Ok, let's get the most obvious thing out of the way up top – the best wireless chargers are not fully wireless. There is a cable involved and, until genuine over-the-air charging comes in that isn't changing.
However, just because a cable is still involved doesn't mean the best wireless chargers aren't a great smartphone charging upgrade in 2022, as they make charging phones more convenient and aesthetically attractive.
Most new smartphones have wireless charging capabilities, such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Apple iPhone 13. However it’s important to note that Apple limits the speed of charging on any non-Apple chargers, so in order to get the fastest wireless charging on an iPhone, you’ll need to invest in their own MagSafe charger.
However, in this guide, we’ve got a variety of options when it comes to the best wireless chargers 2022 has to offer, for a range of many makes and models. If you don’t yet have a phone that supports wireless charging but you’d like to, then you may want to check out our guides to the the best phones, best Android phones and the best cheap phones. We also have guides for the best Samsung phones and best iPhones.
The best wireless chargers you can buy today in 2024
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The best wireless charger for most people? That's the Anker Wireless Charger PowerWave Stand.
Anker certainly knows its charging tech, and the PowerWave 10W Stand gives you the perfect place to pop down your phone after a long (and battery draining) day – it gives you between 5W and 10W of power, depending on the make and model of your phone.
The tactile texture and rubber base mean it stays solidly on top of any surface, and it's lightweight too. Add in the fact that it works through many protective phone cases as well, and it's definitely one of the best wireless chargers out there at the moment in our view.
You can charge a broad range of phones on this stand, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxy handsets, and you can place them horizontally or vertically too. As an added bonus, you get two spare USB ports for charging up your other gadgets as well.
See how the Anker PowerWave 10 compares to a fierce rival in our Anker PowerWave 10 vs Moshi Porto Q comparison feature.
For a budget wireless charger the RAVPower Wireless Charger ticks all the boxes.
Want to get your devices charged up wirelessly but keen to spend as little as possible along the way? May we recommend the RavPower Wireless Charger, a charging pad you can rely on from one of the best-known names in the mobile charging business.
This compact, sleek-looking wireless charger can output 10W of charging power for devices that can take it, and drop back to 5W when that's not supported. The important point is: it can charge just about any phone that comes with wireless charging support.
The aluminium panels on the bottom and the air vents ensure that the device never overheats, and it stops charging if metal objects are detected, as an extra safeguard. Perhaps the best part is the price, which is very competitive for a wireless charger.
Why not ditch the wires completely and juice up your phone using a portable battery pack with wireless charging? Mophie has you covered with the Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless XL, packing 10,000mAh worth of battery storage inside.
Charge it up before your travels and you can use the charger to top up phones with or without wires (either by placing them on top or plugging them in via USB). The device is smaller than your average handset, though several times thicker.
You might be surprised at just how much extra freedom having a wireless charger that's also wireless gives you, and coming from Mophie you know that this is going to be a device you can rely on. Undoubtedly one of the best options around.
To see how this wireless charger compares to our number one choice, then be sure to scope out T3's Anker Powerwave 10 vs Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL comparison feature.
Perfect for your Google Pixel 3 or Google Pixel 4 – as you could probably surmise from the name – the Pixel Stand turns your Google-made smartphone into more of a smart display while it's charging. Once you connect the phone, you get a few options for hands-free Google Assistant access, the always-on display settings, and more.
Aside from that, this is a fairly standard wireless charging dock, and we actually like the plain approach. The charging rate is 10W and white is your only colour option at the moment. Other Qi-enabled phones will work with this, but its shape and size are designed for the flagship pixels.
If you're a fan of products created with bamboo, the Fonesalesman WoodPuck is for you. The bamboo-built QI-compatible charger is sturdy and safe, with detection for inefficient placement and excess heat via a simple audio notification. Mao Zhu bamboo adorns the entire charger, which looks even sleeker with the hidden micro-USB socket. The nifty-looking bamboo charger is available in the colors dark Espresso and light Cappuccino.
How to choose the right wireless charger for you
There are a couple of key things you should consider when selecting a wireless charger for your handset. The first of these is exactly what level of charge you're looking for. Thanks to the Qi wireless charging standard, and the proliferation of wireless charging tech, there are plenty of wireless chargers that cost very little money that will deliver up to 10W wireless charging.
However, if you want more than that, then your choice starts to narrow somewhat and, more importantly to many no doubt, the budget needed to buy one rises. While we're talking about charging power, be sure to also note that some wireless chargers only deliver certain charging speeds to certain phone types – you'll see 15W chargers, for example, that will only deliver that to Android phones and not iPhone.
The truth about wireless charging speeds is that, for most people, 10W or 15W is more than enough charging power. Your phone won't charge as fast as if plugged into a cable direct (unless you're charging just off a USB cable), but you won't find yourself waiting half a day for good charge. We think for most people anything faster, while obviously nice to have, isn't essential by any means.
The other key thing to decide before buying a wireless charger is what type you want, and that is both in terms of aesthetic design and type. There's both mains-only wireless chargers and wireless chargers where they can be disconnected and carried around as a sort of wireless battery pack. The latter's type functionality is obviously beneficial, but it does mean you'll have to spend a bit more.
The main aesthetic design choice to consider is if you want a stand-type charger, when the handset will lean against it, or a horizontal-type where the handset lies on it flat like it were a coaster.
