New and improved wireless charging standards mean a new set of chargers, stands and external batteries to choose from.
It only takes a few mornings when you wake up with a dead phone because you forgot to plug it in before going to bed, to convince anyone of the usefulness of wireless chargers. It’s easier to place your phone on a pad or disc and forget about it than to find the right cable. “Qi” wireless charging was the de facto standard used by most chargers, but until recently, as phone batteries became larger and larger, their charging speeds began to become more and more limited. Proprietary solutions like Apple’s MagSafe are faster and more convenient.
The new standard enhances the benefits of Apple MagSafe, namely faster charging and powerful magnets that help perfectly align the charging coil for more efficient power transfer.
Qi2 will change all that. The new standard enhances the benefits of Apple MagSafe, namely faster charging and powerful magnets that help perfectly align the charging coil for more efficient power transfer. Not only does it allow you to charge your phone wirelessly faster, but it also opens up all kinds of new possibilities for stands and mounts thanks to the built-in magnets.
The Belkin BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Dock is the best all-around Qi2 option because it lets you charge your smartphone in so many different ways and it’s affordable, but the list below has a few good options to consider regardless. Are you looking for something more portable, or a charger that you can keep on your bedside table most of the time.
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Belkin/Pocket-lint
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Convertible Qi2 Wireless Base
Best Overall Qi2 Charger
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Anker / pocket velvet
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station
Best Premium Qi2 Charger
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Anker / pocket velvet
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh)
Best Budget Qi2 Charger
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Belkin/Pocket-lint
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2
The best fast chargers for multiple devices
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Nomad/Pocket Velvet
Nomad Stand Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Charger
Best Simple Qi2 Stand Charger
What is Qi2?New Wireless Charging Standard Explained
Qi2 is coming soon – find out more about the new wireless charging system here, including when it will be available.
Best Qi2 Chargers: Our Top Picks
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Belkin BoostCharge Pro Convertible Qi2 Wireless Base
Best Overall Qi2 Charger
The Belkin BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Stand Base moves from standing to lying down and charges your smartphone with 15W, whether vertically or horizontally.
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Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station
Best Premium Qi2 Charger
Anker’s MagGo Wireless Charging Station folds completely for greater portability, or unfolds to make room for Qi2 wireless charging for smartphones, wireless headphones, and even Apple Watches.
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Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh)
Best Budget Qi2 Charger
Anker’s MagGo Power Bank is a portable battery with a tiny display that doubles as a wireless Qi2 charger and magnetic phone holder.
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Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2
The best fast chargers for multiple devices
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad uses Qi2 technology and is a classic wireless charging pad that can charge multiple devices (including Apple Watch) at the same time.
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Nomad Stand Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Charger
Best Simple Qi2 Stand Charger
The Nomad Qi2 Stand is a metal and glass wireless charging stand that can display your smartphone horizontally or vertically, making it perfect for your iPhone’s standby mode.
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Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station
Best Qi2 charger for up to eight devices
For those who want to charge as much as possible, this Anker charging station gives you three AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a Qi2 charging pad.
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ESR Qi2 Car Charger
Best Budget Qi2 Car Charger
Qi2 is also suitable for car charging. ESR’s solution provides an affordable way to mount your phone horizontally or vertically on an air vent or dashboard using adhesive.
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Anker MagGo Magnetic Wireless Charger (Pad)
The best Qi2 charger with long cable
The Anker MagGo Magnetic Wireless Charger is a Qi2 charging puck with a pleasant five-foot-long cable, no more, no less. And, what else do you need?
Jump to magnet
Upgrading to Qi2 will give you faster charging speeds and all the magnets you’ll want to connect your devices in a variety of different ways. In our opinion, the Belkin BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Stand is one of the best ways to experience all the new benefits of Qi2, because it allows you to pose your phone at different heights and in different orientations.
For something more expensive but also more flexible, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station lets you charge your phone, wireless headphones, and smartwatches on a fully foldable charger. If you’re looking for something more affordable, Anker’s MagGo power bank is both a great external battery and a stand for your smartphone.
FAQ
Q: Is 15W the fastest charging speed?
Qi2 currently only supports 15W speeds, but that doesn’t prevent it from being updated to support faster speeds in the future. That doesn’t mean you won’t find faster wireless charging speeds elsewhere, either. Google’s second-generation Pixel Stand has a built-in active cooling fan and can charge the phone at 23W. If you’re willing to use a data cable, some OnePlus phones can charge up to 150W.
Q: Are Qi2 chargers backwards compatible?
Yes. Qi2 chargers can charge older devices that are only compatible with first-generation Qi chargers. They can’t charge at Qi2’s faster 15W charging speed, but you can still charge your device at the slower 5W speed.
It’s worth noting that Qi2 is designed to do more than just charge smartphones, smartwatches, and wireless headphones. In theory, Qi2 could be used to charge tablets and even future laptops if manufacturers want to include it.