We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Sci-fi author Arthur C Clarke once said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and it certainly feels like there's some advanced sorcery at work when it comes to the best wireless chargers. You simply place your phone down, and it just charges itself. In reality, it's magnets rather than wizardry, and nearly all of today's smartphones support this clever charging method.
Chances are, even if you've never used the feature, you could put your phone or earbuds case down on a pad or stand and it would start to top it up. Unlike the best portable chargers, these are less about charging speeds and backup power, and more about the sheer ease and convenience of keeping your phone refuelled at all times. They're ideal for overnight charging at your bedside or keeping on your desk. Below, we've rounded up the best wireless chargers you can buy.
If you prefer more traditional cables, then you can check out Digital Spy's guide to the best iPhone chargers.
Best wireless chargers
How Digital Spy tests wireless chargers
We tested out the best wireless chargers – both pads and stands – by charging up our phones (including the latest Samsung Galaxys, Google Pixels, and iPhones) and seeing how reliable and effective they were. As wireless models are less focused on quick speeds, we were looking to see that our phones aligned to the charging coils and refuelled continuously. We also assessed the design and build quality of the models we tried, and the best wireless charger picks in our roundup are a combination of our hands-on testing and our thorough research.
Anker Wireless Charger 623 (MagGo)
Anker Wireless Charger 623 (MagGo)
Pros
- MagSafe compatible
- Compact size
Cons
- Could be more sturdy
Type: Stand and pad | Connections: Comes with a USB-C cable and a 20W adapter | Charging speed: Maximum of 7.5W for iPhones
Magnetic attachment makes alignment a cinch with newer iPhone 12 and 13 models, so you'll never wake up to a phone that has refused to charge overnight. While the fastest speeds are reserved for Apple's official MagSafe charger, Anker's unique 623 model is a winner for its compact size and convenience. It's weightier than you'd expect and has a space-age design with a wireless charging pad on a hinge. When tilted forward, you'll see that there's a second pad beneath it for your AirPods. It comes with the wall adapter and cable you need, and the whole package is an ideal all-in-one charger for your desk or bedside.
Apple MagSafe Charger
Pros
- Minimal design
- MagSafe for iPhone
Cons
- No USB-C adaptor
- Lay flat only
Type: Pad | Connections: USB-C cable, no adapter included | Charging speed: 15W standard, but 12W for mini devices
Apple fans will love this MagSafe charger that works great as a bedside charging station. It's a minimalist design that is just a small, white disc with a USB-C cable out the back and has a stylish metal finish on the bottom that stops the phone from bouncing around the desk if you get a buzzing notification.
The phone snaps onto the charging pad with a satisfying click and holds quite firmly once it recognises an iPhone, and you can continue to use your handset as it's charging, as long as you're OK sitting by a wall socket. Downsides? It doesn't come with a USB-C adaptor, so you'll have to buy one if you don't already own any.
Belkin 10W Fast Wireless Charging Stand + Wall Charger
Belkin 10W Fast Wireless Charging Stand + Wall Charger
Pros
- Vertical and horizontal options
- Stylish design
Cons
- No option to charge buds or smartwatches
- Only two colour options
Type: Stand | Connections: Comes with a mains plug adapter | Charging speed: Maximum of 10W for Android and 7.5W for iPhones
With a shiny black plastic exterior and non-slip rubber surface, this simple and sturdy stand looks good and delivers reliable charging at the same maximum 10W speed as many of the best wireless chargers on our list. We like how its design accommodates both vertical and horizontal charging, making it ideal for scrolling your Instagram feed or streaming Disney+ while fuelling up your device. You get an adapter and a cable in the box, but you should note you won't be able to recharge earbud cases or smartwatches on this stand.
Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad
Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad
Pros
- Multiple charging pads
- Option for wired charging as well
Cons
- Only available in black
- Can be difficult to find sweet spot
Type: Dual pad | Connections: Comes with a mains plug adapter | Charging speed: 10W from either pad for Android and 7.5W for iPhones
We'd recommend this one for anyone that needs to charge two devices at once, whether that's two smartphones side-by-side or your phone and a pair of earbuds in a wireless charging case. With its built-in USB port at the back, you could charge a third wired device too, like an Apple Watch or a fitness tracker. It supports 10W of power from either pad (7.5W for iPhones) and a slower 5W charge from its wired port.
