Friday, May 11, 2018

The best rugged cases for the iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 Plus is back in the spotlight again thanks to the new Product(Red) model (and arguably, it’s brought it more attention than ever before). Some of you, no doubt, will want to show off your new crimson handset in all its slippery, fragile glory, and more power to you. The world needs risktakers.
But for the rest of us who can’t bear the thought of our $900 smartphones shattering like smashed rubies, these rugged cases literally have your new iPhone covered.

The best rugged iPhone cases

Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone iPhone 8 Plus Case / iPhone 7 Plus Case

spigencase
$14.99
See It
on Amazon
The Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone case is slim and sleek, which are probably the last two words you’d expect to see in a roundup of “rugged” cases. It earns that description, though, even while allowing you to comfortably slip your phone in your pocket.
The case proved itself when an iPhone 8 Plus was subjected to a car door slamming while in jacket pocket. Thanks to the Spigen case, the iPhone survived with only a minor bruise in the corner of the display.
Some Amazon reviews claim the two layers of the “dual layer protection” start splitting from each other after only a couple of days. But after several drops and removing the case about 30 times (not to mention the door slamming), the Spigen case looks fine. It’s safe to say it’s a favorite.

Catalyst Impact Protection Case for iPhone 8 Plus

Catalyst Impact Protection Case
$49.99
See It
on Amazon
The Catalyst Impact Protection case is slim like the Spigen Neo-Hybrid, and Catalyst claims it can survive drops of up to 9.9 feet. The big difference, though, is that the Catalyst case shows far more fondness for the iPhone’s design, as the back is covered with a clear, thick (and smudge-prone) plastic barrier rather than rubber.
In other words, this makes it an ideal case if you’d like to show off your fancy new red (or other color) iPhone but keep it safe as well.
If you think this Impact case isn’t not quite rugged enough for you, Catalyst also makes a waterproof version that looks much the same while reportedly enabling your phone to survive underwater dunks of up to 33 feet. As you might imagine, the waterproofing elements add a bit of bulk over its terra-firma counterpart, but you’ll be glad for that extra heft when your phone suddenly takes a dive.

Zizo Bolt Series iPhone 8 Plus Case/iPhone 7 Plus Case

Zizo Bolt
$17.99
See It
on Amazon
Jony Ive probably faints at the sight of the Zizo Bolt. Sure, it’s got “military-grade” protection,” but that beefy armor saddles it with a garishness akin to someone slapping monster truck tires on a Lexus.
Much like a monster truck, though, the Bolt will get you through some messy spots. You generally won’t have to worry if you drop it or accidentally toss a toolbox on it, and the included holster adds a bit of extra protection for the screen.
The Bolt even has a little kickstand for propping up your phone while you’re watching the football game while on a fishing trip (or whatever other “rugged” activity you prefer). Sadly, the stand is the Bolt’s Achilles’ heel. Drop an encased iPhone at the proper angle when the stand is extended and the stand could break off like a weathervane in a hurricane.
Overall, this case will soldier on through some of the worse environments you throw at it.

OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 8 Plus & iPhone 7 Plus

Otterbox Defender
$25.26
See It
on Amazon
If the Zizo Bolt is a Humvee, the Otterbox Defender is a tank. This is the case for iPhone users who aren’t messing around. The Defender doesn’t give a fart about Apple’s aesthetics or whether you can slip your phone in your pocket or prop it on your dash. This is a case that’s all about taking the punches.
It’s tenacious, and even removing your iPhone from the Defender in feels a little like prying open an oyster. Its thick shell adds both heft and peace of mind, and the plastic sheet that slips in front of the display keeps it safe from everything but the most forceful front-on attacks. If you want to protect the screen as well, be sure to pick up the tough belt clip that slips over it.
All that padding means that the wireless charging doesn’t seem quite as fast, as you might expect, but if you’re set on using a case like this, there’s a good chance that you’re already okay with a few sacrifices.

