Plugging fiddly chargers into small, pesky slots is a thing of the past and we couldn’t be more thankful for that. It’s time to move on to the best wireless chargers, and we’ve got a list of suitable options right here including Samsung, Google Pixel, and Apple makes, with some other brands sprinkled in.
As we’re the biggest mobile gaming site around, we love a budget gaming phone and the best mobile games to play on them. As such, we can offer some advice on which the best Samsung phones on the market are, too, if you’re looking for an upgrade to try these wireless chargers on. Or, if you fall on the iOS side of that debate, we can let you in on what the best iPhone cases are.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At Pocket Tactics, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
These are the best wireless chargers in 2023:
1. Google Pixel Stand wireless charger
The best Google wireless charger.
Pros:
- Upright stand
- Built-in fan
- Comes with adapter
Cons:
- Only compatible with Google Pixel 6 upwards
- Pricey
Google’s Pixel stand comes in a fresh white color, features a USB-C connection, and has a built-in fan to keep your device cool as it charges – not that you’d know it, because it’s almost silent.
The stand consists of 39% recycled materials, which is nice, and it stands at 4.4 inches tall and 2.8 inches wide – so not too obstructive for your desk. We’d even go so far as to say that it’s the least intrusive charger on this list.
The Google Pixel stand’s biggest drawback is that it only works super fast with newer Pixel models – from 2021 upwards, basically. It charges at 15w for other devices but an impressive 23w for Pixel 6 and newer devices. You can use it with any Qi-compatible device, though.
2. Samsung Wireless Trio charger
The best Samsung wireless charger.
Pros:
- Large enough for multiple devices
- LED indicators
Cons:
Most of us have multiple devices that we need to charge all the time – the best option for this scenario is Samsung’s Wireless Trio charger, which can easily fit three devices at once. You can find it for around $50 (£30), which is a great price for something as functional as this.
The charging speed of Samsung’s trio charger isn’t amazingly fast – coming in at 9w – even for their own flagship devices. It works with all Qi-compatible devices, but its key point is that it charges multiple items at once, which is ultimately why it charges devices a bit slower than other options on the market.
If you have a smartwatch it may also pose some issues too in that you may need to remove the straps to get the watch to connect and charge. This charger is big, obviously, so may not be the best portable item.
3. Apple MagSafe charger
The best Apple wireless charger.
Pros:
- Magnetic connection
- Aligns automatically
- Can use it with mounts
Cons:
- Doesn’t include an adapter
- Slower charge than a lightning cable
If you’re a huge Apple fan, you want to have a matching set of tech. The MagSafe charger fits the bill perfectly. It has a magnetic attachment (for iPhone 12 and newer models) so the charger snaps into place and connects quickly. The charger can fall off when using the phone, though, so don’t make it do strenuous activity if you want a complete charge.
At 15w the charger takes about an hour to charge a phone to 50%, which isn’t the quickest and is slower than Apple’s lightning cable.
Note that this doesn’t come with an adapter, and Apple recommends you purchase their 20w USB-C adapter – sold separately. The cable supplied with the charger is also quite short at only one meter long.
4. Anker wireless charger
The best budget Anker wireless charger.
Pros:
- Reliably charges through phone cases
- 4ft cable
Cons:
- Not compatible with MagSafe charging
For those of us on a budget, the Anker wireless charger is a great option. Note that it doesn’t come with an AC adapter, so you will need one of your own, but you can use it with a PC thanks to the USB connection.
The pad has up to 10w output, which puts it in a good competitive place compared to brands like Apple and Samsung. It charges iPhones slightly less, at 7.5w. This slower charging does mean that devices don’t tend to overheat on this pad, though.
Thanks to how lightweight the device is, we also highly recommend that you consider it should you travel frequently. The micro USB B-type port instead of a USB-C does let this charger down.
5. Belkin BoostCharge wireless charging stand
The best upright stand wireless charger and the best for gaming.
Pros:
- Can use phone upright while charging
- Includes adapter
- Long cable
Cons:
- Can’t charge through a lot of cases
- Fiddly to get phone into the right position
We like this option for mobile gaming, as you can have your phone upright, or stood in a horizontal position while charging. Plus, Belkin’s stand has a four-foot cable with it. Just think, you can leave thise idle games on for as long as you like and reap all the rewards with a charger like this.
Charging all Qi-compatible devices at 10w means the Belkin is a competitive option for its price point, especially with its Quick Charge 3.0 charger which means you’ll get about 80% charge in 30 minutes.
The only drawbacks are this charger won’t work through thicker phone cases and smaller handsets may be tricky to line up properly into the right position to charge.
6. Xiaomi Mi wireless charging stand
The best Xiaomi wireless charger.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Super fast charging with Xiaomi devices
Cons:
- Does not come with a cable
Another sleek and affordable upright charger is the Xiaomi Mi wireless charging stand. Offering temperature and short-circuit protection, this stand is a perfect addition to any desk. And that slick black finish ensures it basically blends into the rest of your set-up, instead of being an eye sore.
If you have a Xiaomi cable knocking around, you can get Turbo Charge which is extra fast, otherwise, it has normal charging speeds for most devices. Essentially, we recommend this as the charger for you if you have a Xiaomi phone.
The Xiaomi Mi is Qi compatible, uses a USB-C connection, and stands at a nifty 10 by 10 cm, so won’t take up too much space. It doesn’t have any glaring LED lights either.
How we choose the best wireless chargers
When it comes to choosing wireless chargers, we take several things into consideration. Does it work for multiple brands of devices, or is it only compatible with one type? We look at whether they charge quickly, how long it takes for a full charge, and the wattage you get for different things. Then, of course, we consider the price, too, not everybody can afford to fork out a lot of cash for premium wireless charges, some want something a bit more modest.
Furthermore, we can’t help put consider the design of a design – for instance, some chargers don’t come with adapters, or only supply a tiny cable, knocking down their overall ‘score’ in our eyes. For a deeper look at what we do with our tech, here’s our how we test page laying it all out.
If you’re in the market for a new phone, not specifically for gaming, then here are the choices we recommend for Xiaomi phones, OnePlus phones, and Google Pixel phones – or, check out the iPhone 15 release date for Apple’s latest and greatest.
