The Wireless Charger Collection I Didn't Need
“I bought a $130 3-in-1 charging stand because it looked cool on Instagram. The Anker pad is $11 and charges my phone overnight, which is when I charge it. Overnight charging doesn't need to be fast. It needs to happen while I'm sleeping for 7 hours.”
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe
7,654 reviews
Pros
- +Charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously
- +MagSafe alignment — phone snaps into place
- +15W fast wireless charging
- +Looks like a miniature art installation on your nightstand
Cons
- -$130 for a charging stand
- -Only works with Apple devices
- -MagSafe charging is slower than plugging in a cable
- -Takes up more nightstand space than a cable
Anker 313 Wireless Charging Pad
54,321 reviews
Pros
- +Eleven dollars. I'll say it again. Eleven dollars.
- +Qi certified — works with any wireless-charging phone
- +LED indicator light
- +Slim pad profile
- +54,000 reviews at the same rating as the Belkin
Cons
- -10W max — not the fastest wireless charging
- -No MagSafe alignment — you have to center your phone
- -Can't charge Apple Watch or AirPods
- -No stand — just a flat pad
The Story
The Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand is a beautiful object. It's a chrome tree that holds your iPhone vertically, your Apple Watch on a little arm, and your AirPods on the base. It looks like something from a boutique hotel. I saw it on someone's Instagram story and thought 'I need that.'
A hundred and thirty dollars later, it sits on my nightstand. My phone MagSafe-snaps into place. My Apple Watch charges on the little arm. My AirPods sit on the base. Everything is organized. Everything is charging. I am living in the future.
Except here's the thing: I charge my devices at night. While I'm sleeping. For 7-8 hours. The 15W MagSafe fast charging is completely irrelevant because my phone has ALL NIGHT to charge. It could charge at 1 watt and still be at 100% by morning.
The Anker 313 pad is $11. You drop your phone on it. It charges overnight. Same result. Same 100% battery in the morning. No MagSafe alignment necessary because you're not looking at it — you're asleep. It charges at 10W, which is more than enough for overnight charging.
I now own the $130 Belkin nightstand charger, plus two Anker pads I bought for my desk and the kitchen. Total wireless charging spend: $152. My phone charges to 100% the same way on all of them. While I sleep.
The Lesson
Overnight charging doesn't need to be fast. A $11 Qi pad charges your phone to 100% by morning just like a $130 MagSafe stand. Buy the stand if you want the aesthetics. Buy the pad if you want the phone charged.
Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page go to Amazon and include an affiliate tag. If you buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is an honest comparison of products I've actually used. Product details, prices, ratings, and review counts are approximate and may be outdated. This page was created with AI assistance. Not professional product advice — just one guy's experience.
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Glen's Musings — AI, investing, and building things. Occasional. Free.
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