, and a built-in cable management tie.
Logitech basically gets everything right about a dock that combines an iPhone charging stand, Apple Watch charger, and charging pad for AirPods (or other devices). The only real gripe I have is the price. If you see it listed for less than $100, it’s a good buy. Otherwise, there are other options that might not be quite as nice, but are a lot easier on the wallet.
Moshi Otto Q
Moshi’s Otto Q is meant to look like furniture. Moshi says it is “Inspired by Danish furniture” and the name is meant to invoke its purpose: it’s like an ottoman for your phone. That might be a bit of a stretch, but the subdued grey fabric and slim profile does look good on almost any end table or nightstand.
The charger uses a USB-C connection (yay!) and Moshi supplies a USB-A to USB-C cable (yay!) that is about a foot shorter than it really should be (boo!). The price—around $40—is reasonable but as there is no power adapter included, you’ll have to either use one of the many USB-A power adapter you probably have lying around or add the price of buying a new one.
With the right adapter (one with 9V output like most Quick Charge adapters), the pad supports fast 7.5W charging for iPhones and 10W charging for supported Android phones. In fact, Moshi says it has been tested to be the fastest wireless charger by the German magazine Mac&I. I don’t know about that (we don’t test charging speed of all wireless chargers), but it definitely charged up my iPhone quickly and reliably, even with a relatively thick case on it.
This is a great wireless charger, it just needs to cost a little less given that it doesn’t come with a power adapter and the included cable is shorter than I’d like.
Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand
Belkin’s Boost Up wireless charging stand always worked well, but we weren’t really fans of its high price and proprietary AC adaptor. Also, it’s not exactly pretty.
With the new Boost Charge wireless charging stand, Belkin has made a couple of welcome tweaks. Instead of a proprietary power adapter that ends in a barrel plug, it uses a standard USB power adapter with micro-USB cable. That’s a great shift—there’s no real need for devices like this to give us yet another cable and plug we can’t use with any of our other gear.
Unfortunately, the design is nearly identical. A couple of small LED charging indicator lights are gone, and the finish is matte instead of glossy, but that weird retro-future circular pod design is the same as it ever was. It’s comfortable and easy, but it doesn’t exactly look good on your desk.
The stand supports 7.5W charging on iPhones, and for Android phones up to 10W, so you get the fastest charging available. I had no trouble getting a solid charging connection with a relatively thick case on my iPhone XS Max, too.
The price is a lot more reasonable this time around. Where the previous model retailed for an extravagant $70, the new one tops out at $50, and it’s not unusual to find it listed for half that price.
Other wireless chargers tested
While these other chargers weren’t our favorites, they may suit your own needs. There are only so many different ways you can wrap a copper coil in a hunk of plastic, so it’s safe to say that your own personal sense of style and pricing sensitivity might a different charger the right choice for you.
Nomad Base Station Pro
Read our full Nomad Base Station Pro review
Modula5 wireless charging system
Each of the ‘pods’ of this system can charge either a phone/AirPods or an Apple Watch. Just buy as many pods as you need and snap them together on the left or right edge, then plug a single USB-C power cable into any one of them. Mix and match in whatever order you wish, up to 7 devices (with a maximum of 5 phones). You’ll need a fairly beefy USB-C power adaptor if you want to charge three or more iPhones at once, but you only need one – one plug, one cable.
The premium price and somewhat utilitarian design are not worth it for individuals or couples with just a few devices, but families dealing with severe cable clutter are going to be very happy with this. The best value is the bundle with two phone pods and a 30W USB-C power adapter for about $80.
Read our full Modula5 wireless charging system review
Sette Q wireless charging pad
Moshi’s Sette Q is a generously big, high-speed, dual-charging pad. It’s available on its own for $90, but it’s only $10 more to get it with a 30W USB-C power adapter that has nice cable management cutouts, so the choice there is obvious. It’s bigger than it appears in a photo; large enough to easily put two Plus Max-size iPhones next to each other without jostling for perfect placement. And it’s got the nice grey fabric design of the reset of Moshi’s ‘Q’ product line, including the matching USB-C cable.
The pads support the Qi extended power profile (EPP) up to 15 watts, which is well in excess of what most phones are capable of. iPhones max out at 7.5 watts, and even Android phones with higher-rate wireless charging usually top out at 10-12W. The bundled power adapter will charge two iPhones at 7.5W just fine, but if you want to charge two phone at 15W you need to use a 45W power adapter that supplies at least 15V at 3A.
There’s a USB-A port along the front edge that seems all but dedicated charging an Apple Watch, as that’s one of the last remaining popular USB-A charging devices. Moshi even sells a little compact folding Apple Watch charger for $50 called Flekto that is made to fit right in. That’s a bit pricey and it’s hard to recommend, but if you have need to charge two iPhones at the same time and want a nice big, reliable, attractive charging pad, the Settle Q (with power adapter) is not a bad choice.
Moshi Lounge Q
Logitech Powered Pad
Anker PowerWave 7.5 Stand
Aircore 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand
Aukey’s Aircore 2-in-1 stand is well-priced at around $30, though you’ll have to supply your own Quick Charge 3.0 compatible power adapter (it comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable).
Available in black or white, it’s not the most attractive wireless charging stand, but it gets the job done. It easily charges an iPhone at up to 7.5 watts in either landscape or portrait orientation, and reliably charged my iPhone 12 even with a fairly thick case on it.
