Wireless Charging Stands

What a wireless charging stand is for

A wireless charging stand holds the phone upright or at an angle as it charges, with no cable in the phone. Because the screen faces you, you can read messages, use face unlock, follow a recipe, watch a video or take a video call while it charges. That makes a stand the usual choice for a desk, a kitchen worktop or a bedside where the phone doubles as a clock. A stand works with any phone that has Qi wireless charging built in, and you simply rest the phone in it and lift it out again.

The kinds of stand here

• Folding stands fold flat when they are not in use, for a drawer or a bag. The folding stand here has two coils, so the phone charges stood upright or turned on its side for a film, with an anti-slip silicone rim and protection against overcharging and overheating.
• Novelty stands are shaped like something else. There is a small chair-shaped stand here with a speaker function, which holds the phone like a person sitting down. It has no magnet, so the phone simply rests in it.
• Magnetic stands hold the phone on a magnetic ring, so it clicks into place at the right height. One here has an adjustable angle and spots for a watch and earbuds as well; more of that kind are in 3-in-1 charging stations.

How to choose a stand

The thing that matters most is where the coils meet. A stand's coil sits at a fixed height, and the phone's coil sits roughly in the middle of its back, so a very large or very small phone may sit with the coils out of line and charge slowly. Stands with two coils cover more phone sizes, and magnetic stands line the phone up for you. If your phone has no magnets of its own, as on many Android phones, a magnetic stand needs a magnetic case to hold it.

Next, the plug behind it. A stand can only pass on what its plug gives it, so use the plug its listing asks for, with a UK three-pin plug: see wall chargers. The figure on a stand is the most it gives; the phone decides what it takes. For a stand that holds a phone without charging it, see desk phone stands.

Questions people ask about wireless charging stands

Can I use the phone while it is on the stand?

Yes, for reading, calls and video. A phone gets a little warm on a wireless charger, which is normal, but let one that is already hot from gaming cool down first.

Will it charge through my case?

Most cases can stay on. A thick tough case puts the coils further apart, metal plates and rings stop or weaken charging, and a card wallet on the back should come off: Apple and Samsung both warn that a charger's field can damage bank cards, travel passes and key fobs.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Wireless charging pads
• Magnetic wireless chargers
• 3-in-1 charging stations
• Charging docks
• Desk phone stands
• Guide: Wireless and magnetic charging explained: Qi, Qi2 and MagSafe-compatible