LifeProof Fre Series for iPhone 8 Plus & 7 Plus

Lifeproof Fre
$67.07
See It
on Amazon
Adventurers will love the Lifeproof Fre. Not only does it protect your phone from the usual tumbles, but it’s also one of the few cases that’s truly waterproof. Lifeproof claims its case keeps phones safe even when they’ve been dropped in over six feet of water or snow for an hour, and buyers frequently back these claims with tales of dropping their phones into everything from rivers to hot tubs with no issues.
But as someone who once lost a phone to a rogue wave on an Icelandic beach, I find myself thinking more and more that I should keep my phone in one of these, even though I’m not really a fan of the plasticky look.
The Fre’s one true downside is that the scratch protector itself seems quite fond of scratches. On a more subjective note, you may not like that it only comes in bright colors (which presumably make it easier to see when dropped in water). Even so, if you have nightmares of your phone dying a watery death, the Fre is certainly a case to consider
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Star Wars: Jedi Challenges review: Lightsaber-swinging, augmented reality fun

sw jedi challenges hardware
Andrew Hayward/IDG
AT A GLANCE
If you’ve ever dreamt of being a Jedi Knight, here’s something better than simply swinging around a plastic lightsaber toy—now you can wield a plastic lightsaber that pairs with a headset, letting you battle against familiar Star Wars villains in the comfort of your living room.
Lenovo’s Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is an augmented reality experience that is powered by the iPhone 6 or newer and compatible Android flagship smartphones (list here), which slide into the headset and provides the visuals. This isn’t virtual reality, however: You’re not shut off from the outside world while playing, since the images on the phone screen are mirrored and projected onto a translucent plastic visor in front of your eyes—and thus, atop your real surroundings. We've previously called it one of our top picks for Star Wars fans.
sw jedi challenges headset Andrew Hayward/IDG
Your phone sits snugly in a tray that slots into the headset, providing the brains of the operation.
Once you’re plugged in and looking through the visor, your motion-sensing lightsaber controller gains a digital blade you can use to duel the likes of Kylo Ren and Darth Vader, and even the red armor-clad Praetorian Guards from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Emerging victorious in battle requires a mix of defensive stances, well-timed strikes, and the occasional Force power attack, and the skirmishes can be surprisingly challenging. They also look pretty slick, with fluidly-animated 3D rivals in view.
Jedi Challenges packs in a couple of other AR games, as well. One mode plays out like a real-time strategy game, in which you’ll place down turret towers, soldiers, and Jedi warriors onto a battlefield from an overhead view. That’s solidly compelling. On the other hand, Holochess—the iconic, holographic chess-with-monsters board game from the original film—proves pretty dull in this rendition, allowing for little in the way of tactical strategy as you command pieces.
sw jedi challenges press Lenovo
Enemies don't feel quite this imposing thanks to the limited field of vision, but at least this mockup image is thematically on point.
But while Star Wars: Jedi Challenges shows off the power and potential of AR gaming, it also shows that there’s still some ways to go in terms of refinement. You’ll have four different battery-powered pieces to keep powered—the headset, lightsaber, light-up tracker, and your iPhone—and getting up and running can take a few minutes of setup each time. Furthermore, while the headset is thankfully roomy enough to accommodate glasses, the heft of my iPhone X had it sagging awkwardly on my face no matter how much I fiddled with the straps.
And sadly, the lightsaber tracking is inconsistent: After a few frenzied swings, you may see that the digital blade is no longer coming straight out of the controller. You can hold the lightsaber straight ahead and press a button to readjust the image, but having to do that several times during a battle takes you out of the experience. Playing Jedi Challenges feels like playing some of the camera-driven Xbox Kinect games from a few years ago: when the tech is responsive and works exactly as intended, it can be a lot of fun. When it doesn’t, the illusion breaks.

Bottom line

Luckily, Star Wars: Jedi Challenges hits more than it misses. Despite its technical hitches, Lenovo’s AR bundle is a novel and entertaining digital-meets-physical experience for franchise die-hards. At the new lower MSRP of $150, it’s still a bit pricey for a gaming package that’s strictly about Star Wars, so casual fans can safely steer clear—but if you can stomach the investment and deal with some annoyances, Jedi Challenges really is rather cool.
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Twelve South HiRise Duet and Belkin Valet Charge Dock review: Which iPhone and Apple Watch charging dock is better?