On the back of the stand is an area for charing AirPods or AirPods Pro, which is a little more finicky about placement (but then, that’s typical of AirPods wireless charging).
The downside to this stand is its light weight and small rubber feet. It tipped and slid around pretty easily when plunking my phone down or grabbing it in a hurry. While this does a good job of charging, I’d recommend a stand with a bit more heft to it.
Prismo Wireless Charging Pad
Most wireless charging pads go out of their way to be unobtrusive, especially since they’re commonly used on nightstands and dressers. RapidX’s Prismo charger goes the other way.
Its main distinguishing feature is a ring of RGB LED lights around the base. A small button on the bottom toggles it between nine different modes, including five solid colors and various pulsing and rotating variants. Though it’s not in the instructions, a long-press of the button will thankfully turn the light off.
Ironically, this RGB LED ring never has anything to do with actually charging your phone. Instead, there’s a separate pinhole charging light on the top of the pad, which is quite dim.
The pad is large and works well, with a good non-slip grip surface. And the $30 price isn’t bad, though you’ll need to supply your own QC 2.0 or 3.0 power adapter.
AirUnleashed
Samsung Wireless Charging Pad
Aircore 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand
The Aircore 3-in-1 is a lot like the AirCore 2-in-1, only made for those who need to charge their Apple Watch as well. It’s well priced under $30, but it’s hard to recommend unless you can live with a bit of wobble and a light that never turns off.
The phone charging stand is like that on the 2-in-1, well-suited to iPhones with thick cases and capable of charging in portrait or landscape orientation. Next to it you’ll find a spot to charge AirPods and a stand for your Apple Watch. As with many such stands, you’ll have to supply your own Apple Watch charging puck, routing the cable through the base.
You’ll also need to supply your own power adapter, as the stand only comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable.
While the charging itself works fine, the stand would tip back precariously every time I plunked my phone down on it. This wobbling wasn’t enough to dislodge AirPods or an Apple Watch, but it’s pretty sloppy-feeling. I’m also not in love with the way the LED lights shine blue continuously (or green if a device is charging). They’re not too bright, but I wouldn’t want it on my bedside table.
Mophie Wireless Charge Pad
Belkin BOOST UP Wireless Charging Pad
Letscom W01 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
Qimini Pocket Wireless Charger
Are you interested in a charger you don’t see listed here? That’s not surprising—while we try to cover the most popular brands, there are literally hundreds of wireless chargers on the market. We can still help make sure you get a product you’re happy with, though. The next page contains some helpful general advice to consider when deciding which wireless charger to buy.
Qi vs. PMA
There are two major standards for wireless charging: PMA (Power Matters Alliance) and Qi (pronounced “chee”). If you see a charger that only supports PMA, keep moving. The new iPhones only support Qi.
Fortunately, Qi is by far the most common standard for consumers, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding a compatible charger. What’s more, every Qi compatible charger should work just fine with every iPhone from the iPhone 8 onward, even if it doesn’t specifically list support for them on its packaging or marketing materials.
5W vs. 7.5W performance
The new iPhones shipped with initial wireless charging limited to just 5 watts. That’s pretty slow, but then again, the in-box power adapter is also only 5 watts. So wireless charging really isn’t any slower than the (admittedly pitiful) power adapter that comes in the box.
The iOS 11.2 update increased the maximum wireless charging speed to 7.5 watts. That’s 50 percent faster, but charging speeds vary, and they slow down a lot as the battery gets full. Still, if you want the best performance in a wireless charger, look for one that can support 7.5 watts or more. Some pads support faster charging speeds only on some Android phones, but are limited to 5 watts on iPhones.
For pads that don’t come with fast-charging adapters, you’ll want to look at the store pages to see what is required to enable higher-speed charging. Some enable faster charging only when using an adapter with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology, some work with any high-wattage USB power adapter (like the iPad adapter Apple sells). See what is required before buying a new adapter.
Flat or standing?
You’ll see two types of wireless chargers on the market: flat pads, and angled stands. A flat pad is simple and easy, but you might want to consider a stand. With a stand it’s a lot easier to use your phone while it’s charging up.
And with iPhones that have Face ID, a standing charger makes it easy to unlock your phone without picking it up.
Portrait and landscape orientation
If you get a stand instead of a flat charger, you’d be wise to make sure it’s made to work with your phone in both landscape and portrait orientation.
Most of the time, you’ll plop down your phone standing upright. And Face ID on iPhones will only work when the phone is upright, too.
But a charger that works well with your phone in landscape mode makes it easy to play certain games, and of course watch videos, without taking your phone away from those precious free electrons.
Case concerns
If you keep a case on your phone, you shouldn’t worry too much about whether it will work with a wireless charging pad or stand. The vast majority of cases will work just fine.
There are three types of cases that can pose problems, however:
The first is a case with a metal back (or a battery case). That battery case may seem attractive with its extra 5,200 mAh of extra juice, but it won’t work with wireless chargers.
The second is a wallet case. A particularly thin one might actually work, but electromagnetic induction and credit card magnetic stripes just don’t mix. If you don’t want to screw up your cards, don’t put them between your phone and a wireless charger.
The third is especially thick cases. Most chargers will work fine with any case up to about 3mm thick, and some can go through a 5mm case with ease. But maybe you’re a demolition derby racer and also work construction plus you’re a rodeo clown on the weekends. Maybe you have an extra-rugged case. If so, it’s probably too thick to get a wireless charge going, even if it doesn’t have a metal back (as many extra-rugged cases do).
