Hands-on: Baseus MagSafe Battery Pack & Power Bank Video. Baseus power bank magsafe

Hands-on: Baseus MagSafe Battery Pack Power Bank [Video]

The Baseus MagSafe Wireless Power Bank is one of the more unique and functional MagSafe battery accessories I’ve come across. There aren’t too many useful MagSafe accessories out there, so this one is definitely cool to see.

,000mAh Capacity

The Baseus MagSafe battery pack was designed to be a convenient MagSafe charger for your iPhone 12 or 12 Pro. The 10,000mAh capacity it boasts will allow you to fully charge an iPhone 12 up to 2.4 times. This capacity is far larger than Apples’ very own MagSafe battery. Apple’s charger is more so meant to top you off. But the Baseus battery pack will give you a 0-100 charge a few times over.

The LED screen is easily one of the most unique features of this battery pack. This entire gloss black area features a display that can show you the percentage of the battery pack and its state of charge. The convenience of being able to see the battery’s exact percentage is something you simply don’t get with a lot of other chargers.

USB-A USB-C Ports

The Baseus battery comes with an 18W USB-A port that supports quick charging 3.0. You’ve also got a 20W USB-C port that supports Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick charging 3.0. So you don’t have to worry about waiting an eternity to charge the battery pack.

to5Mac’s Take

Overall, this is a very handy functional MagSafe accessory. And if you’ve got an iPhone 12 or any wireless charging phone, this is a great option for the price. We’re teaming up with Baseus to giveaway a purple iPhone 12. So be sure to check out the giveaway page if you’re interested.

What do you think about the Baseus MagSafe battery? Sound off in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!

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The Best MagSafe Power Banks for Your iPhone

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Greg Dickinson

Greg Dickinson Freelance Writer

Greg Dickinson is a freelance writer for Review Geek. Greg grew up in the early stages of the Information Age, so he has developed an appreciation for how technology and gaming have evolved and become a part of our everyday lives. He’s an avid board gamer as well as a regular video gamer. Greg studied at Mineral Area College where he was an honors student in Elementary Education with a secondary FOCUS on Language and Literature. Read more.

Whether you’re at a festival, on a camping trip, or streaming an extra-long show, sometimes you need your phone to go the extra mile. A MagSafe wireless charger can extend your smartphone’s battery life without having to plug it into a charger. Check out the best MagSafe battery packs below.

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Review Geek’s expert staff has decades of experience testing and reviewing products. Our recommendations come from countless hours of digging into every product to find its strengths and weaknesses. We then compare that with other related products to help you find the best one for your needs. All of our reviews and product recommendations are done without bias, and we never accept payment in exchange for a review or recommendation. Read »

Best Overall: ESR HaloLock Kickstand MagSafe Battery

ESR earns our top spot overall for the HaloLock Kickstand MagSafe Battery that delivers both power and quality. In terms of charging, this battery touts a 10000mAh capacity. That’s plenty of juice to give you more than a full charge and can get you through an entire day, even in the most demanding scenarios.

One nice little feature is the metal kickstand, which is a rare find in power banks. It works well in portrait or landscape. Another is the ergonomic curve of the battery itself. Even though the battery is a little bulky, the curvature fits nicely in the palm of your hand.

The standout feature, though, is the connection strength. “HaloLock” refers to ESR’s patented magnet technology. You can feel safe knowing that your phone is being held securely to the charger, but not overwhelming to where it would be a danger to the phone’s components or difficult trying to pull them apart after charging. The ESR HaloLock Kickstand MagSafe Battery comes available in white and black color choices.

ESR HaloLock Kickstand MagSafe Battery Pack, 10,000mAh MagSafe Charger Portable, MagSafe Power Bank with USB-C Cable, Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger Compatible with iPhone 14/13/12 Series, Black

This power bank doesn’t skimp on power, has a convenient, metal kickstand, and keeps your phone securely connected with patented, magnetic technology.

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Best Premium: Anker 633 MagGo 2-in-1 Charging Station

Getting the best of both worlds is usually a good thing and Anker supplies in this version of their most recent battery pack. The 633 MagGo 2-in-1 acts as both a battery pack and a charging station. Use the battery on the go, and when you are ready, just slide it into the base for charging both your phone and the bank. The base also has a Qi (pronounced “chee”) wireless charging area at the bottom of the base for your Airpods.

The battery is 5000mAh, so you can get a fairly good charge out of it. The only drawback is that many power banks offer the ability to wirelessly charge your phone while allowing for a second device to be charged through a wired connection simultaneously. This version of the MagGo does not. The 633 MagGo 2-in-1 comes in three available colors: Interstellar Gray, Dolomite White, and Misty Blue.

Anker Magnetic Wireless Charger, 633 MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, Detachable Portable Charger, Only for iPhone 13/13 Pro / 13 Pro Max / 12/12 Pro and Airpods Pro (Interstellar Gray)

Get the best of both worlds with a MagSafe battery pack and a wireless charging station for your phone and your Airpods.

119.99

The Best Portable Chargers To Keep You Going On Long And Busy Days

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

It’s happened to all of us. You go out and realize you didn’t put the phone on the charger and your phone’s battery is low. Or you’re out all day, using power-hungry features like the camera, display or GPS, and now the battery is low and there’s no outlet in sight. Perhaps you’re simply working from a cafe that lacks outlets, and you want to power your laptop for the afternoon. The best portable chargers, like our pick for the best overall, the INIU B62 Power Bank, can keep you powered up and ready to go anytime, anywhere.

Carrying a portable charger is a great way to make sure you never miss a beat and always have available power for your most important devices, like your phone, tablet or laptop. For frequent travelers, a portable charger is a must have device. And since portable chargers come in a range of capacities and sizes, each with varying abilities, you may choose to keep multiple portable chargers on hand for different situations. Here are our top picks for the best portable chargers you can buy in 2023.

