Wireless charging is now popular for smartphones and accessories. What is the best Qi induction charger? Find our selection to never run out of battery on your Android smartphone, your iPhone or your wireless accessories.
Long considered a gadget, inductive wireless charging has slowly but surely made its mark thanks to the Qi standard. Today it is a must flagships that make it a differentiating element with the most affordable high-end smartphones. Inductive charging is also present in a growing number of accessories, such as wireless headphones and e-readers.
At the same time, the standard itself has made good progress, noticeably improving the loading speed. Initially limited to 5W, Qi now goes up to 20W on a handful of phones. Apple, for example, reaches 15 W with its MagSafe charger. Of course, wireless charging is still slower than fast wired charging, which now goes up to 120W (or even 200). The wireless charger is therefore a secondary charger, to be used additionally.
There are many references on the market today and, if they all use the Qi standard, it can be difficult to find the charger that will offer optimal results for your smartphone. To help you choose, here our selection of the best induction chargers.
To accompany these chargers that rarely ship with a power supply, you’ll need a fast charger. Don’t have a power outlet handy? Don’t worry with our guide to the best power banks. Fans of the Apple brand? Read our pick for the best MagSafe accessories.
“Stand” type induction chargers
Google Pixel Stand 2nd generation: our recommendation
Despite a high price, the first pixel support it was one of our favorite induction chargers. It was then replaced by a new version (2nd generation) that accompanied the release of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
In addition to a revised and still sober design, this second generation has above all in its favor a charging power much higher than the original 10 W. In fact, it is capable of providing 23 W to both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. Other smartphones will only be able to use “only” 15 W. To achieve this result, a fan actively cools the mount.
Last strong point, it is one of the few models delivered with a power supply, which makes the bill a little less salty, even if the Pixel Stand 2 is still one of the best charges.
Belkin Boost Up Stand: The Cheaper Alternative
He Belkin Boost It is a safe bet for stand format chargers, at a low price.
If we really like its design and its format, we must admit that the Pixel Stand is quite expensive. If you are looking for cheaper support, turn to the Belkin Boost. It’s certainly a little less pretty, but it offers more or less the same performance (15W) at a more reasonable price, with the added bonus of an included power supply.
Pad type wireless chargers
Belkin Boost: the classic
If we focus mainly on the “brackets” that we find nicer on the desk or nightstand at first, pads are generally less expensive and just as efficient. The “default” option is found at Belkin with the “Boost”, compatible with 15 W, it has a non-slip surface on top. The coating is smooth and prevents scratches.
Unlike stands, ear tips also have the advantage of recharging compatible headphones without particular convolutions. On the other hand, the latter are a bit less practical to the extent that you sometimes need to slightly put the phone back on the pad to make sure the coils are facing each other. Otherwise, we risk ending up with a dead smartphone in the morning.
If you’re a handyman, there’s a built-in version that works even under a few millimeters of wood.
Anker PowerWave: the budget wireless charger
Anker struts could not fail to offer a wireless charger. With its PowerWave Pad it offers a simple, effective and economical solution since it will cost you less than 18 euros. It is also compatible with 10 W, but to keep costs down, Anker does not include a charger in the box. Therefore, you will have to use one of your own like the one on your current smartphone or an old block.
If you have an older charger, it may not provide enough power to charge at 10W, so be careful. Otherwise it’s classic: a very soft coating that grips to prevent scratches and to hold the phone firmly in place on the pad. It will charge all Qi phones and accessories except the Apple Watch. It is not compatible with MagSafe.
Dual Induction Chargers
Samsung Duo: two, we make the couple
If you need to charge several devices at the same time, we recommend that you opt for the Samsung Duo charger. With its two slots, it can accommodate a phone and an accessory like AirPods or Galaxy Buds headphones, or a smartwatch (but not the Apple Watch)… or even two smartphones. Please note that it comes with a power supply.
Inductive chargers for iPhone (MagSafe)
If iPhones use the Qi standard, Apple can’t help but do things its own way. Apple Watches used proprietary inductive charging, but things got a little complicated with the introduction of MagSafe on the iPhone 12s.