Twelve South PowerPic mod
Twelve South PowerPic mod
Pros
- Photo frame design
- Multiple design options
Cons
- Slightly temperamental charging spot
- No landscape option
Type: Stand | Connections: USB-C cable, no adapter included | Charging speed: Maximum of 10W for Android and 7.5W for iPhones
With this model, you can disguise your wireless charging stand as a photo frame to show off your favourite snaps at home. It's available as a borderless variant or as a more traditional and chunky version – whichever one you pick will work in both the landscape and portrait orientations and will hide your phone charger within your decor. We found the borderless one simple to set up and got our 4/6 photo in place without any trouble, as the front panel of the frame is secured with tiny magnets. We had no problem with any of our phones, but it was a bit more temperamental when charging AirPods Pro.
Mophie wireless charging pad and stand
Mophie wireless charging pad and stand
Pros
- Can be used as a stand or pad
- Non-slip edges
Cons
- Alignment can be tricky
- Only available in black
Type: 2-in-1 pad and stand | Connections: Comes with a mains plug adapter | Charging speed: Maximum of 10W for Android and 7.5W for iPhones
Can't decide between a stand or a charging pad? This model from Mophie has an adjustable hinge so it can switch between an upright and flat position. Its exterior looks sleek and it has a non-slip edge for when you use it in the stand position. Like many of the chargers on the market, it delivers up to 10W of wireless power for Android phones and up to 7.5W for iPhones. The only thing we'd say is we had a couple of alignment issues with this one, it's great for a bigger phone like our iPhone XR but it doesn't work as well for smaller phones or for recharging headphone cases.
Pros
- Affordable
- Slim and minimal design
Cons
- Not the fastest
- Doesn't come with cable or plug
Type: Pad | Connections: USB-C port, no cable or adapter included | Charging speed: Maximum of 5W for all devices
This is just about the cheapest Qi charging pad that we've seen, but it's still a worthwhile option. For just over a fiver, you get a super slim and simple black or white mat that's about the size and dimensions of a coaster. It's reliable to use and has a big plus symbol in the middle to get your phone aligned on the charging sweet spot. It charges at a slow maximum of 5W and doesn't come with a cable or an adapter, so you'll need to connect it to your existing USB-C cable and wall plug.
How to choose the best wireless charger
While wireless chargers are straightforward devices, it's always worth going with a trusted brand name and checking that it's Qi-certified so you don't end up with a dodgy model (don't worry, we've explained this below). Here are some of the main things you'll want to keep in mind before you buy:
Qi certification
Qi is the global standard for wireless charging. We recommend always looking for Qi certification because it includes independent safety and efficiency lab tests. If you see vague wording like "works with Qi" or "Qi compatible" it's a dead giveaway that the device isn't certified. Proper Qi chargers will have wide compatibility and safeguards to prevent overheating. Every option in our list is Qi certified.
Magnetic
You'll also see the term "MagSafe", this is Apple's proprietary standard for wireless charging on iPhone 12 and 13 models. It works with the Qi-certified models and connects phones to chargers with magnets to get them aligned correctly every time, though this does mean older phones that don't have the magnet won't attach.
Pad or stand?
There are two main designs to consider: charging pads and stands. Which one you pick will really come down to whether you want to lay your phone down flat or keep it upright while it's recharging. Planning to swipe through a few TikToks while charging at your desk? A stand will be ideal. Need something for an overnight charge or to refuel your Pixel Buds? You'll probably prefer a simple wireless charging pad. All the ones on our list also have indicator lights to let you know when they're charging.
Connections
Some wireless chargers will come with an included mains adapter, while others might require you to use your own. If they don't have an adapter, they'll probably connect to a USB-C wall charger, but may potentially require an older USB-A charger instead. We've explained the connections for each option in our roundup.
Alignment
For a wireless charger to work, it uses charging coils that create an electromagnetic field that runs into your phone via its built-in coil. Most wireless charging pads will work through a thin plastic phone case up to 3mm thick, so you often won't need to take the case off, but you will need to make sure the phone is aligned properly.
Charging speed
It's unlikely that speed is your main focus for a wireless charger, but it's worth knowing the maximum speeds, as they differ depending on your device. There are a few Android and Samsung phones that'll charge at a quicker 15W, many will support a standard 10W, but iPhones are the slowest at 7.5W. All Qi chargers will at least support 5W speeds, and we've listed the maximum possible speeds for all the models we've featured. In general, most of these numbers aren't considered "fast", as 7.5W will still take two hours to get most iPhones to 50% battery.
Watch Next
HelloFresh has 60% discount deal
How to buy Taskmaster star's Diamond Dogs jumper
LEGO's Millennium Falcon set drops to lowest price
Save over 20% on Ghost of Tsushima Steam key deal