• Best Portable Charger Overall:INIU B62 Power Bank
• Best Portable Charger For iPhone: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
• Best Portable Charger With AC Outlet: Mophie PowerStation Pro AC
• Best Portable Charger With Built-In Cables: Mophie PowerStation Plus
• Best Portable Charger For Laptops: Baseus Laptop Power Bank
• Best High-Power Portable Charger For Laptops: Anker 737 Power Bank
• Best Portable Charger For Adventures: Anker 548 Power Bank
• Best Qi Wireless Portable Charger: LionEnergy Eclipse

Best Portable Charger Overall

INIU B62 Power Bank

Battery capacity: 15,000mAh | Output ports: 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C | Size: 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 11.7 ounces | Display: Yes

Best for: Charging smartphones and tablets quickly.

INIU is a less recognizable name, but its lineup of power bank and charging accessories stands out from the crowd. The INIU B62 has a single USB-C port that supports up to 45-watt output with USB Power Delivery. That means you can use this versatile battery for charging a low-power laptop or a portable gaming system.

This model supports a range of fast-charging protocols, but it only handles up to Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0. If you want to charge a QC 4.0 device, look at the INIUs B5 Power Bank, which has a similar physical design, adds QC 4.0 and can charge three devices simultaneously (but it lacks enough power output to charge a laptop). The B62 has a large LCD that shows your remaining power, and it has a grippy texture that resists scuffs and grit. Bonus: It comes with a nifty pull-out stand that works well to prop up a phone while it’s charging.

What the editors say: Tech editor Melissa Perenson notes, “This battery is a workhorse, handily charging up devices with surprising speed. It recharges quickly, too. It’s a little thick, but its rectangular design pairs well with a smartphone.”

Anker PowerCore III 10K

Battery capacity: 10,000mAh | Output ports: 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C | Size: 5.9 x 2.7 x 0.8 inches | Weight: 8.6 ounces

Best for: Mix of wired and wireless charging, in a slim design and mid-range capacity.

The Anker PowerCore III 10K hits a good balance between features, performance and price. The svelte, candy bar design houses 10-watt Qi wireless charging, with one each of USB-A and USB-C ports on the top edge. This model is slim, but not as slim as one Anker model. Nor does it have the magnetic attachment of Anker’s newer MagGo series. Or the power to handle charging a laptop or gaming system.

Despite those caveats, the PowerCore III 10K stands out for its balance of charging features and its performance—which was faster for both wired and wireless charging than on some competing models. This battery pairs well with a standard rectangular phone design, and it’s lightweight, too. The unit itself has a textured plastic case that did a better job withstanding scuffs than some of Anker’s other models. The chassis also has a built-in stand—a simple pull-out bracket to prop up your phone. However, the recessed power button is a bit awkwardly placed.

What the editors say: “This model’s Qi wireless gives it an edge over the typical portable charger with the same capacity,” says tech editor Melissa Perenson. “I especially liked this battery’s light weight, and how easy it was to hold alongside an iPhone or Android phone.”

• Textured case keeps fingerprints and scuffs away
• Qi wireless charging at 10 watts
• Built-in stand

Best Portable Charger For iPhone

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

Battery capacity: Unavailable | Ports: MagSafe (wireless) only | Size: 3.8 x 2.5 x 0.4 inches | Weight: 6.4 ounces

Best for: iPhone users who want a small MagSafe battery pack.

The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack is a bit pricey, but it is the Apple-branded battery—and it has a simplicity to it not found elsewhere. This compact battery pack attaches to the back of any iPhone 12 or later smartphone. It provides additional power when you need to extend the life of your smartphone. Thanks to its MagSafe compatibility. you can use the battery pack on its own or in conjunction with any Apple MagSafe phone case. It won’t, however, work with non-MagSafe cases.

This battery is a bit pricey considering it will only recharge your iPhone once—and only between 40 percent and 70 percent. However, that’s enough juice to keep your phone operational for a few hours more.

• Compact design for any iPhone (12 and later)
• Compatible with all MagSafe cases
• Genuine Apple product

Best Portable Charger With AC Outlet

Mophie PowerStation Pro AC

Battery capacity: 27,000mAh | Output ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x AC | Size: 10.8 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 2.6 pounds

Best for: Capacious charging via USB and a 3-prong AC outlet.

The Mophie PowerStation Pro AC makes it easy to charge four devices simultaneously. At 27,000mAh, this model is at the maximum limit for transporting a single battery onto a plane. All that battery capacity matters, though, since it can recharge an iPhone five times. The 3-prong AC outlet is one reason this model stands out; with an outlet, you can then charge things like camera batteries, or run a laptop or other device that uses AC power.

The battery can handle 100 watts, while the USB ports handle 20 watts each and the USB Power Delivery port is at 60 watts. One drawback lies with its weight: The PowerStation Pro AC is a hefty 2.6 pounds. The battery has a loop that makes it easier to grab, which is good since its casing is smooth hard to hold.

Omnicharge Omni 20

Battery capacity: 20,000mAh | Output ports: Qi wireless, 1x USB-C, 2X USB-A, 1x AC/HVDC, 1x barrel | Size: 5.0 x 4.8 x 1.0 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds

The Omnicharge Omni 20 is highly versatile, especially considering its relatively compact size. It includes a 20,000mAh capacity battery, fast 18-watt charging over USB-A, 60-watt charging over USB-C and 10-watt Qi wireless charging. The 100-watt AC/HCDC outlet provides power to laptops, drones and cameras that don’t support USB charging.

The Omni 20 has a built-in OLED display that shows the total power left in the charger, as well as the demands of each connected device. It even supports pass-through charging, so you can continue to charge your array of devices even when recharging the Omni itself.

