Tried and tested: the best wireless chargers

Wireless chargers aren’t just about avoiding cable tangles - these devices can charge multiple gadgets at once, giving you back desk space. We’ve tried out the top picks.

Wireless chargers are a smart way to banish tangled cables from your life. These are the best and most inventive on the market.

SATECHI 2-IN-1 HEADPHONE STAND

This desk buddy holds your headphones while it recharges your phone

$80, satechi.net

PROS

– Smart use of space

– Extra port for headphones

– Most phones compatible

CONS

– Wall plug costs extra

– Only one colour

– No height adjustment

If you use headphones at your desk, just having a stand for them is useful. Having that stand charge them and your phone could be a game-changer. This Satechi device features a smart design with an elegant arm to hold up headphones, a USB-C charging port to plug in a cable, and a plastic tab to wind up extra cord. Its base features a magnetic wireless charge pad on to which you can place Qi-compatible smartphones for a power boost, like the latest iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy S22. It doesn’t come with a power adaptor in the box — users must buy or supply their own — but this device could upgrade your workspace.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

APPLE MAGSAFE DUO CHARGER

The ultimate travel charger for Apple users

$199, apple.com/au

PROS

– Folds into tiny package

– Charges iPhone and Watch

– Can recharge other phones

CONS

– Higher price than its peers

– Power plug costs extra

– No Apple Watch 7 fast charge

There are few wireless chargers that will fold up and slide into your pocket, making this Apple gadget particularly convenient and suited to travel. The MagSafe Duo Charger folds open like a book to reveal a large MagSafe charging pad on one side and a round Apple Watch charging panel that can be raised up on the other. Users can recharge an iPhone and Watch simultaneously with this device, or power up AirPods or a different Qi-compatible phone. On the downside, there is a premium price attached to it, and you’ll have to supply your own plug.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

SAMSUNG WIRELESS CHARGER DUO

A charging pad that pulls double-duty for Samsung users

$89, samsung.com/au

PROS

– Charges watch and phone at once

– Helpful LED status lights

– Fast-charge for phones

CONS

– Horizontal charging

– Not for cases thicker than 3mm

– Only charges Samsung watches

Samsung smartwatch owners can often be overlooked by wireless chargers but not with this model. This low-profile device combines a fast-charging, nine-volt charging pad for phones with a spot beside it made just for Galaxy Watches. The wireless charging, available in black or white, also features two LED lights that changing from red to green when a device is fully charged and, unlike some others, it comes with a cable and wall plug so users are ready to use it out of the box.

VERDICT: ★★★★

STM CHARGETREE SWING

A three-in-one charger for your desk or bedside table

$121, stmgoods.com.au

PROS

– Comfortable angle for phone

– Smart design hides Watch pad

– Light turns off for night use

CONS

– Charging plug costs extra

– Watch charger only for Apple

– Won’t charge at the fastest rate

This update to one of STM’s best known products improves it in important ways. Most notably, the new ChargeTree Swing gets an arm that rotates from it to reveal an Apple Watch charger (that swings back when not needed). This means the ChargeTree can now recharge a smartphone up front, a Watch on its side, and AirPods or other earbuds behind it. The lights that indicate recharging now turn off after 30 seconds for comfortable use on a nightstand, and you can still watch the notifications roll in if you’re using it on a desk.

VERDICT: ★★★★

SATECHI TRIO WIRELESS CHARGER

A useful addition for those who need three things at once

$120, satechi.net

PROS

– Charges three gadgets

– Pop-up for Watch

– Comes with a plug

CONS

– Less versatile than some

– Plain plastic surface

– Charges horizontally

This wireless charging kit makes its purpose clear: it features a pop-up charger for an Apple Watch, a moulded area into which AirPods can sit, and a magnetic circle for charging an iPhone. This device is designed to power up all three device at once and, unlike many of its peers, comes with a power plug to help buyers immediately. The device is quite long, at 22cm, and it’s not as versatile as some others due to its clear designations, but Apple gadget users should appreciate its simplicity.

VERDICT: ★★★½

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best wireless chargers