belkin twelvesouth iphone watch stands
IDG
AT A GLANCE
The more electronic devices you bring into your life, the more things you’ll have to charge to make sure that they’re ready when you need them—and that’s especially true with smartphones and smartwatches. For the average user, both the iPhone and Apple Watch need to be charged daily to ensure that they can last through another frame.
Adding an Apple Watch to your daily ensemble means another thing to manage, and another thing to make sure ends up on a charger at night. That was one of the big reasons why I fell out of an everyday routine with the Watch: I’d forget to charge it, find it sapped of battery life the next time I wanted to wear it, and then I’d stop using it for a while. If you have a bad habit of moving around your Apple Watch charger, or just don’t want to have a bunch of cables on your bedside table, there are a couple of docks that can elegantly handle both devices at once.
iphone watch docks lead Andrew Hayward/IDG
The Belkin Valet Charge Dock and Twelve South HiRise are very similar in approach: both are weighty, pricey bedside docks that can charge both an iPhone and Apple Watch at once. And unlike some cheaper devices, you don’t need to loop your existing Apple Watch charging module into the dock: each has its own, Apple-certified module built right in. But one of these has the slightly smarter design that brings in a couple of helpful benefits, and it may be enough to make the difference for you. Here’s how they compare.

Belkin Valet Charge Dock

iphone watch docks valet1 Andrew Hayward/IDG
Belkin's Valet Charge Dock holds and charges both devices with ease.
Belkin’s Valet Charge Dock isn’t new—it has been around since late 2015, and it was the first device on the market to charge both devices without any need to use your existing charging cables. The Valet Charge Dock has a heavy plastic base that measures 3.4 by 5.2 inches, with a sturdy chrome arm that sticks out and performs two roles: it supports the iPhone plugged into the Lightning connector in front of it, and it houses the Apple Watch charging module as well.
In use, your iPhone sits on the Lightning connector and then reclines back slightly to rest on the left part of the arm, and then your Apple Watch attaches on the right and stays put thanks to the magnetic connection. If you use a heavier watch band (like a metal one), then you can attach an included plastic support around the module to ensure that the Watch doesn’t sag off. And if you have a case around your iPhone, the Lightning connector can be raised and lowered with a dial on the back to ensure that the device can slot right onto it.
iphone watch docks valet2 Andrew Hayward/IDG
A small dial on the back changes the positioning of the Lightning connector.
It’s meant to be clean, straightforward, and easy to use, and that is thankfully the case in practice. Your iPhone and Apple Watch can pop on and off easily, and they’ll charge simultaneously using the one included power brick. At $130, it’s not cheap—but the Valet Charge Dock looks and feels pretty premium, and it’ll save you some hassle and clutter at the same time.

Twelve South HiRise Duet

iphone watch docks hirise1 Andrew Hayward/IDG
Your iPhone will look high and mighty with Twelve South's HiRise Duet.
Twelve South likes to put Apple products on a pedestal, with other HiRise devices available for the iPhone/iPad and even MacBook, but the HiRise Duet smartly handles both an iPhone and Apple Watch with minimal bulk. At 3.75 inches square, the HiRise Duet has a smaller footprint than the Belkin alternative, and that’s because Twelve South’s dock effectively stacks your devices: the Apple Watch sits at the bottom, while your iPhone or iPad charges on the top.
The HiRise Duet has a shorter support behind the Lightning connector, but it’s enough to keep your iPhone safely upright while charging. If you want a little extra support (say for a Plus model), there’s an optional included base attachment that can be installed with ease. The Lightning connector can also be moved up and down to accommodate cases, although it’s not as easy as just turning a dial—you’ll need to use the included wrench.
iphone watch docks hirise2 Andrew Hayward/IDG
The HiRise Duet takes up very little space, making it perfect for smaller (or cluttered) bedside tables.
Wrapping your Apple Watch sideways around the bottom comes with another nice benefit over the Belkin approach: it allows your Watch to display in Nightstand mode, putting a large digital clock in view when you touch the device. And the base has a leather surface, so you don’t have to worry about scuffing the Watch on metal. Otherwise, like the Valet, the HiRise Duet nails the fundamentals: it charges and supports both devices at the same time without a potential mess of cables around your nightstand. And at $120, it’s $10 cheaper than Belkin’s offering.