• Offers pass-through charging
• 20,0000mAh capacity battery
• Portable and convenient

Best Portable Charger With Built-In Cables

Mophie PowerStation Plus

Battery capacity: 10,000mAh | Output Ports: 1x USB-C | Built-in cables: 1x USB-C, 1x Lightning | Size: 5.8 x 0.7 x 2.8 inches | Weight: 8 ounces

Best for: Charging a phone or tablet with a Lightning or USB-C port.

The Mophie PowerStation Plus conveniently integrates cables into the sides of the portable charger. This otherwise nondescript rectangle has smooth front and back surfaces, and it has a rubberized layer around the edges. The Lightning and USB-C cables tuck neatly into the top of the unit with a snug fit, and little tabs to help you free them when needed. The cables are long enough for you to plug them into a phone and stack the charger neatly beneath it.

This charger’s dedicated USB-C Power Delivery port delivers 20 watts of power, and a total of 25 watts shared. The USB-C port charges faster than the integrated cables.

Best Portable Charger For Laptops

Baseus Laptop Power Bank

Battery capacity: 20,000mAh | Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A | Size: 6.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Display: Yes

Best for: Charging a laptop or mobile device.

The Baseus Laptop Power Bank stands out for delivering 100 watts of power in a thin and lightweight square design that’s highly portable. Most competitors’ portable chargers that output 100 watts are larger, thicker and heavier than this Baseus model. The low profile makes it easy to slide this charger alongside a laptop when traveling.

This fast, portable charger has a textured plastic front, with a large, monochromatic digital display that shows its remaining battery power and charging status. It can handle small current devices like earbuds and smartwatches as well as it can a phone or laptop. The ports are all along the top edge, with two USB-A and two USB-C ports, each labeled with their output levels. The unit comes with a carry case, and a 100-watt USB-C to USB-C cable, for use with a laptop.

What the editors say: “I like the stylish yet functional industrial design of this charger,” says tech editor Melissa Perenson. “It was easy to carry around while charging multiple devices quickly.”

• Slim, lightweight design
• Informative display
• Charges four devices simultaneously

Best High-Output Portable Charger For Laptops

Anker 737 Power Bank

Battery capacity: 24,000mAh | Output Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A | Size: 6.1 x 2.1 x 1.9 inches | Weight: 1.4 | Display: Yes

Best for: Charging a laptop and mobile devices.

The Anker 737 Power Bank PowerCore 24K packs 140 watts, one of the highest power outputs you can buy in a such a portable design. This model stands at about 2 inches square, and is 6 inches long, making it shaped like a square tower (if you stand it on its end) or a very thick battery that fits in your hand. Inside sits a high capacity 24,000mAh battery, which is just below the maximum 27,000mAh you can bring on a plane.

Along the length sits a useful, easy-to-read color digital display which shows the power use and remaining battery/recharge time. The charger has three inputs, all on one end, and includes USB Power Delivery 3.1 support. It includes a 140-watt USB-C to USB-C cable for use with a laptop.

Best Portable Charger For Adventures

Anker 548 Power Bank (PowerCore Reserve)

Battery capacity: 60,000mAh | Output ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, Solar input | Size: 4.5 × 4.5 × 7.7 inches | Weight: 5.1 pounds

The Anker 548 Power Bank (PowerCore Reserve) packs a 60,000mAh battery capacity, which makes this power bank best for use at home or on adventures that don’t require a flight. Its rugged design makes it the perfect complement to outdoor adventures, with a retractable LED lamp and SOS beacon for use in emergencies. It has two USB-C and two USB-A ports, and the USB-C ports can handle 60-watt and 27-watt output (only one of the two handles input and output both). The front panel has an additional, uncommon port—for jacking in a solar panel for recharging. The EV-grade batteries can handle up to 3,000 recharging cycles.

The unit has a useful color digital display above the array of ports that shows charging status and remaining power. In between sit the buttons for the light and the SOS beacon. At 5.1 pounds, it feels sturdy, and it comes with a pliable handle. You get a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging, but you need to buy a wall charger and solar charging cable yourself.

What the editors say: “I love the pop-up light, with its retractable silicone design,” notes tech editor Melissa Perenson. “It’s surprisingly bright (though dedicated lanterns may be better), and it automatically lights up in the dark. The light’s inclusion makes this so much more than just a power bank on steroids. I also liked how the woven handle makes it easy to carry.”

Best Qi Wireless Portable Charger

Lion Eclipse

Battery capacity: 27,000mAh | Output ports: Qi wireless, 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C | Size: 8.5 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds

Best for: Charging a phone, earbuds and watch wirelessly in a rugged device.

The Lion Eclipse stands out for its inclusion of three Qi wireless charging pads, at 10-watts, 5-watts and 2-watts. This means you can charge a phone, earbuds and a watch wirelessly, something most portable power banks with Qi can’t do. The power button and three ports—two USB-A and one USB-C with Power Delivery up to 85 watts—sit under a rubberized protective cover. These ports can handle a laptop or a portable gaming console, and they deliver simultaneous fast charging. This portable charger uses a 27,000mAh battery, the maximum size you can take on a plane.

While the Lion Eclipse Power Bank will fit easily within a backpack or briefcase, it’s too cumbersome to fit comfortably in a purse and too large for a It has a 5-year warranty and a lifecycle of over 1,000 charges.

• Simultaneously charges multiple devices
• High battery capacity
• Three Qi wireless charging pads

The Best Qi Wireless Charger for iPhone and Android Phones

We’ve added some new models to What to look forward to. We’re planning to test them against our picks and update this guide in spring 2023.

