If you have an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or iPhone X, you can take advantage of wireless charging to power up your device without plugging in a Lightning cable. This is possible thanks to the glass back design of these iPhones.
These devices use inductive charging, which means they will draw power when placed on a compatible charging mat. In many situations, this is much more convenient than plugging in a cable. Many users keep a charging mat on their bedside table to avoid fiddling with wires in the dark.
To use a wireless charging mat, simply plug it into a power outlet. Place your iPhone face up on the mat and it should vibrate gently to indicate a connection with the mat. You’ll notice the familiar lightning bolt icon in the top right to signify the device is charging. That’s it! There’s no complicated setup involved.
Choosing a charger
Apple has designed a charging mat called AirPower that can simultaneously charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods – but it’s not yet available for purchase, and you can bet it will be more expensive than a third-party charger.
In the meantime, if you want to start using wireless charging you’ll need to find a charging pad elsewhere. They all do much the same job, but you’ll want to pick one that uses the Qi charging standard to ensure compatibility with iPhone.
It’s also a good idea to buy a product with the MFi (Made For iPhone) symbol to ensure that quality meets Apple’s standards. Finally, to get the fastest charging speeds possible you’ll want a charger with at least a 7.5W power rating.
We found the Samsung Qi Wireless Charger to be the best product currently available. (Also available in the UK.)
Charging speed
Though convenient, it’s worth noting that wireless charging is not especially fast – when placed on a charging mat, iPhones charge around half the speed they would through a Lightning cable.