You might prefer a wireless charger that props your phone up so you can see it easier (and use it as it charges without leaning over it). RavPower’s charging stand offers the same charging power as its standard circular pad but in a more upright form factor. Unfortunately, that form factor comes at a higher cost ($50) keeping it from being my go-to recommendation. Still, if you want something that’ll help you read recipes in the kitchen while charging your phone (or see check out mobile notifications while at your desk at work), this will do the trick. While RavPower's model is out of stock, consider the highly-rated Anker PowerWave, which is Qi-certified and boasts a 4.6 average rating from more than 4,500 reviews.
Got spare USB power adapters lying around your house? Save yourself some money and pick up Anker’s PowerWave pad for less than $10. You’ll want a 10W charger if you want it to charge as fast as possible — even then it isn’t quite as fast as the RavPower. When it comes to the more commonplace use of charging your phone overnight, that degree of output will be just fine. There’s also a stand version, if you prefer that.
Nothing drains your phone’s juice quite like turn-by-turn navigation (streaming music to the car's radio eats away your charge rapidly, as well). That’s why I like to have a phone dock in my car that charges my phone while I navigate. And the iOttie Easy One Touch kit is a solid option.
You can stick it on your dashboard or on your windshield, and it has three grippy arms to keep your phone secure and stable — no matter how you choose to position it. That’s not bad for $50, although iOttie also has an auto-sensing version for $60 that will detect when your phone is near and automatically clamp the arms to hold it in place.
Choetech’s Dual Wireless Charging Pad offers the best balance of compatibility, aesthetics and price —it’s the one I’d pick if you’re looking to charge two phones. There are some triple charging pads out there, like the ZealSound Triple Wireless Charging Station, but reviews tend to be a bit more mixed thanks to poorer quality control. If you have an Apple Watch, this charging station from Zens can charge it as well as two phones, which can come in very handy when you want to keep cords and clutter at bay.
There are few things worse than your phone dying before you get home from a long day. Battery packs may seem like they’re a dime-a-dozen these days, but Samsung’s 2-in-1 bank is special. It not only comes with 10,000 mAh of juice, but can charge two devices at once: one wired, one wirelessly. When it comes to convenience, this dual charging capability might reign.
Whitson Gordon is a former freelance technology writer with bylines in the New York Times, Popular Science Magazine, PC Magazine and more. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Lifehacker and How-To Geek.