Wireless chargers are a convenient way to juice up your phone without having to plug it in, even if they’re slower than wired chargers. And stand-style chargers are the best because, unlike horizontal pads, they allow you to use your phone while it’s charging. After more than 900 hours of testing since 2017, we’ve determined that the Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W is the best Qi (the industry-wide wireless-charging standard) charger for smartphones because it charges iPhones and Android phones faster than the competition. It also comes with a cable and a wall charger, accessories that many cheaper rivals leave out. If you have an iPhone 12 or later, consider our upgrade pick below.

The best iPhone and Android wireless charger

This charging stand provides a fast charge to both iPhone and Android smartphones and comes with a wall plug and a long USB cable.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 28.

The Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W can charge common smartphones from empty to about 40% or 50% in an hour, whereas much of the competition brings a battery closer to 30% or 40%. Unlike some Qi chargers (including our budget picks), this charging stand comes with a cable and a wall plug, so you don’t need anything else to charge your phone at the highest available speeds—and the detachable cable is of the readily available Micro-USB variety, so you can easily replace it if necessary. Available in black or white, the stand has a simple design that will blend into most environments. The Wireless Power Consortium has certified it as safe, and if anything goes wrong, Belkin’s warranty covers the charger for two years.

Charging speed: 7.5 W for iPhones, 10 W for Android phonesInput port: Micro-USBIncluded in the box: charging stand, 4-foot Micro-USB cable, 24 W Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger

Belkin Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe

This charger offers the fastest wireless charging we’ve ever measured and easy magnetic alignment, but it’s best suited for iPhone 12 or later models.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 60.

A stand-style charger, such as our top pick, is the most convenient way to wirelessly charge the widest variety of phones. But if you have an iPhone with MagSafe (any model in the iPhone 12 lineup or later) and want to take advantage of the magnetic charging feature, which lets you use your phone while it’s being wirelessly charged, we recommend Belkin’s Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe Special Edition. It’s Apple-certified and offers full 15-watt MagSafe charging speeds. In fact, it was even faster than Apple’s own MagSafe Charger in our tests. It magnetically attaches in the same way as Apple’s, and a built-in kickstand lets you prop your phone up in portrait orientation while charging. Despite its high price, the Belkin charger doesn’t come with the 20 W USB-C wall adapter you need to power it. So you’ll have to pick one up if you don’t already have an extra. This model can also charge Qi-capable Android devices, but we think Android users should consider other chargers whose designs aren’t as iPhone-centric.

Charging speed: 15 W for iPhoneInput port: n/aIncluded in the box: magnetic wireless charger with permanently attached 79-inch braided USB-C cable

An inexpensive wireless charging pad

This pad doesn’t include a USB wall charger—you need to provide your own—but it’s an inexpensive option for a nightstand or any situation when slower charging isn’t a problem.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 16.

An inexpensive wireless charging stand

This stand charges a phone more slowly than others, but it’s still a great choice for overnight charging. It’s inexpensive and reliable, but it doesn’t include a USB wall charger, so you need to provide your own.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 15.

If you want to spend a little less on a charger and already have USB power bricks lying around, the Anker PowerWave Base Pad and Anker PowerWave Stand are great options. Both come with a Micro-USB cable, but neither package includes a USB power brick. In our tests, the Anker chargers delivered about 12% less charge in an hour than our top pick, but the Anker models are also much cheaper. Light-sensitive sleepers will appreciate that though there is a small blue charging-indicator light, it isn’t too bright and is easily covered if it’s still too much. Anker claims that the Base Pad—when paired with a Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger—can charge the latest iPhones at 7.5 W, and both units should provide 10 W charging for recent Samsung Galaxy phones. However, in our testing both maxed out at 5 W with the iPhone 12 and LG V30.

Charging speed: 5 WInput port: Micro-USBIncluded in the box: charging pad or stand, 3-foot Micro-USB cable

The best iPhone and Android wireless charger

This charging stand provides a fast charge to both iPhone and Android smartphones and comes with a wall plug and a long USB cable.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 28.

Belkin Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe

This charger offers the fastest wireless charging we’ve ever measured and easy magnetic alignment, but it’s best suited for iPhone 12 or later models.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 60.

An inexpensive wireless charging pad

This pad doesn’t include a USB wall charger—you need to provide your own—but it’s an inexpensive option for a nightstand or any situation when slower charging isn’t a problem.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 16.

An inexpensive wireless charging stand

This stand charges a phone more slowly than others, but it’s still a great choice for overnight charging. It’s inexpensive and reliable, but it doesn’t include a USB wall charger, so you need to provide your own.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 15.

Why you should trust me

I’ve been covering power accessories since 2011 and reviewing them for Wirecutter since 2015. Over the years I’ve checked out more than 1,000 products, including early wireless-charging devices. I researched and wrote Wirecutter’s first guide to Qi chargers in 2017 and have been consistently testing new models and updating the guide since. I also wrote our guide to Qi power banks, battery packs that use the same wireless technology, and I’m the author of Wirecutter’s guides to multiport USB wall chargers and car chargers. In short, I’ve seen and tested pretty much every available charging variation.

Who this is for

A wireless charger is for anyone who owns a smartphone that supports the Qi wireless-charging standard and would like to charge it without having to plug a cord into the phone itself. With a Qi charger, you just rest your device on the charging pad to power it up. It’s a matter of convenience: You don’t have to fuss with physically plugging in and unplugging a cable, and you reduce wear and tear on the charging port. If your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, a wireless charger also frees up the Lightning connector or USB-C port so you can use wired headphones while charging.

“Wireless” is a bit of a misnomer, though, because you still have to plug the charging pad into a USB port or wall outlet. “Magnetic charging” may be a better term because Qi uses magnetic coils to transfer energy and power your device, but we’ll stick with “wireless” here because it’s so commonly accepted.

Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the wireless-charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium, an industry group with more than 220 members including device manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung, accessory makers such as Belkin and Mophie, and others. For a charger to be certified by the WPC, the manufacturer has to submit it to an authorized test lab. Phones compatible with the Qi standard include all iPhones currently being sold, Samsung Galaxy phones, and Google’s high-end Pixel models.

A wireless charger frees up the Lightning connector or USB-C port so you can use wired headphones while charging.

If you want the fastest possible charge, you need to use a cable. Wireless charging is slower than wired charging, and the wattage listed on the charger doesn’t necessarily indicate how quickly it will charge. Affordable, wired 12 W USB chargers can charge an iPhone at least 30% faster than a Qi charger can, while an 18 or 20 W USB PD charger paired with Apple’s USB-C to Lightning Cable can approach 50% faster. Qualcomm Quick Charge adapters can do the same thing for many Android phones.

The other downside to wireless charging is that you can’t pick up your phone and use it while it’s charging, unlike with a cable connection. This makes wireless charging a better option for recharging overnight or for when you want to see the phone’s display on your desk or in the kitchen, rather than for charging while you’re watching Netflix, say, or scrolling through

In 2020, however, Apple introduced its MagSafe charging and magnetic mounting system as part of the iPhone 12 lineup. Hidden magnets inside the phone allow you to connect supported accessories and (provided the charger is MagSafe-certified) charge it at up to 15 watts, in contrast to 7.5 watts with Qi chargers. This magnetic-charging design means you can use the phone while it’s charging, and because the magnets ensure proper alignment, you don’t have to worry about your phone being out of place and not charging properly. In addition to MagSafe-certified chargers, you can find non-certified chargers that utilize the magnetic-alignment system but don’t take advantage of the faster charging speeds that MagSafe allows.

How we picked

A good wireless charger should meet all of the following basic criteria, which we used as guidelines for our research:

• WPC certification: We considered only those chargers that have been certified by the WPC. This means that a charger has been tested and found to be both safe and in compliance with the Qi standard. If a wireless charger isn’t certified, that doesn’t necessarily mean the charger is unsafe or noncompliant, but it’s still prudent to choose something that has been verified. As of late January 2021, no MagSafe or MagSafe-style magnetic chargers have been certified by the WPC, so we gave brands in that category with an exemplary track record (including Apple and RAVPower) the benefit of the doubt.
• Charging speed: For our top picks, we focused on chargers that provided fast charging to most phones. The Qi 1.2 standard supports charging speeds of up to 15 watts (9 volts, 1.67 amps), but 7.5 W and 10 W chargers are more common right now. iPhones can charge at speeds of up to 7.5 W via regular Qi charging or 15 W with an Apple-certified MagSafe Charger. Many Android phones can do up to 10 W, and some even support 15 W charging. Since 5 W chargers are slower, we considered them only as a low-cost option.
• Design: This criterion includes not only how the charging pad looks, but also how grippy its surface is for holding a phone in place. We prefer stands to pads because they allow you to see and interact with your phone’s screen while it’s charging, but we included both styles in our research to address all needs. This element also includes extras such as charging-indicator lights.
• Noise: Some chargers we tested put out a faint (and sometimes not so faint) whine or clicking noise, which quickly became annoying. We listened for this sound in our tests and noted any issues.
• Power source: For single-device wireless chargers, we tested only those models that use a standard connection (Micro-USB is the most common, but we’re seeing USB-C more often) and come bundled with an AC adapter. Cords with proprietary connections are more difficult and expensive to replace. We made an exception for units that charge both a phone and an Apple Watch, since they exclusively use small, round “barrel jacks” that could come in a variety of sizes. (Also, as with wired charging, the wall adapter matters: Lower-power adapters produce slower charging speeds or, in some cases, don’t power the charger at all.)
• Maker reputation: We considered models only from companies that we knew had a good reputation for warranty coverage and customer support. Even if a charger is WPC-certified, you have no guarantee that it will never have a problem, and you should be able to get help if you need it.
• Price: The most expensive single-device charger we researched was 70, but many sell for 35 or less and provide similar performance. Because the more expensive models don’t offer extra features or promise faster rates, we skipped them, opting to FOCUS on the lower end of the price range.

The Best USB Phone Charger

No matter what kinds of USB-powered devices you own, we have picks to power them at their fastest charging speeds.

How we tested

We tested the performance of each Qi charger by separately putting each fully drained phone (we used an iPhone 13 and an LG V30) into airplane mode and then placing it on the charging pad. If a charger came with its own wall adapter, we used it. If a charger came with only a USB cable, we plugged it into an 18 W USB-A or 20 W USB-C wall adapter.

We measured the phone’s battery level after 30 minutes and then again after an hour had elapsed. Any reputable Qi charger will fully charge any phone in a few hours, and certainly overnight, so we were instead looking for differences in short-term charging. I first tested everything at my desk, but if I heard a sound that could potentially be disruptive, I also tested the charger in my bedroom at night, sleeping with it about 2 feet from my head to see if the noise would interfere with my sleep.

The best iPhone and Android wireless charger

This charging stand provides a fast charge to both iPhone and Android smartphones and comes with a wall plug and a long USB cable.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 28.

Stand-style Qi chargers are more convenient than flat pads and easier to properly align, and the Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W is the best one we’ve found for people who are looking to charge wirelessly without having to buy an AC adapter or any other extra pieces. No other stand-style charger we tested for this guide charges iPhone or Android devices faster, and the WPC has certified that this model meets industry safety standards. Its design is basic and won’t look out of place in most settings, whether it’s stationed on your desk or next to your bed. And because it doesn’t make any noise while charging and its status light is hidden behind your phone, it won’t disrupt your sleep.

