1 week Ago By Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Wireless charging is less efficient than plugging in a wire, but it’s certainly convenient — especially when you add magnets. Most people who have an and want a magnetic charger should get a Qi2 charger. Any Qi2-certified charger will charge a MagSafe iPhone at up to 15W — just as fast as MagSafe .
Qi2 chargers are also less expensive than MagSafe-certified ones, and there are many more options. And unlike MagSafe, . There’s only one Qi2-compatible Android phone right now — the — but we expect Google, and maybe Samsung, to add Qi2 to phones in 2025.
Qi2 adds some much-needed simplicity to the magnetic charging ecosystem. The options that once consisted of MagSafe-certified chargers (made or licensed by Apple, capable of 15W charging on iPhones) and “MagSafe-compatible” chargers (made by third parties, capable of 7.5W charging on iPhones) are now being replaced by Qi2.
Unless you can get a great deal or you have an iPhone 16, the only MagSafe-certified charger still worth considering is . The 16-series iPhones can charge at up to 25W on the new charger and the new charger only. The new charger is also Qi2-certified, so it’s worth considering for once.
There’s little reason to get a “MagSafe-compatible” charger unless you’re an Android user with a . Those original Qi phones fall back to 5W charging on Qi2 but can charge at up to 10W with a regular Qi charger. Confused? Check out the table below summarizing these charging speed nuances, and read on for our favorites of the Qi2 and MagSafe pucks, stands, 3-in-1 chargers, and battery packs we’ve tested so far.
Best for iPhone 16 and 16 Pro While Qi2 is as fast as MagSafe on the iPhones 12 through 15, Apple has moved the goalposts with the iPhone 16 generation. The new phones can charge at up to 25W — making it the best choice for owners of the latest iPhone. It’s great to see faster wireless charging, but it does mean you’re again incentivized to buy Apple’s puck over cheaper, more widely available Qi2 options.
For once, there’s good reason to consider the Apple puck. It’s Qi2-certified as well as MagSafe, so it’ll work with non-Apple Qi2 devices should those materialize. And the company has added a version with a 2m / 6.
6ft cable instead of only offering a too-short 1m / 3.3ft one. Get the longer one.
You’ll also need an AC adapter since it doesn’t come with one. Both and Nomad, among others, have options that are smaller and cheaper than Apple’s USB-C chargers. Nomad’s, in particular, has a .
Best Qi2 charging puck overall Any Qi2-certified charger will charge any MagSafe iPhone at 15W (except for the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini, which top out at 12W). If you just want a basic puck, we like Anker’s MagGo Qi2 wireless charging pad. Its five-foot cable is shorter than the 6.
6-foot one on Apple’s new MagSafe charger, but it’s also $20 cheaper. When you consider that Anker includes an AC adapter and Apple doesn’t, it’s more like $40 cheaper. Unless you have an iPhone 16 and really want that 25W charging, the Anker Qi2 puck is a better value.
Anker’s reliable old magnetic Qi charger ( ) was our go-to recommendation for a long while, and the 7.5W charger is still fine for overnight use if you score one supercheap. But most people should spend the extra $10 and get a Qi2 puck.
Best Qi2 3-in-1 charger for travel The Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand makes a great travel charger for people who hit the road with an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. It folds up flat and compact enough to easily slip into a bag or carry-on pocket, and it includes a 45W power plug with prong adapters that cover most of the globe. Its aluminum and faux-leather construction is also substantial enough, and its design elevated enough, to be the main 3-in-1 charger on your desk once you’re back home.
(There’s also a , which is similarly nice but doesn’t come with an AC adapter.) is smaller and more compact than the Satechi — it’s more like a bar of soap than a bar of chocolate — but it doesn’t include prong adapters. Also, its lighter build makes it easy to accidentally pick up the whole charger when you just meant to grab your phone and gives it more limited articulation for home desktop use.
It’s best suited for frequent travelers who don’t want to pack up their home charger before every trip. Best Qi2 3-in-1 stand for home Once again, the Belkin “tree” towers over all others when it comes to a 3-in-1 for home use. The latest version fixes some of our minor grievances from its predecessors while adopting the Qi2 standard.
It now uses an included 36W USB-C power adapter instead of a gigantic plug with a barrel connector, and the elevated Qi2 mount can tilt your phone in a variety of angles. Its nylon-wrapped USB-C cable isn’t detachable, but at least it’s about five feet long. If you don’t mind getting a little spendy for something that just looks and feels , the is a great home charger.
It’s sleek and minimal, mostly metal and glass, and unlike , it charges an iPhone horizontally without blocking the Watch charger — permitting use of . Its biggest drawbacks are its non-tiltable phone mount and the fact that, in addition to its high price tag, you have to budget for a 30W power adapter. Best Qi2 desk charger Staff opinions on this orb are, frankly, divided, but I had it on my desk for a while, and I miss it.
This Death Star-looking thing has a Qi2 pad on the front and two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and three AC outlets on the back, with up to 67W charging between them. Fully utilized, yeah, it’s gonna look like a cable octopus, but it’s nice to have something in arm’s reach that can charge your phone, your laptop, and whatever else you’ve got going on. Best Qi2 battery pack This folding Qi2 battery pack doubles as a phone stand and has 6,600mAh capacity, which is more than enough to fully charge even an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
You can also charge from its USB-C port if you prefer. It’s not the slimmest Qi2 battery, but it’s sturdy enough to hold the phone in landscape mode without toppling, which is nice. Best Qi2 car mount ’s Thomas Ricker likes this compact Qi2 car charger.
It can be either vent- or dash-mounted, and it’s inexpensive, though you’ll have to supply your own power adapter. There have been many more Qi2 car mounts released since he tested this, and we have a few more in the queue, but this one’s good! Other chargers worth considering Now that Qi2 is widely available, it’s a safe bet that you’re at least getting something if it’s Qi2-certified and it’s from a reputable brand. While our best-ofs above don’t cover every single make and model of charger out there, we’re frequently testing units from the likes of , , , , , , , , , and .
If there’s a Qi2 charger from one of them that seems like a good fit for your particular needs and your budget, it’s likely worth a shot. When in doubt, know the retailer’s return policy and the manufacturer’s warranty if it ends up not being to your liking..