Behind this name is, in fact, a classic Qi charging system together with a system of magnets. As a result, the charger stays attached to the back of the iPhone and you can, for example, make a phone call while charging your phone. However, we leave you to judge the effective usefulness of this evolution since we recover in fact some strings attached…
Apple MagSafe Charger: The fastest iPhone charge
Starting with the iPhone 12, the MagSafe charger offers 15 W. The official Apple model only does the bare minimum, but it does it well. The charge is really fast and the finish is impeccable, as always with Apple.
Be careful though, it doesn’t come with the power supply. Apple recommends its 20W USB-C charger, but you can use another with similar power without worry. A simple and effective product. Too bad, however, that the cable is a bit short.
Double MagSafe charger: perfect for traveling
If you have an iPhone and an Apple Watch, the MagSafe dual charger is especially interesting. Foldable, it is capable of charging your two devices at the same time. Be careful though, it comes without a power supply. So to get the most out of it, you’ll need a charger of at least 27W and a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Belkin 3-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe: Ultra Complete
iPhone 12, Apple Watch, AirPods… You have them all! Rejoice, now it’s possible to charge it all at once with the Belkin 3-in-1 Charging Station. As the name suggests, it allows you to charge your iPhone on MagSafe, the headphones via a Qi pad, and the watch via its proprietary cradle.
Unlike some models, the charger comes with the stand, a particularly valuable point given the price of the set.
Belkin 2-in-1 MagSafe Dock – For iPhone/AirPods Combo
If you only have an iPhone and AirPods to charge, Belkin also produces a 2-in-1 version of their docking station. We also appreciate the presence of an AC adapter. It’s simple and brutally effective.
Find all the best MagSafe iPhone accessories in our complete guide.
Understanding wireless charging (Qi)
Fast wireless charging: how do I know if my smartphone is compatible?
There’s no hard and fast rule on whether your smartphone supports wireless charging; there is no logo that would always appear on your phone. However, since it is a point of sale, manufacturers usually present it.
In other words, if your smartphone is compatible, you surely know it. Generally, high-end smartphones support it. Since the iPhone 8 and X, Apple has offered it on its products, as has Samsung on its recent and less recent Galaxy S. The same goes for Huawei on its premium products. Keep in mind that almost all smartphones these days support charging at either 7.5 or 10W. That’s why we’re not suggesting a 5W charger in this pick of the best wireless chargers.
This table will allow you to get a quick idea of the powers supported. However, be careful, all smartphones of the same brand do not always benefit from the same charging speed.
| brand | Fast charge |
|---|---|
| samsung | 15 watts (proprietary) |
| huawei | 15 watts (proprietary) |
| 23 watts (proprietary) | |
| Apple | 15 watts (proprietary) |
| xiaomi | 67 watts (proprietary) |
Induction charging, how does it work?
Wireless charging works on the well-known principle of magnetic induction. It basically consists of passing an electric current through a copper coil, creating a magnetic field that propagates to the receiving coil, creating a current in the latter, which is redistributed to the battery.
The range is particularly low, to the point that too thick a helmet prevents it from working. Don’t worry, so there is no health risk.
What are the pros and cons of wireless charging?
The main advantage of wireless charging is obviously its convenience. There’s no cable to plug in, just place the phone on the dock to recharge the batteries and this saves the hassle of running cables. Its main disadvantage is the loss of energy, which means slower charging than wired and higher consumption.
Simply put, it takes 3-4 hours to fully charge a smartphone. That’s fast enough to charge your device during the day at the office or overnight, but if you’re in a hurry, use a cable instead.
Wireless charging, what are the trusted brands?
There are a large number of brands that offer wireless charging stations. We advise you to avoid small stations of unknown brands, which are not always very scrupulous with the standards, especially if you go through imports. Better not joke when it comes to electricity. We recommend preferring reputable brands like Samsung, Google, Aukey or even Belkin.
Wireless charging, does it damage the battery of my smartphone?
You should know that inductive charging heats up the smartphone more than cable charging. Worse still, incorrectly placing the smartphone on the charger causes an even higher temperature rise. To compensate for the displacement of the coils in the charger and the smartphone, the charger is forced to increase its power.
That is why it is important to have a quality product. Not all chargers are the same in this matter and it is better to opt for a model capable of dissipating heat properly. This will avoid draining your smartphone battery.
To follow us, we invite you to Download our app for Android and iOS. You can read our articles, archives and watch our latest YouTube videos.