The Wireless Charging Stand 10W beat out most other chargers we tested in pure performance, charging our fully depleted iPhone 13 to about 20% after 30 minutes and roughly 37% to 50% after an hour. A few competitors—such as the RAVPower Magnetic Wireless Charger (RP-WC012) and Anker PowerWave II Stand—were similarly fast, and only Apple’s far more expensive MagSafe Charger and Belkin’s Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad were faster. The upshot is that this Belkin stand charger will easily charge your phone overnight or keep it topped off as you come and go from your desk. The fastest wired chargers are almost twice as speedy, but the Wireless Charging Stand 10W’s performance was impressive when we compared it with that of other wireless chargers.

Belkin’s plastic stand has a footprint of almost 4 by 4 inches, with rubber strips on the underside that provide grip. It stands about 5 inches tall and leans back 20 degrees, allowing you to easily view the phone’s screen (and even unlock it with facial recognition, if your phone has that feature). Whether you get the stand in black or white, it’s pretty plain looking, and that’s a good thing because in most settings it won’t stand out as an obvious tech gadget.

The Wireless Charging Stand 10W makes for a good bedside accessory. This model is silent while charging, unlike the Anker PowerWave Pad with its audible fan and other chargers that whir, hum, or click. And the status light is rather small, just an LED pinprick that glows rather than casts light, so it won’t illuminate your whole room.

This model uses a standard Micro-USB cable for power and ships with a 4-foot cable and a 24 W Quick Charge 3.0 power adapter. Those two additions make it a great value (some Qi chargers come with only the cable, not the adapter), as well as a more convenient choice than chargers that use proprietary AC adapters, such as the Anker PowerWave II Stand. If you lose or break the cable or adapter, you can easily and inexpensively replace either part.

Belkin offers a standard two-year warranty on this charger. That’s more than the 12 or 18 months of coverage that most companies offer, and it’s particularly great given the Wireless Charging Stand 10W’s low price. Unlike with some of Belkin’s more premium products, however, connected devices (in this case, the phone you’re charging on the stand) are not covered under the warranty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W works only when connected to a Quick Charge 3.0 USB charger with at least 18 W of power, such as the one that comes in the box. In our tests, the stand wouldn’t work at all when connected to standard USB chargers that provided 5 W to 12 W of power (at 5 V). This limitation could be annoying if you lose or break the included charger, since you can’t simply replace it with another USB brick you may have lying around. But we think the wall charger is unlikely to break since it’s a well-built device meant to be kept in one place, unlike a power bank or even a wired charger that you may travel with. And even if something does happen to it, the whole package is protected by Belkin’s warranty.

As with all charging stands, this pad’s coil is too high on the stand to charge anything that isn’t roughly phone-shaped. So if you have a smaller accessory, such as Airpods in their wireless charging case, we recommend getting a horizontal wireless charging pad instead.

Belkin indicates on its website that the Wireless Charging Stand 10W is not compatible with the iPhone 12 mini. In our tests the stand charged this phone without issue, but it’s possible you may not get the fastest speeds with that diminutive handset.

Upgrade pick: Belkin Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe Special Edition

Belkin Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe

This charger offers the fastest wireless charging we’ve ever measured and easy magnetic alignment, but it’s best suited for iPhone 12 or later models.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 60.

If you have an iPhone 12 or later and want a wireless charger that lets you use your phone while it’s charging—or you simply want the fastest wireless charging you can get—we recommend Belkin’s Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with MagSafe Special Edition. The magnetic puck is faster than any other wireless charger we’ve tested, including Apple’s MagSafe Charger, and it automatically aligns itself when you’re using a bare iPhone or a case with MagSafe-style magnets. An embedded kickstand on the back folds out, if you want to position your phone in landscape orientation while it’s charging. The Belkin charger is more expensive than the Apple MagSafe Charger, though, and you have to provide your own wall adapter.

MagSafe-certified chargers (as opposed to generic magnetic wireless chargers) offer two major benefits: perfect alignment and fast, 15-watt charging. But they’re still few and far between. This Belkin charger is one of the few third-party options available.

In our speed tests using an iPhone 13, the Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad was faster than any wireless charger we’ve ever tested, including our top pick and even Apple’s own MagSafe charger. It charged a fully depleted battery to 34% after 30 minutes and 67% in an hour, compared with Apple’s MagSafe charger’s 57% in an hour.

The Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad is a 2.3-inch-diameter, 0.6-inch-thick plastic puck with a 79-inch-long braided USB-C cord, and it magnetically snaps to the back of a bare MagSafe-equipped iPhone or one in a case that has the right magnets built in. This means you don’t need to worry about getting the alignment right, which is a real concern with pad-style chargers. Phones that don’t have MagSafe built in, including older iPhones and Android phones, can still charge on the Belkin. But you have to be precise in how you place them on the puck or use a MagSafe ring adapter.

Belkin’s inclusion of a kickstand on the back is a nice touch because it lets you prop up your phone in landscape orientation, which is convenient if you want to watch a movie or stream YouTube while your phone charges. Since it folds flat, it doesn’t get in the way when not in use. The fabric-covered cable also helps justify the price because it should hold up to wear and tear better than a standard rubber-coated cable. And since the cable is so long, the silicone cable strap Belkin has attached to the cable is especially handy for keeping any extra length tamed.

Just like Apple, Belkin does not include the 20 W USB-C wall charger you need to power the Boost Charge Pro—it’s 20 if you buy Apple’s version, or about half that if you choose one of our equally fast and much smaller picks. That means the whole package will cost about 70 to 75 if you don’t already have a wall charger.

Belkin covers the Boost Charge Pro Portable Wireless Charger Pad with a 24-month warranty, and although the Belkin charger isn’t WPC-certified, neither is any other magnetic charging puck (including Apple’s own MagSafe Charger) at this writing. Belkin has a proven history when it comes to Qi chargers, though, so we’re comfortable recommending this charger even without the certification.

