Take a guess of what could be missing from our dream of a futuristic utopia. Well, your guess is as good as ours – wires! From
wireless speakers to
Bluetooth wireless headphones; it looks like we are going wireless. Everything seems to work magically! And mind you, we aren’t there yet. As scientist work on the next
wireless big thing, let’s focus on the wireless charge – the godsend device we have today!
In essence, wireless chargers are not entirely wireless, since you still need to plug them into your AC socket, but they allow you to charge your smartphone without using any cables. That’s right! You come home from work, pop your smartphone on the pad or stand, and you are sure that in the morning it will be fully charged. Amazing, right? Well, there’s more. Some options even go to the extent of letting you use your smartphone to browse, pick calls, or text your spouse as it charges.
Although these amazing chargers are portable, allowing you to carry them from your home to the office, you might want to get yourself a
portable charger for those long road trips.
Price
Wireless chargers can cost a premium, no doubt about that! Unlike your regular charger that might go for around $10, a wireless model could cost as much as $60. However, the normal ranges are between $15 and $70. The main difference between these prices could be attributed to the host brand and some features incorporated. You will find that the very well-known manufacturers such as Samsung might charge their models more compared to other less known brands. Similarly, wireless chargers that allow you to put your phone in multiple angles, or come with a long-distance range might require you to dig deeper into your pockets.
During our research, we did come across lots of cheap wireless chargers, but we couldn’t feature them for one simple reason; some of these models did not have all the important features we were looking for, and others did not meet their promises according to verified reviewers. We suggest you keep away from such and only go with reputable brands.
Features
Perhaps the most important feature to note about wireless chargers is their compatibility. Most of them are compatible with Samsung Galaxy phones, Nokia Lumia, Nexus and Note 5 models, including other Qi-enabled devices. The speed of charging is the most problematic issue with them, though. You will realize that most of them guarantee fast charging to specific smartphones and regular or slower charging to other Qi-enabled devices, so it’s good to keep an eye on this.
Here are more features that you should keep in mind:
- Type (charging stand or charging pad)
- Input/output
- Charging range/distance
- LED indicators to show you when the phone is fully charged or charging
- Size
Construction and Design
Just as mentioned above, wireless chargers come either as a stand or a pad. Now, here’s the difference between the two.
Wireless Charging Stand - This type allows you to place your phone vertically (or horizontally), often supported with a plastic base or a wooden back. The interesting thing about this design is that some companies have been creative enough to allow you to place your smartphone in more than one angle. This lets you watch a movie or YouTube videos while the phone charges.
Wireless Charging Pad - This is more of what the name sounds – a pad! It looks like mat, and all you need to do is to place your smartphone horizontally on it and let it remain there until it’s fully juiced up. Some of these models are buttonless for ease of use.
Although these wireless chargers aren’t necessarily made for traveling or camping, their portability and overall size are important. You will want a compact model that you can place on your office desk and not interrupt you as you do your work. After all they are meant to make your life easier, right?
Performance and Ease of Use
You might wonder – how is wireless charging even possible? Well, these devices employ a technology known as Qi (derived from a Chinese word “chee” for energy flow) backed by WPC (Wireless Power Consortium). This is an old technology, but it had not been applied to chargers until recently. It was incorporated in other places, including desk lamps, furniture, and some automobiles.
So, when it comes to the performance, just as we stated earlier, the compatibility of a charger is important. Currently, these devices do not support iPhones or other Apple products, but we don’t know what the company has in store for us with their new flagships – maybe it could make them compatible after all!
But even if you have a Galaxy smartphone that’s compatible with the device, it’s wise to know the range that your phone can charge without placing it physically on the charger. Most of them will offer around 5mm, while others will extend up to 7mm. This helps you do other stuff with your smartphone without interrupting its charging.
You see? Finding a good wireless charger doesn’t have to be that difficult, provided you have the right information. Yes, we know it’s a relatively new technology and there could be lots of counterfeit models, but with the brands we have chosen, you just can’t go wrong. If you do not find a design that you envisioned, go ahead and check out more options these brands offer. No chance you will leave empty-handed!
Features
With over 10 years of experience in the industry, there’s no doubt that Qi-infinity has what it takes to make quality products. The company employs state-of-the-art manufacturing, enabling its reputation as a wireless power consortium to remain intact.
The Qi-infinity™ 2-Coils Fast Wireless Charger promises some great features, with the most notable one being the ability to let you use your smartphones to play your favorite Candy Crush game or reply to emails while still charging your phone. Since it rocks a rubberized foot on all its corners, you can relax knowing your device is stable. And yes, it’s totally wireless, letting you forget about fumbling with wires and cables.
When it comes to your device’s safety and durability, this wireless charger extends your phone's life span as it features an under-voltage, over voltage, and short circuit protection to keep you cell phone at its best while charging. What about temperature levels? Well, the charger is built to separate circuit board coils, thus keeping the temperature 39 degrees and below. With its seven-folding mode design, you get to enjoy several flexible angles to place your phone in.
Features
With over 70 years of experience in the electronic and gadget industry, Samsung is one of the most dedicated and well-established electronics manufacturers out there. It continuously spreads its wings to new ventures every day, winning the hearts of millions of consumers globally.
For those that want to take their wireless charging to a whole new level, the Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Stand is an unmissable option. It gives your Galaxy device speedy charging that is up to 1.4 times faster than regular wireless chargers. As if that is not enough, it allows you to use your device to chat on social media, send mail, or even watch a movie while it charges. We can’t also forget its unique design that makes it not only sturdy, but also easy to use.
Be sure to check out other color variation on Amazon ranging from black, white, silver and gold.
Features
As a leading smartphone charger manufacturer, Yootech has been in the industry since 2013. Its wireless charger designs are not only available in a variety of shapes and sizes; they are also compatible with all Qi-enabled smart phones, making them highly-sought after devices.
The Yootech QI Wireless Charging Pad is a lightweight and portable model that you can use on the go without needing any cables. It is built with Qi-standards to make it compatible with any Qi-enabled device. It has an in-built Smart Light sensor that controls its LED light indicators to dim according to the light in your room. This way, you get to enjoy your sleep without distraction when you leave your phone charging for the night. In terms of universality, it can be used with a variety of devices, including the Nokia Lumia, LG G4, Galaxy Note 7, MotoDroid Turbo, Nexus 6, among other Qi enabled smart phones.
That’s it! That’s how awesome wireless chargers are. We are happy to have been a part of this important purchase process and helping you embrace technology with one of the best wireless chargers. Take another look if you are still undecided; we understand that these impressive designs might make you want all of them!
