8 gadgets to make you a wireless charging ninja

So your phone has wireless charging but you never really make the most of it. What’s wrong with you? Lacking in compatible gadgetry? Here’s a selection of suitable tech that will make you forget cables even exist.

Anker PowerWave 7.5 Pad (£33.99)

Wireless charging might be neat and tidy but it’s not always the quickest. That is, unless the power plinth you’re using is one of Anker’s PowerWave 7.5 Pads. It comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 plug, which gives it the necessary oomph to output 10W to compatible Android phones from the likes of Samsung, Sony and LG, and 7.5W to the latest iPhone models, speeding up charging times by up to 30%. There’s even a fan built into the base to prevent things getting too heated.

Ikea Hektar (£50)

The only problem with wireless chargers is they take up far more space on your desk than a USB or Lightning cable would, so trust Ikea to combine one with a piece of very reasonably priced furniture – and for once it comes almost fully assembled. The Hektar desk lamp has a 5W induction charger built into the base, freeing up space for other important desk decoration, plus there’s a USB port round the back for some good old-fashioned tethered charging too.

RAVPower 10,400mAh Wireless Portable Charger (£38.99)

It’s all very well carrying a USB battery pack around with you but if you leave the cable at home it’s about as useful for juicing your phone as a block of extra mature cheddar. The easiest way to get around that problem? Remove the need for a cable completely. RAVPower’s 10,400mAh Wireless Portable Charger works with any Qi-compatible device, so you can just plonk your phone on top, while using the regular old USB port to tether a second gadget.

iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless (£64.99)

Having to unplug your phone every time you get out of your car can be a bit of a hassle, but leaving it on display for any nefarious passerby to pinch isn’t a good idea. By plugging the charger directly into iOttie’s Qi-compatible car mount, you can easily grab your phone when you get out without having to worry about pulling half the dashboard with you. It fits any phone between 2.3in and 3.72in wide and if you’re worried about it shaking loose, there’s also a one-touch locking system.

55 Degree Thermostat Ceramic Mug Cup+Wireless Charging Base (£30)

Who knew wireless chargers could be used for anything other than re-upping your phone battery? Once you’re done juicing your mobile, this charging pad can be used with its accompanying mug to keep your brew warm, heating it to a nicely toasty 55 degrees and keeping it that way. And because it works by induction, it’s totally safe to touch, too.

Logitech Powered Wireless Charging Stand (£69.99)

Apple might’ve finally got onboard with wireless charging but its own AirPower pad is still yet to see the light of day. Logitech got bored of waiting so has created this iPhone-friendly stand, although it’ll actually work with anything that uses the Qi wireless charging standard. The cradle can hold your phone in both portrait and landscape mode, so it’s ideal for catching up on University Challenge while you’re supposed to be working.

Belkin PowerHouse Charge Dock (£90)

If you’re fully onboard the Apple train and have both an iPhone and Apple Watch to recharge every night, this dock from Belkin has you covered. While it uses an old-fashioned Lightning connection to pipe the power back into your phone, the magnetic plinth you can hang your Watch off is totally wireless, which not only makes things look a lot neater, it also frees up the charger you got with the Watch for use elsewhere.

Twelve South Forte for Apple Watch (£49.99)

If you’re just looking for an upgrade on the standard Apple Watch charger but also feel like it could be working a bit harder when you’re not wearing it, Twelve South has just the thing for you. This hefty chrome charging pedestal holds the Watch in either portrait or landscape mode, so you can activate Nightstand mode and use it as a rudimentary alarm clock, while making sure it’s fully juiced and ready for a hard day’s work when you wake up in the morning.