An inexpensive wireless charging pad

This pad doesn’t include a USB wall charger—you need to provide your own—but it’s an inexpensive option for a nightstand or any situation when slower charging isn’t a problem.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 16.

An inexpensive wireless charging stand

This stand charges a phone more slowly than others, but it’s still a great choice for overnight charging. It’s inexpensive and reliable, but it doesn’t include a USB wall charger, so you need to provide your own.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 15.

The Anker PowerWave Base Pad and Anker PowerWave Stand are the most affordable WPC-certified chargers we’ve tried from a reputable company. Compared with our top picks or a wired charger, they are slow to charge a phone, but they’re ideal for overnight charging or other scenarios that aren’t time-sensitive. Neither model comes with an AC adapter, but you can use a USB charger like the ones you normally use to charge a phone or tablet, or buy one separately. All of the other chargers we tested that don’t include wall plugs are more expensive, at which point you might as well buy one of our picks that come with a wall plug.

In our tests (which we conducted using a Quick Charge 3.0 AC adapter), both the PowerWave Base Pad and the PowerWave Stand charged a fully drained iPhone 13 battery to a little under 15% after 30 minutes and 30% after an hour. (Anker claims the Base Pad can charge the latest iPhones at 7.5-watt speeds with a QC 3.0 adapter, but our testing showed that not to be the case; we found the results to be consistent with those from a 5-watt charger.) This is a slow charging rate, especially compared with those of our other picks, which brought the iPhone 13 to 20% in 30 minutes and about 40% in an hour. But these Anker chargers are about value, and they work with the AC adapters or USB chargers you may already have; you can even plug them into a USB port on your computer. If you need speed or don’t have a spare USB wall plug, go with the Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W.

The Anker PowerWave Stand is mostly plastic, with rubber on the bottom to prevent it from moving. Like other stand-style chargers, it holds your phone at an angle, which lets you easily use Face ID on iPhones that support the feature. A small blue indicator-light ring on the supportive lower ledge lets you know when it’s charging.

The smartphone-shaped Anker PowerWave Base Pad has a rubber ring above its charging coil to prevent your device from slipping off its surface. Photo: Rozette Rago

The Anker PowerWave Stand’s design is about as plain as they come, but the charger performs well for an affordable price. Photo: Rozette Rago

The smartphone-shaped Anker PowerWave Base Pad has a rubber ring above its charging coil to prevent your device from slipping off its surface. Photo: Rozette Rago

The PowerWave Base Pad is a rounded rectangle measuring 6 inches long, 3 inches wide, and about half an inch thick. It’s grippy enough on top to hold a bare phone in place, but it’s not tacky, and the same rubber material on the bottom holds the charger itself in place. A tiny blue LED glows to indicate when the charger is engaged. Neither charger makes any noise during use.

Anker offers an 18-month warranty but doesn’t provide an option to extend that coverage period, as RAVPower does on its warranty. Though we’ve never had an issue in our years of using Anker charging pads, when our staff has had to take advantage of Anker’s protection on other devices, they’ve found the service to be quick and painless. We’ve heard the same from readers. Anker’s Qi accessories do have some negative on Amazon (as do most chargers). But buying from a reputable brand with a good warranty means that if something does go wrong, you’ll be taken care of.

The Best Apple Wireless Charging Stations for Multiple Devices

The Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand is the best way to wirelessly charge an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and Airpods every day.

What if you use a wallet case for your phone?

If you use a phone case that provides storage on the back for credit cards and cash, a wireless charger may not be for you. Some wallet cases are too thick to activate wireless charging on some chargers, and metal credit cards, which are becoming more popular, can also block charging.

If you want to use wireless charging but need a case with wallet features, we recommend a folio-style wallet case or a removable, magnetic wallet like Apple’s iPhone Leather Wallet instead.

Other good Qi wireless chargers

If our top pick goes out of stock or jumps in price: Anker’s PowerWave II Stand is a great alternative to the Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W. It charges just as quickly, and the price is about the same. We decided not to make it our pick because it uses a proprietary barrel-style charging plug rather than Micro-USB; as a result, the cable and attached wall charger are more difficult to replace if necessary.

If you want a more affordable magnetic charger: We recommend RAVPower’s Magnetic Wireless Charger (RP-WC012). Although it charges at about half the speed of the Belkin we recommend, it costs half as much, and that price includes a wall adapter.

What to look forward to

We’re planning a new round of testing for the spring of 2023, which will pit our current picks against the following models:

• Belkin WIA001TT
• Belkin WIA004TT
• Belkin WIA005TT
• Courant Catch:3 Essentials
• Einova Valet Tray
• ESR HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Charger with Power Supply
• Insignia NS-MQM10W22WC
• Insignia NS-MQP15W22K
• Monoprice Qi-Certified 15W Fast Wireless Charging Stand (42520)
• Native Union MagSafe Power Basics
• Native Union MagSafe Essentials
• Native Union Wireless Charging Essentials
• Nomad Base Station Stand
• OtterBox Charging Pad for MagSafe (78-80632)
• Zens Built-in Wireless Charger 10W (ZEBI03W/00)
• Zens Built-in Wireless Charger 15W (ZEBI04W/00)
• Zens iPhone Starter Pack (ZESC12BPD/02)

We’re also excited about a new wireless charging standard called Qi2 that the World Power Consortium (WPC) introduced in January 2023. Apple allowed its proprietary MagSafe technology to be used as the basis for Qi2’s key feature, called the Magnetic Power Profile. Like MagSafe, the WPC says this feature uses magnets to “ensure that phones or other rechargeable battery-powered mobile products are perfectly aligned with charging devices, thus providing improved energy efficiency and faster charging.” We look forward to testing some Qi2-compliant devices from a variety of companies as they start to roll out later this year.