Bottom line

Both of these devices can get the job done at comparable prices, but the Twelve South HiRise Duet packs in some nice perks. It takes up less space on a nightstand or desk, puts your Apple Watch in Nightstand mode, and even comes with international plug adaptors that make it an ideal travel charging device. The fact that it’s $10 cheaper is just the cherry on top.
If you like the style of the Belkin Valet Charge Dock better, or happen to find it on sale, then you’ll still find much the same critical functionality. In either case, $100-plus is a lot to spend on a dedicated charging station, but they’re both great if you want a sleek and efficient dual charger that minimizes cords. Ultimately, the HiRise Duet stands slightly taller in this comparison, offering helpful added features at the lesser list price
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The best wireless chargers for iPhone X and iPhone 8

wireless chargers roundup hero
Jason Cross/IDG
With the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, Apple has finally joined the wireless charging revolution. For years, many Android users have had the ability to simply plop their phone on a pad to juice it up, but to do that with an iPhone used to require a special (and bulky) case.
Wireless charging isn’t always a great substitute for plugging in, but it’s a very convenient way to keep your phone topped off through most of the day. A wireless charger on your desk means no more plugging and unplugging throughout the day and a full charge when you head home from work. A wireless charger next to your bed makes it easy to grab and go in the morning, or just pick up your phone to “check one thing” without fussing with the lightning cable.
We’ve tested a big heap of wireless chargers, and these are some of our favorites.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

The best wireless chargers

Wireless chargers tend to come in two variants: stands and pads. A pad is great for your bed-side table or lying inconspicuously on your desk, but there are times when a stand makes more sense. In particular, they’re useful for those with an iPhone X, as a good stand with a steep angle will point your phone and your face enough for Face ID to work. This makes it a lot easier to unlock your phone to quickly check something without taking it off the charger.
Stands are great for reading your phone while it charges, but sometimes you want it to lie flat. It’s less conspicuous on your desk or bedside table, and easier to just plop it down in any direction. Wireless charging pads tend to be a little less expensive than stands, too.

 

Spigen Essential F306W Fast Wireless Charger

spigen f306w
$49.99
See It
on Amazon
Spigen’s new F306W charging pad is a nice improvement over its old F301W model. The design is much improved, with a sturdier and heavier metallic frame that won’t move around on your desk or bedside table. The charging indicator light is small, forward-facing, and dim enough not to be a distracting next to your bed in a dark room.
It’s got a fairly broad “sweet spot” for charging, so you don’t have to fuss with placing your phone just-so to get a connection. It comes with a Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 power adapter and a nice braided micro USB cable. It supports Apple’s faster 7.5W charging mode, and if you’ve got a newer Samsung flagship phone you get 10W fast charging. In fact, Spigen says the pad supports up to 15W wireless charging, and while current phones don’t go that high, it’s a bit of future-proofing that may come in handy one day. Heat dissipation is pretty good, too, so the charge rate shouldn't slow down over time.
You don’t get something for nothing, though. The F306W, while a much nicer product, is twice the price of the F301W. Unless your plug is really close to where you need to put the pad, you’ll have to dig up a longer microUSB cable, too. At just over three feet long, the cable included here is just short enough to be frustrating.

RAVPower RP-PC069 Wireless Charging Stand

rp pc069 wireless charging stand
$45.99
See It
on Amazon
RAVPower's latest charging stand is a nice improvement over its previous models. It's got a sleek, unassuming design with a nice big ruberized pad to rest your phone on, and two coils so your iPhone will charge in either portrait or landscape orientation. The angle is steep, almost entirely upright, which made us worry that Face ID wouldn't work well. In testing, Face ID worked just as well as with most other wireless charging stands.
This new charger supports 5W and 10W modes on Android phones, and Apple's own 7.5W standard on the latest iPhones, too. RAVPower has impreoved the cooling to keep the charging coils from getting too warm, which can slow down charging performance.
The braided micro USB cable is a nice touch, but it's only about four feet long. We had trouble making it reach the socket with the stand sitting up on a desk. As with so many other wireless charging stands, it can be a little wobbly if you try to use your phone with too much force. Making the base just a little bit longer in back would have made it less prone to tilting.
At $50 it seems a little expensive, but that cost is offset by the 24W USB-A power adapter included in the box. It's not perfect, but it's a great choice for the price.

Other wireless chargers tested

While these other chargers weren’t our favorites, they may suit your own needs. There are only so many different ways you can wrap a copper coil in a hunk of plastic, so it’s safe to say that your own personal sense of style and pricing sensitivity might a different charger the right choice for you.

