The best wireless charging pads for iPhone under $30

best wireless charging pads for iphone under $30

Recently picked up one of Apple’s new smartphones? Well if it’s an iPhone 8, 8 Plus or iPhone X, you should consider picking up a wireless charging pad. This accessory allows you to charge your device by simply setting it down—no need to manually plug in any cables.

While this tech is new to Apple’ handsets, wireless charging has been around for quite some time, so there are already a ton of products out there that support it. Below we’ve rounded up some of the best wireless charging pads for iPhone with a price tag under $30.

What is Qi wireless charging?

The Qi standard of wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction to move power from the charger to your phone. Wireless charging accessories have induction coils that create an alternating electromagnetic field, and compatible handsets have a built-in coil that can receive that energy and convert it back into electricity to charge your device’s battery.

What are the downsides of Qi wireless chargers?

There are a few caveats here. For one wireless charging is typically slower than its wired counterpart, which isn’t a big deal if you typically charge overnight, but it could be if you’re looking for a quick power-up. It’s worth noting too that the iPhone is capped at 5W of power (that bumps up to 7.5W with the iOS 11.2 software update, but early testing suggests the difference is negligible) for wireless charging—disappointing considering many wireless chargers (including those in our roundup) support 10W or more output.

It’s also common for Qi wireless charging mats and devices to heat up while in charging—though all of the chargers we’ve listed below have built-in safety features to ensure they don’t get too hot. And finally, a lot of manufacturers recommend removing thicker cases from your phone before setting it on the wireless pad. Again this won’t affect most users, but for the few that use bulky, rugged cases, it can be an inconvenience.

The best Qi wireless charging pads for iPhone under $30

Spigen Wireless Charging Pad

Spigen’s Essential Qi wireless charger supports QC 2.0 and 3.0 standards—up to 1.5x faster charging than regular wireless chargers. It’s also compatible with a wide range of Qi devices and sports a very slim and subtle design. Features include LED indicators, so you know when your device is properly charging, and built-in safety components to keep your device from overheating. It’s also worth noting that the package comes with a 5-foot Micro-USB cable—slightly longer than most of the cables you get with wireless pads. It does not, however, come with a power adapter.

Buy for $26

RAVPower Wireless Charging Pad

RAVPower is a popular brand in the world of charging accessories. Their products are well-known for durability and reliability, and typically receive high ratings from customers. This wireless charger is no exception, with a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. Its features include support for Quick Charge with up to 15W of power, a discreet LED indicator, non-slip rubber pad to help keep the charger in place, and built-in protection against overheating and short circuiting. And speaking of protection, RAVPower includes an 18-month warranty on its products. Does not include power adapter.

Buy for $18

Anker Wireless Charging Pad

Anker is another brand that gets a lot of praise—particularly on Amazon, where most of its products enjoy 4-star ratings or better. Their wireless charging pad features 5V/2A input, 5V/1A output, temperature control for safer and efficient charging, LED indicator lights, and more. You get the pad, a 3ft micro USB cable, and an 18-month hassle-free warranty. Power adapter not included.

Buy for $26

Choetech Wireless Charging Pad

Here is another highly rated wireless charger that falls within our price range. You may not have heard of the Choetech brand, but this charger has a 4-star rating on Amazon and was even selected as an Amazon’s Choice item in the wireless charger category. It has all of the necessary features including a status indicator light, integrated smart chip for safe and efficient charging, and an 18-month warranty. Does not include power adapter.

Buy for $16

Samsung Wireless Charging Pad

Believe it or not, Samsung makes some of the better wireless chargers on the market. They have a number of them, but for the purposes of this roundup, we’ve chosen one of their more price-conscious models. It checks all of the feature boxes of the other models—status indicator light, overcharging protection, etc.—and it has a 4-star rating on Amazon on nearly 10K reviews. Plus, it comes with a 1-year warranty. Includes power adapter.

Buy for $25 

Seneo Qi Wireless Charging Stand

Prefer a stand instead of a pad? Check out this one from Seneo. It has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, on over 1,200 reviews, and it comes with an 18-month warranty to ensure your satisfaction. It includes all of the usual features like an LED indicator light, protection against overheating and overcharging, and a Micro USB cable for charging. The Seneo Qi Wireless Charging Stand also supports QC (Quick Charging) technology, meaning it can charge compatible devices up to 1.4x faster than regular wireless chargers. Does not include power adapter.

Buy for $22

Know of a great wireless charger under $30 that we missed? Tell us about it in the comments below, and if we agree, we’ll add it to the list!