Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Wireless Charging Pads and Stands, No Strings Attached

Juicing up our gadgets has been a persistent first-world problem since portable electronics first became a thing. We thankfully no longer have to mess around with expensive AA batteries to keep our GameBoys running, yet we’re still finding newer, faster, and more efficient ways to keep our tech chugging along – and mobile charging technology, in particular, is undergoing something of a quiet revolution at the moment.

The innovation behind this upheaval is wireless charging, a technology that has been more than a decade in the making but has only recently exploded onto the scene. Qi inductive charging, now the market-dominant standard for wireless charging, lets users with any capable mobile devices (available from Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, and other flagship brands) juice up any Qi-compatible smartphone by simply placing it on a charging pad or stand. Unseen internal coils then work their magic, transferring energy from the charger to the device’s internal battery.

Recommended Videos

The technology has caught on in a big way and there is now a heap of wireless charging pads and stands available on Amazon. We’ve sorted through them to bring you the best of the bunch: Some are handsomely made, some are all business, and some are just super-cheap, but every one of our picks works well enough that taking any of these home will leave you wondering why you didn’t make the leap to wireless charging sooner.

Best Overall: Samsung Wireless Charging Pad

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As one of the early adopters of the Qi standard, Samsung has pretty much perfected the wireless charging pad formula. This updated 2018 Samsung charging pad is ready to go right out of the box and is capable of charging all Qi-compatible smartphones, including the latest Samsung Galaxy S10 and iPhone X models. It’s also tilted up so you can use your phone while it’s charging, and it even has a built-in fan to keep things cool. Alternatively, if you prefer the low profile of a flat wireless charging pad, then you can

grab this version

for around the same price.

Best Value: Yootech Wireless Charging Pad

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

None of our picks are what you would call expensive, but you might still balk at spending $40+ for what is, at the end of the day, just a simple charger. Yootech’s top-rated wireless charging pad works with all modern Qi wireless charging-enabled devices and does it for about $15. It even has a fast-charging mode for certain smartphones. At this price, you really can’t ask for much more. You can also grab a

Yootech charging pad two-pack

so you have one for your home and one for the office and save a few more bucks.

Best Standing Charger: Anker Wireless Charging Stand

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Well-made, budget-friendly, and a tilt-up to boot — Anker’s wireless charging stand is the triple threat of smartphone chargers. It sports a nice steep angle, which means you can still view and use your device while it’s being topped up, and the charger itself takes up a little less square footage on your desk than a flat pad. The slim, Apple-esque profile looks great, too, and it works with non-metal cases up to 5mm thick – just note that metal cases, grips, stands, wallet cases, and other bulky phone attachments will get in the way. At under $20, we can deal with that.

Best-Looking Option: iOttie iOn Mini Wireless Chargers

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whoever asserted that form follows function never saw the iOttie iOn mini charger. This charger not only guarantees charging any Qi device at the highest speed it permits, it also boasts some pretty stylish looks with its neat tweed fabric wrap. With an air vent to prevent overheating and anti-slip silicone grips, the iOttie is bent on keeping your phone safe and securely in place. It can even juice up a second device thanks to its extra USB port on the back for wired charging. There’s

a standing version

as well, if that’s more your speed.

Best Fast-Charging Option: Anker PowerWave Wireless Charging Pad

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Most modern wireless charging pads support high-speed charging with devices that support it (namely Samsung Galaxy smartphones), but Anker’s WaveBoost technology brings advanced components and a state-of-the-art cooling system to the wireless charging game, juicing up your devices 30% faster than other models out there. Its powerful charge zaps right through even your fancy live-edge wooden case. And with over-charge protection, foreign object detection, and radiation shielding, the Anker ensures total safety for your beloved device.

Best for iPhones: Mophie Wireless Charging Pad

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Any wireless charger that works with Qi-compatible devices will work with your iPhone, but if you want one specifically optimized for Apple smartphones, the Mophie is it. Tailor-made for the latest iPhone 8 and X-series models, the Mophie wireless charging pad offers super high-speed wireless charging with up to 7.5W of power. The rubberized exterior coating of the pad also provides a non-slip place for your phone to sit while it’s rejuvenating.

Best Mouse Pad: Corsair Wireless Charging Mouse Pad

best wireless charging pads on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s better than a wireless charger? How about one that pulls double-duty as a mouse pad? This Corsair MM1000 maximizes your desktop real estate, appearing at first glance as a simple mouse pad (although you might notice the USB cable), but offers you a spot to place your Qi-compatible smartphone for wireless charging. It’s not quite as fast as dedicated charging pads, but it comes with USB Type-C, Lightning, and Micro-B adapters that allow you to charge up your non-Qi devices on the mouse pad, which is a pretty solid trade-off in our opinion.

Lucas Coll
Lucas Coll is a freelance commerce and affiliate writer for The Manual and our tech-focused brother site, Digital Trends…
A new serial killer series is coming to Amazon starring John Krasinski
Krasinski and co-star Matthew Rhys will both serve as executive producers on the series.
John Krasinski in Jack Ryan

John Krasinski's relationship with Amazon appears to be a fruitful one. Variety is reporting that the Jack Ryan star is reteaming with the company for a new serial killer drama series called Silent River. The series will co-star Matthew Rhys of The Americans. Krasinski and Rhys will both serve as producers on the series, and Krasinski is also set to direct the pilot as well as additional episodes of the show.

Here's the show's official logline: “Through the lens of two men, whose lives are far more connected than they realize, Silent River explores the cracks of small-town America in the wake of discovering a serial killer among them.”

Read more
Black Friday is over, but you still need to shop these Christmas tree deals
The Best Choice Products 4.5ft Pre-lit Pencil Christmas Tree on a white background

Update 12/1/24: Black Friday may be over, but with Christmas on the horizon, there are still a lot of excellent deals you can snag. One of the best, while still a bit pricey, is the excellent National Tree Company Pre-Lit tree with it's massive $675 discount. Of course, if that's still a bit pricey, the rest of the deals are great, and we've updated their pricing to reflect the latest info. We'll also do our best to keep an eye out for any new Christmas tree deals, so be sure to check back regularly!

At this time of year, we’re already seeing some fantastic Black Friday deals ahead of the big day. Buying now saves you from the effort of looking while enjoying your turkey leftovers, plus you’ll get your purchase far sooner, too. If you’re keen to put your Christmas tree up straight after Thanksgiving, these are the Black Friday Christmas tree deals for you. We’ve picked out our favorites and offered some buying advice to help you figure out what’s important to you. While you’re in the bargain-seeking mood, don’t forget to check out the Black Friday tool deals happening too, so you can be equipped for all your DIY plans ahead of the holidays. Read on while we take you through everything you need to know and remember -- we’ll update this page regularly with the latest deals.
Best Black Friday Sales

Read more
‘Wicked’ just broke a surprising box office record
The movie also had one of the best opening weekends of any movie all year.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the poster for 'Wicked.'

By almost any metric, Wicked is an enormous success at the box office. The adaptation of the hugely popular Broadway musical made more than $100 million over the weekend, and as the first week of its release commences, the movie is continuing to break records.

On Monday, it pulled in $15.8 million, which represents the single best November Monday in box office history, surpassing Frozen II ($12.7 million in 2019) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($12.3 million in 2013). Ticket prices have definitely risen in that time, but that definitely doesn't account for the bump completely.

Read more