Best Magnetic Wireless Chargers for iPhone and Android

A regular Qi pad has no magnets, so you have to lay the phone down and nudge it around until the coils line up, and a small slip can stop it charging overnight. A magnetic charger has a ring of magnets that snaps the phone into the exact right spot and holds it there, so alignment is automatic and the phone keeps charging even if the desk gets bumped. On iPhones this is the MagSafe system, and on Android it usually means adding a magnetic case.

It will charge one, but the magnetic snap only works if the phone has magnets, and most Samsung and Pixel phones do not have them built in. To get the aligned snap you add a Qi2 magnetic case or a stick-on magnet ring, and then a pad like the Samsung and iPhone one in this guide holds the phone the same way an iPhone gets held. Without a magnet case the pad still charges as a plain wireless pad, you just lose the automatic alignment.

The advertised number is a ceiling, not a promise. Apple's magnetic charging runs up to 15W on most recent iPhones and up to 25W only on the newest models paired with a strong enough USB-C power adapter, so a pad labeled 25W will fall back to 15W or less on an older phone or a weak plug. Treat the wattage on the box as the best case, and remember the adapter you supply is often what decides the real speed.

For a recent iPhone, no, since the magnets are built into the phone from the iPhone 12 onward. For an Android phone you almost always need a magnetic case or a stick-on ring to get the snap. If you use any case, check that it is a MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic case, because a thick plain case without magnets can weaken the hold and push the phone too far from the coils to charge well.

Most magnetic pads charge fine through a slim case, and Apple's guidance is that cases up to a few millimeters thick generally work. The catch is distance and metal: a very thick case, a wallet, a pop socket, or a metal plate between the coils can slow charging or stop the magnets from lining up. If charging gets flaky, take a thick case off or switch to a purpose-made magnetic case and it usually clears up.

The pads in this guide are single-device magnetic chargers, so each one charges one phone at a time, and a couple also top up AirPods that support wireless charging when you set the case on the pad. An Apple Watch will not charge on a flat phone pad because it needs its own dedicated puck. If you want phone, watch, and buds from one unit you want a three-in-one stand instead, which is a different product from the single pads shown here.

Yes, these chargers and modern phones manage the charge and ease off as the battery fills, so overnight charging on a nightstand is normal use. The phone and pad can feel warm, which is expected with wireless charging, so leave the pad on a hard open surface rather than under a pillow or a pile of bedding so heat can escape. If a pad ever runs hot to the touch, move it to better airflow or check the case and adapter.

We looked at the design, whether a single pad, a two-pack, or a car mount, along with the stated wattage, how the magnets align and hold, which phones each one supports, and honest catches like needing a magnetic case on Android or the right adapter for top speed. We matched them to real situations such as a nightstand, a car, a mixed Android and Apple home, and travel. Every product shown is a real listing, and these are our chosen picks rather than lab-tested claims.