Wireless charging has been around for more than a decade, according to WIRED, yet many people still plug in the old-fashioned way. Reviewer Simon Hill reports he has tested more than 100 wireless chargers over the past decade and sorted the good among them. The convenience case is simple: leaving a phone on a pad or stand overnight means waking up to a fully charged battery. As WIRED puts it, "Yes, it's slower than wired charging—but at night that hardly matters anyways."
Scope and testing method
According to WIRED, the guide sorts the good from the bad — "there are certainly bad ones" — across pads and stands in different styles, shapes, and build materials, including models with spots for additional devices. The article text carries an August 2026 update note that added a wireless charger from OtterBox, information on the downside of wireless charging, and an explanation of how the author tests chargers, plus updated prices.
Other wireless chargers WIRED tested
WIRED evaluated additional chargers that it likes but, for one reason or another, do not warrant a top-pick spot. The list prices and characteristics, as reported by WIRED:
| Charger | Price | Key features and trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Krafted Couch Wireless Charger | $52 | Qi2-rated silicone mat with a magnetic charger and a 6.6-foot (2-meter) cable; the ridges "failed to keep it in place" on a velvety couch, and the silicone finish with the Krafted logo is called "a bit ugly" |
| Nimble Apollo Wireless Pad | $19 | Recycled silicone, post-consumer plastic, and alloy; plastic-free packaging; the silicone surface "easily accumulates dust and lint" but helps keep phones from sliding; magnets align iPhone 12 and newer phones for more efficient charging, though weaker than MagSafe |
| Einova Eggtronic Charging Stone | $70 | Made of 100% solid marble or stone with zero LEDs, "perfect for bedrooms"; WIRED recommends a phone case because the hard surface risks scuffing |
| Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station | $88 | Tilting pad, retractable USB-C cable, three USB-C ports, and one USB-A port for desktop use |
| Rapport London Formula Wireless Charging Tray | $475 | Lacquered grey box with soft-touch fabric for watches and phones; WIRED calls it an "obscene price for a Qi wireless charger," but it "reliably recharged several Android phones without making them too warm" |
| iOttie iOS Wireless Duo | $80 | A dual-charging system that WIRED describes as "pretty" |
Trade-offs that matter in the field
The working differences among these chargers are physical, not just cosmetic:
- Furniture fit: The Krafted couch charger slipped down the side of a velvety couch because its ridges could not hold it, a risk for chargers mounted on upholstered surfaces.
- Material wear: Marble and stone surfaces on the Einova model can scuff phone backs, per WIRED; the Nimble Apollo's silicone surface collects dust and lint.
- Heat and capacity: The Rapport tray "reliably recharged several Android phones without making them too warm," according to reviewer Julian Chokkattu's note in the guide.
- Form factor variety: The lineup spans a $19 single-device pad, an $88 five-in-one desktop station with three USB-C ports, and a $475 tray that doubles as storage for watches.
I'm still figuring out whether that's a good or bad thing. — Julian Chokkattu, on the Einova stone being mistaken for a drink coaster
The standards context: Qi, Qi2, and MagSafe
For technology buyers, the relevant standards are Qi and the newer Qi2, which appears in the Krafted charger's specification, plus Apple's MagSafe magnetic alignment. The Nimble Apollo's internal magnets keep iPhone 12 or newer devices aligned for more efficient charging, per WIRED, though they are not as strong as normal MagSafe chargers. WIRED's guide also directs readers to separate buying guides it publishes for Android phones, iPhones, 3-in-1 Apple wireless chargers, MagSafe and Qi2 chargers, and MagSafe power banks.
What the $19–$475 range says to equipment buyers
The WIRED excerpts document a charging-hardware market that spans $19 to $475, with quality and material behavior varying accordingly. The cheapest options carry material trade-offs such as dust and lint accumulation, the mid-range models add multi-device capacity, and the most expensive tray is flagged for its price, not its charging reliability. For procurement teams that need to standardize charging equipment across office floors, furniture, or field kits, WIRED's individual results point to a per-environment testing process rather than a single SKU: the couch-specific charger failed on a velvety couch, the stone charger risks scratching devices, and the desktop station earns its place at a desk.
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