 

Anker PowerPort Wireless 10

anker powerport wireless 10
$21.99
See It
on Amazon
Anker’s skinny little PowerPort Wireless 10 is a pretty slick item. It’s easily one of the thinnest charging pads I’ve seen, and can disappear into a bag with you even noticing.
It supports charging speeds up to 10 watts on compatible phones, which is great, but you need a Quick Charge USB adapter to get that performance. Unfortunately, there’s no USB adapter of any kind in the box.
That’s sort of a shame, too, because the price is the only thing giving me pause. We like the ring of blue LEDs that “breathe” for about 10 seconds before turning off, to let you know a charging connection has been made. We like the size. We like the grippy top that your phone won’t slide around on. If you find this on sale, or have an extra Quick Charge USB adapter lying around, it’s a great buy.

Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 Stand

anker powerport wireless 5 stand01
$16.99
See It
on Amazon
Anker’s PowerPort Wireless 5 stand is a decent choice for iPhone X users who want something with the right angle for Face ID, but a number of small annoyances keep it from being a clear winner.
First, there’s charging speed. Anker employs two charging coils for excellent coverage, and as a result the stand works great whether your iPhone is in portrait or landscape orientation. But it’s limited to 5-watt speed, not the 7.5 watts supported by iPhones. And of course, that’s a bit slow for Android phones, too.
Second, the base is just a little bit too short. The result is that, when you try to use your phone while it’s on the stand, your tapping will constantly cause it to tip back a little. If the base extended back even a half inch more, this would probably be avoided.
And finally, while the price tag looks pretty good (typically around $27 online), that’s without a micro USB adapter. It’s still not overpriced, but it’s not the bargain it seems at first.

PowerBot PB1020

powerbot pb1020
$9.98
See It
on Amazon
You can easily find this little Qi wireless charger for about $10, which makes it one of the least expensive options for wirelessly charging your iPhone 8 or iPhone X. In some ways, you get what you pay for. The PowerBot PB1020 is as basic as it gets: it doesn’t come with the necessary micro USB power adapter and recommends using one with 2.1A output for best results.
We like the rubberized design that prevents slipping, and who won’t love the price, but that’s where the love affair ends. The small size is convenient for your bag, but it makes it a little difficult to precisely place your phone in the right spot to start charging. Also, power output is limited to 5 watts, rather than the 7.5-watt maximum supported by the latest iPhones.

Anker PowerWave 7.5 Stand

anker powerwave 75 stand
$49.99
See It
on Amazon
Anker’s new PowerWave products greatly improve quality over its older wireless chargers, but they bump up the price to match.
The new stand looks good, as long as you’re okay with the white color. A small blue charge indicator on the front is subtle enough to use on your bedside table. The angle is steep enough to make it suitable for unlocking your iPhone X with Face ID while your phone is resting on your desk.
Anker includes a Quick Charge 3.0 compatible power adapter and a matching white microUSB cable, but the cable is way too short. Anker’s spec sheet says it’s three feet long, already a little on the short side, and we measured it at 34 inches. The charger supports 7.5W charging on Apple devices and the 10W fast charge mode on the latest Samsung flagship phones.
The power coils inside cover the entire back of the stand, so we had no trouble charging our iPhones in either portrait or landscape orientation. A little cooling fan blows air out a vent in the rear to keep the charge coils cool, which keeps the charge rate from slowing down. If it’s especially quiet and you put your ear up next to it, you can hear the gentle whirring sound.

Qimini Pocket Wireless Charger

qimini pocket 02
$59.95
See It
on Qimini
We're not entirely sure who this product is for, exactly. It’s a wireless charging pad with an integrated USB cable that tucks away inside. That’s sort of neat and makes it a little more portable, but you still need something to plug the USB plug into. If you’re on the go, you can plug it into your laptop or something like that, but do you really need a wireless charger for that?
The Qimini site proclaims it to be, “The world's thinnest wireless charger plate to date,” but the Anker Powerport Wireless 10 is definitely thinner. It sells for $59.95, without a power adapter, which easily twice what it’s worth. Oh, and it maxes out at 5W output, so it’s one of the slower wireless chargers out there.
The Qimini Pocket works, and it’s not a bad design, but it’s slow, expensive, and frankly a bit too large to fit in many pockets. We like the idea of an integrated USB cable, but that’s about all we like about this.