The competition

Apple’s MagSafe Charger charges at a slower rate than the Belkin magnetic wireless charger we recommend, and it is more expensive than the RAVPower RP-WC012. You’re better off choosing one of the other models we recommend by determining if speed or price is the most important factor to you.

The Nimble Apollo Wireless Pad charged an iPhone 12 just a little slower than the RAVPower RP-WC012 in our tests. It looks more like a traditional pad-style charger but there are magnets inside, so it’s easy to align MagSafe-equipped iPhones and keep them in place. The charger is also made of recycled materials, which we appreciate. We have two qualms, however: the high price tag (although a 20W wall charger is included, so it’s a complete package) and the lack of WPC-certification.

Belkin’s Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 15W charged the iPhone 12 at the same speeds as the fastest non-MagSafe chargers, but it charged the V30 at a slower rate. We confirmed in testing that this model doesn’t charge the iPhone 12 mini.

Although Satechi’s USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable and Spigen’s PowerArc ArcField are just as fast as the RAVPower RP-WC012 and priced about the same, they don’t come with wall adapters.

Choetech’s Magnetic Wireless Charger and Belkin’s Boost Charge Magnetic Portable Wireless Charger Pad 7.5W cost about the same as the RAVPower RP-WC012 and also come with power adapters, but were about 20% slower in our tests.

The Sonix Magnetic Link Wireless Charger charged at only a little more than half the speed of our RAVPower magnetic pick, and it doesn’t come with a power adapter.

ESR’s HaloLock Magnetic Wireless Charger is a pad-style charger with built-in magnets, so if you’re using a MagSafe-capable phone, you don’t have to worry about misalignment. It was far slower than other chargers in our testing, though, hitting just a 30% charge after an hour. It also lacks a power adapter.

If you prefer your phone to lie flat while it’s charging, the RAVPower Fast Wireless Charger (RP-PC058) is a great option. It has the same 10-watt charging coil as the upright Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W, so it can charge your phone just as quickly, and it comes with the same cable and AC adapter. You might prefer a pad-style charger because they’re generally less expensive than equally fast stand-style chargers, or if you’d rather not be tempted to look at your screen once you’ve set your phone down, but a stand charger is likely to be more useful for most people.

Spigen’s SteadiBoost Flex Wireless Charger is a transforming charger, meaning it can work as a stand or fold flat to act as a pad. In our testing it matched the fastest non-MagSafe charging speeds we’ve recorded for both iPhones and Android devices. It doesn’t come with a power brick, though, and it typically costs about as much as the Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W, which does have a power brick. If you need both a stand and a pad, this charger is worth the money, but most people will be served well enough by one or the other.

Anker’s PowerWave Sense Pad Alloy charged rapidly in our tests, and it comes with a cable and a Quick Charge 3.0 charger. Its metal body and fabric-lined surface look quite nice, too, but this Anker charger is expensive for a pad-style charger, so we suggest that you get it only if the price drops or if you’re willing to pay for the aesthetics.

Like the Anker PowerWave II Stand, the Anker PowerWave II Pad charges more slowly than competitors, and instead of a USB charger, it uses a proprietary AC charger that you can’t replace as easily if necessary. We also found the pad to be too slick. The PowerWave 10 Stand with 2 USB-A Ports version runs at the same speeds and has the same kind of power source, but it offers the added benefit of two USB ports with a combined 12-watt output.

Anker’s PowerWave Pad is our former budget pick, but it’s a little slower than the PowerWave Base Pad, which is available for the same price.

The Samsung EP-NG930 was our previous favorite stand, but it’s slower than better models and doesn’t look as nice.

The iOttie iON Wireless Plus Fast Charging Pad is one of the better-looking Qi chargers we’ve tested. But it was slower than other models in our tests, and when it wasn’t charging, the unit emitted a quiet, intermittent beep that may annoy people who have acute hearing. iOttie’s stand version of the charger is equally handsome, and we didn’t hear any noises coming from that model. But it charged both an iPhone XR and an LG V30 more slowly than other chargers did.

Prior models

The Logitech Powered for iPhone charging stand usually costs several times more than the chargers we recommend, yet it lacks the ability to charge that much faster. The permanently attached cable gives you less flexibility in swapping it out if something goes wrong.

The Belkin Boost Up Bold Wireless Charging Pad 10W was slower than much less expensive chargers in our tests, and the pad emitted a high-pitched coil whine. Belkin told us that our test results did not reflect the data from its own testing and that “[Belkin’s] charging pads are performing slightly better vs. the latest competition.” But even if the performance were better, we don’t think the charger would be worth its relatively high price.

The Mophie Charge Stream Pad Mini is the smallest Qi charger we’ve tested, and it performed pretty well, but it was still slower than competitors.

The Twelve South PowerPic is the most cleverly designed Qi charger we’ve come across. The charging surface is hidden inside an attractive picture frame, allowing you to display a 5-by-7-inch photo when you’re not charging. Thanks to this design, the PowerPic can blend into your home better than accessories with the standard techy look. It’s expensive, though, especially considering it doesn’t come with a wall adapter. And it’s not particularly fast: Our tests showed results in line with those of a 5-watt charger, despite the 10-watt listing.

With the Case-Mate Wireless Power Pad and its included plastic stand, you can charge your phone in a flat or angled position. Its charging speeds were pretty much in line with our expectations. But the price, usually about double what our favorite Qi chargers cost, is just too much for what this model offers.

The Satechi Wireless Charging Pad looks nice but isn’t as grippy on top as better chargers. It also doesn’t come with a wall adapter, so you need to provide your own. It took longer to charge an iPhone than the fastest chargers we tested.