Wireless charging has become one of the easiest ways to keep your gadgets powered without dealing with tangled cables or a worn-out charging port. Whether youre topping up your phone, earbuds or smartwatch, a good wireless charger saves you the hassle of plugging in and can even deliver faster charging speeds with the right standard.The best options in 2025 go beyond simple pads. Youll find 3-in-1 wireless chargers that handle multiple devices at once, a magnetic wireless charger that snaps into place on your phone and even foldable or travel-friendly designs that work like portable chargers on the go. Many of the latest models are Qi2 certified, which means better efficiency and wider compatibility.If youre looking for something to keep by your nightstand or a full wireless charging station for your desk, there are plenty of choices with solid build quality and practical functionality. The right pick depends on how many devices you need to charge at once and where youll use it most. Table of contents Best wireless chargers for 2025 What to look for in a wireless charger Where and how will you use your charger? Wireless charging performance Quality and box contents Wireless chargers FAQs Best wireless chargers for 2025 What to look for in a wireless charger While its tempting to buy a wireless charging pad optimized for the specific phone you have now, resist that urge. Instead, think about the types of devices (phones included) that you could see yourself using in the near future. If youre sure youll use iPhones for a long time, an Apple MagSafe-compatible magnetic wireless charger will be faster and more convenient. If you use Android phones or think you might switch sides, however, youll want a more universal design. If you have other accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch that supports wireless charging, maybe youd be better off with a 3-in-1 wireless charger or full wireless charging station. Where and how will you use your charger? Odds are that you have a specific use case in mind for your charger. You may want it by your bedside on your nightstand for a quick charge in the morning, or on your desk for at-a-glance notifications. You might even keep it in your bag for convenient travel charging instead of bulky portable chargers or power banks. Think about where you want to use this accessory and what you want to do with the device(s) it charges while its powering up. For example, a wireless charging pad might be better for bedside use if you just want to be able to drop your phone down at the end of a long day and know itll be powered up in the morning. However, a stand will be better if you have an iPhone and want to make use of the Standby feature during the nighttime hours. For a desk wireless charger, a stand lets you more easily glance at phone notifications throughout the day. For traveling, undoubtedly, a puck-style charging pad is best since it will take up much less space in your bag than a stand would. Many power banks also include wireless charging pads built in, so one of those might make even more sense for those who are always on the go. Some foldable chargers are also designed for travel, collapsing flat to take up less space. Wireless charging performance Although wireless charging is usually slower than its wired equivalent, speed and wattage are still important considerations. A fast charger can supply enough power for a long night out in the time it takes to change outfits. Look for options that promise faster charging and support standards like Qi2 certified charging for the best balance of efficiency and compatibility. In general, a 15W charger is more than quick enough for most situations, and youll need a MagSafe-compatible charger to extract that level of performance from an iPhone. With that said, even the slower 7.5W and 10W chargers are fast enough for an overnight power-up. If anything, youll want to worry more about support for cases. While many models can deliver power through a reasonably thick case (typically 3mm to 5mm), youll occasionally run into examples that only work with naked phones. There are some proprietary chargers that smash the 15W barrier if you have the right phone. Apples latest MagSafe charging pad can provide up to 25W of wireless power to compatible iPhones when paired with a 30W or 35W adapter the latter being another component youll have to get right to make sure the whole equation works as fast as it possibly can. Quality and box contents Pay attention to whats included in the box. Some wireless chargers dont include power adapters, and others may even ask you to reuse your phones USB-C charging cable. What may seem to be a bargain may prove expensive if you have to buy extras just to use it properly. As mentioned above, youll want to make sure all of the components needed to use the wireless charger can provide the level of power you need youre only as strong (or in this case, fast) as your weakest link. Fit and finish is also worth considering. Youre likely going to use your wireless charger every day, so even small differences in build quality could make the difference between joy and frustration. If your charger doesnt use MagSafe-compatible tech, textured surfaces like fabric or rubberized plastic are more likely to keep your phone in place. The base should be grippy or weighty enough that the charger wont slide around. Also double check that the wireless charger youre considering can support phones outfitted with cases the specifications are usually listed in the chargers description or specs. Youll also want to think about the minor conveniences. Status lights are useful for indicating correct phone placement, but an overly bright light can be distracting. Ideally, the light dims or shuts off after a certain period of time. And while we caution against lips and trays that limit compatibility, you may still want some barriers to prevent your device falling off its perch on the charging station. Wireless chargers FAQs Do wireless chargers work if you have a phone case? Many wireless chargers do work if you leave the case on your phone. Generally, a case up to 3mm thick should be compatible with most wireless chargers. However, you should check the manufacturers guide to ensure a case is supported. How do I know if my phone supports wireless charging? Checking the phones specification should tell you if your phone is compatible with wireless charging. You might see words like Qi wireless charging or wireless charging compatible. Do cords charge your phone faster? Most often, wired charging will be faster than wireless charging. However, wired charging also depends on what the charging cables speed is and how much power its designed to carry. A quick-charging cable that can transmit up to 120W of power is going to be faster than a wireless charger.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-wireless-charger-140036359.html?src=rss