RAVPower Fast Wireless Charger

ravpower fast charger
$14.99
See It
on Amazon
RAVPower makes two wireless chargers that essentially have the same name. Depending on where you look, they’re usually just called “Fast Wireless Charger.” This one is extremely inexpensive at around $16, while the other one costs almost three times as much.  Believe it or not, that one is the better deal.
This charging pad does not come with a power adapter, but at this bargain-basement price we can hardly hold that against it. This pad only charges iPhones at a 5W rate, and other quick-charge Qi enabled devices up to 10 watts (if you use the right power adapter). It’s heavy and stable, and comes with a nice flat micro USB cable.
But raised rubberized bumps on the top of the pad only cover the left and right side. Depending on how sloppy you are about placing your phone, you could easily miss part of it—why not just make it a complete circle as most other pads do?
It’s a minor design flaw, not a deal-breaker. But the slower iPhone charging speed makes it hard to recommend.

Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Stand

samsung wireless charging stand
$33.15
See It
on Amazon
Like its flat charging pad cousin, Samsung’s fast-charging wireless stand isn’t much of a looker. The round shape is all wrong for a stand, as it sticks out awkwardly to the sides when you put your rectangular phone on it. Still, at least it loses the clear plastic coating in favor of a uniform glossy black finish.
This stand is a good deal at around $40. It supports fast charging—both the iPhone 7.5-watt limit and faster speeds for Samsung’s phones—and it comes with a micro USB adapter powerful enough to enable it. There’s even a little fan inside that keeps the charging coils cool. Don’t worry, you can’t hear it unless you really strain in a very quiet room.
The angle is appropriate for activating Face ID, and the stand resists tipping well enough that a little gentle phone use won’t cause it to wobble.

RAVPower Fast Wireless Charger + QC3.0 Adapter

ravpower fast charger plus adapter
$39.99
See It
on Amazon
Not to be confused with the other, less-expensive “Fast Wireless Charger" by RAVPower, this other “Fast Wireless Charger” includes a Quick Charge 3.0 compatible adapter (up to 24 watts on supported Android phones) and has an entirely different design. Despite the higher price, it’s a better buy.
The design is a little plain, but it’s unobtrusive and highly functional. The pad is heavy and wide enough to be really stable, and there’s a nice wide rubberized ring around the top to rest your phone on and prevent sliding or scraping.
It’s fast, too. On iPhones it supports the 7.5W charging speed, and up to 10W fast-charging on other compatible phones.
The $45 price seems a little high, but you get a high-quality USB power adapter along with it, and it’s cheaper than most of the other alternatives that include a power adapter.

Anker PowerWave 7.5 Pad

anker powerwave 75 pad
$45.99
See It
on Amazon
Anker’s new PowerWave products greatly improve quality over its older wireless chargers, but they bump up the price to match.
The new pad is a rather plain large off-white circle. If that aesthetic goes with your desk or bedside table, that’s great, but we can’t help but wish for a black version. There’s a small blue circle charge indicator on top—we’re not a fan of the location, but the glow is dim enough not to be distracting in a dark room. The charging “sweet spot” is large enough that you don’t have to be too precise about how you place your phone down on the pad.
Anker includes a Quick Charge 3.0 compatible power adapter and a matching white microUSB cable, but the cable is way too short. Anker’s spec sheet says it’s three feet long (we would hope for five or six), and we measured it at 34 inches. The pad supports 7.5W charging on Apple devices and the 10W fast charge mode on the latest Samsung flagship phones.
Anker’s PowerWave products feature cooling fans to keep the charge coils from getting too hot, which can degrade charging speed. If you listen closely in a quiet room, you can hear the little fan inside whirring away.
For the price, we would hope for a longer microUSB cable and sturdier construction. The PowerWave 7.5 pad feels a little lightweight and plastic-y, more than the PowerWave Stand, and it’s too easy to accidentally slide around your desk as a result. Anker needs to give it a little more heft to help keep it in place.

Mophie Wireless Charging Base

mophie wireless charging base
$50.71
See It
on Amazon
One of the very few wireless charging pads sold at Apple Stores ($59.95), Mophie’s wireless charging base is a quality piece of gear. But I still don’t like it all that much.
It’s a good size, heavy, with a nice rubberized outer coating that prevents slipping. It’s easy to drop your iPhone on it and get a good charging connection without thinking about it. And it supports 7.5W charging, too.
But it has two big strikes against it. First, it’s sixty bucks. You can get good quality wireless charging pads, with adapter, for half that price. Second, the AC adapter connects to a little round DC barrel connector, while most other wireless charging pads use micro USB. Using USB would be far more flexible and convenient—you could plug into dozens of different products, like your laptop, and micro USB cables are everywhere. We have a drawers full of them.

Belkin BOOST UP Wireless Charging Pad

belkin boostup
$44.99
See It
on Amazon
Belkin’s Boost Up shares a lot in common with Mophie’s Wireless Charging Base. Both are sold at Apple Stores ($59.95). Both are large, with a rubberized non-slip bottom (the Mophie has non-slip coating all over). Both support 7.5W charging on your iPhone, too.
But the Boost Up shares the Mophie’s downsides, too. It costs about $60, nearly double the price of many other wireless chargers. And it includes an AC power adapter that connects to the charger via DC barrel connector rather than micro USB. Again, USB would be far more convenient.
The main difference between the Belkin and the Mophie, then, is your own personal sense of aesthetics. Do you like the matte black rubberized circle of the Mophie base, or do you like the glossy white Belkin, with its reversed slope giving it a sort of “floating” look? It’s really up to you, but we wouldn’t recommend either, based purely on the price and lack of USB connection.

Spigen Essential F303W Fast Wireless Charger

spigen essential f303w
$29.99
See It
on Amazon
Spigen’s fast-charging wireless stand has a nice A-frame design, but the extra-large lip at the bottom is a bit of an eyesore. More importantly, the angle is not steep enough. It’s very stable to be sure, but we found that an iPhone X is often positioned too far back to easily work with Face ID.
One feature we really like is the way Spigen uses two charging coils, one above the other. This gives the stand great coverage and makes it easy to get a good charging connection whether your phone is turned to landscape or portrait orientation.
Spigen’s suggested retail price is $45, but you can easily find it for about $30 online. That’s not a terrible price, but consider that it doesn’t come with a micro USB power adapter, and it doesn’t look like such a bargain anymore. You’ll need to purchase a fast-charging micro USB adapter separately to make full use of it.

Samsung Wireless Charging Pad

samsung wireless charging pad
$22.93
See It
on Amazon
If you’re not opposed to the big Samsung logo staring up at you from your desk, you could do a lot worse than this inexpensive pad. For less than $30 you get a solid, no-slip pad with a generous size—it’s easy to drop your phone on and start a wireless charging connection without needing to be too fussy about placement.
Best of all, Samsung throws in a 2A micro USB power adapter, so you don’t need to repurpose one of your own or buy a new one. While this is not a “fast charging” wireless pad, it wasn’t really much slower than the fastest chargers we tested; at least, not when charging iPhones. Some Android phones can handle faster wireless charging speeds.
This is one of the uglier charging pads we’ve used, but it’s inexpensive, solid, and works well.

Spigen Essential F301W

spigen essential f301w
$24.99
See It
on Amazon
The F301W is the charging pad sibling to the F303W stand. It’s relatively inexpensive at about $30, but the price does not include a power adapter. Fortunately, it will work with almost any USB power adapter, and will support faster charging if you have a Quick Charge adapter.
The F301W suffers from a couple of small design flaws that really annoy, however. The micro USB connection is recessed, with a very narrow cutout surrounding it. The included cable fits fine, but most of the other micro USB cables we tried did not. Also, the top of the charging pad has a convex slope, with a rubberized ring in the middle. Placing your phone on the ring is simple enough, but it’s not wide enough to be really stable there—it’s too wobbly.
It's a shame, because the price and performance are fine. All it would take a slightly different shape to the plastic mold and Spigen would have a terrific product.
Are you interested in a charger you don’t see listed here? That’s not surprising—while we try to cover the most popular brands, there are literally hundreds of wireless chargers on the market. We can still help make sure you get a product you're happy with, though. The next page contains some helpful general advice to consider when deciding which wireless charger to buy.
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