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The 5 Best Wireless Car Chargers That Let You Juice Up Your Phone on the Go
After testing all the latest wireless car chargers on a road trip across the country, we determined the best ones you can buy.
Pretty much everyone fears getting that low-battery notification on their smartphone when driving, especially when you're relying on it for navigation.
Whether you know someone whose smartphone is always low on battery, or who can't get around without relying on battery-depleting apps such as Google Maps or Waze, consider gifting them a wireless car charger. No matter how far your route is taking you, a wireless car charger will be nice to have on hand, so you'll never hover around the dreaded 10% mark again.
We're here to help you find the fastest, most secure, and most reliable ones worth buying because we've tested all the latest options to separate the best from the rest.
Best Wireless Car Chargers of 2023
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What to Consider
Distracted driving is dangerous, and smartphone use is one of the distractions cited most frequently by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a factor in fatal crashes, so please use your best judgment before installing a wireless car charger in your vehicle. When selecting the best wireless car charger for your needs, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Charging Speeds
Wireless chargers trade speed for convenience, so you'll only get a quick boost of power during a short drive. Having said that, none of our tested picks match the speed of a car's 12-volt accessory outlet (the cigarette lighter) or your wall charger at home.
MagSafe Versus Qi
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is a wireless charging standard that most wireless car chargers use to charge your smartphones and typically takes 1.5 hours to give your device 50% of battery charge.
MagSafe is the fastest way to wirelessly charge your iPhone, which uses an array of built-in magnets that allow compatible accessories like wallets and charging stands to seamlessly snap onto your phone's backside. You can expect an additional 50% of battery life in an hour — or half the speed of a wired charger.
Mount Type
Having your smartphone mounted in your vehicle makes it easier and safer to get directions, answer phone calls, and stream music in your vehicle. You'll need to decide how you want to mount your device.
- Dash & Windshield Mounts: These mounts use a suction cup or adhesive pad so you can affix them to your vehicle's windshield or dashboard — but keep in mind that some states have strict windshield-obstruction laws.
- Vent Mounts: This type of mount slips into a slat of your vehicle's A/C or heater dash vents. The good news is that vent mounts help keep your phone from overheating (if the A/C is on). The bad news? They are less sturdy, could potentially break your vent's slats, and block the airflow you use to keep cool or warm.
- CD-Player Mount: If you have a vehicle that still has a CD player, there are a handful of wireless car chargers that you insert into your vehicle's CD slot so you can securely mount your device.
You'll also need to choose how the mount grips your phone, as some mounts use magnets while others physically grip your phone. I prefer grip mounts since the magnetized versions require you to attach a magnet to the back of your smartphone or store one in your phone case (assuming you don't have MagSafe).
Brandon Carte
Power Source
Finally, not all of our recommended picks include a power adapter that you plug the wireless charger's cable into. If one isn't included, I recommend the Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger, which conveniently comes with a USB cable and supports some of the fastest charging speeds. Be sure to check out our full guide to the best USB car chargers while you're at it!
How We Tested
Over the course of a long move across the country, I used a handful of wireless car chargers to see how reliable they would be for juicing up my iPhone and Android smartphones. For each of the below picks, I considered the following criteria when using them:
- How sturdy is the mount?
- Does it grip smartphones tightly?
- Can you easily mount and unmount your phone with it?
- Does it still charge a phone with a case on?
- Does it keep your phone stable even on rough terrain?
- Does it handle intense heat from the sun over time?
Find your next favorite car charger to gift yourself or a loved one among the thoroughly scrutinized picks below and keep your smartphone more accessible and in view for when you briefly use your device for navigation in a vehicle.
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless Car Charger
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless Car Charger
Pros
- Mount extends and rotates for perfect viewing
- Clamps conveniently open and close automatically
Cons
- Uses microUSB instead of USB-C
Editor's Note: iOtties' latest wireless car charger the Velox Pro is expected to launch later this Spring. It offers active cooling and is certified by Apple to bring the fastest charging speeds. We plan on testing it soon.
The iOttie Auto Sense is one of the most adjustable car-charging mounts you can buy. Its claw grip widens significantly and automatically to accommodate smartphones of all sizes, from the pocket-friendly iPhone 13 mini to the big screen behemoths like the Galaxy S23+. It has two feet at the bottom that you can lower to easily ensure that your smartphone's charging coils line up with the charger's coil to begin powering up.
This Qi charger, which also comes highly recommended by my colleagues at Car and Driver, is available in multiple variants. There's a model that affixes to your vehicle's AC vent, another that sticks to your dashboard or windshield, and even a version that rests in your cup holder.
I love that the mount rotates and allows you to use your phone in both landscape and portrait mode. I also liked that its arm extends and lets you move your phone not only higher or lower but also closer to you while you're driving. During my tests, I measured that its arm extends from 5 to 8 inches long.
The iOttie is sturdy — and it was powerful enough to charge my phone even though a thick Otterbox case. It's also backed by a 2-year warranty, and it includes a lengthy micro-USB charging cable.
Key Features
| Maximum power output | 7.5 watts for iPhone, 10 watts for Android |
|---|---|
| Bundled power adapter | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 years |
ESR HaloLock Magnetic Wireless Car Charger
ESR HaloLock Magnetic Wireless Car Charger
Pros
- Charging cable is removable
- An inexpensive MagSafe-style charger
Cons
- Charging speed could be faster
For owners of the Magsafe-equipped iPhones, I recommend the incredibly sleek ESR HaloLock charger. It's the first option that works with Apple's new MagSafe technology.
While other magnetic mounts require you to stick adhesive magnets to the back of your phone or within a case, no extra attachments are needed with this convenient MagSafe charger. During my tests, I found the ESR's magnets to be decently strong — it even worked when my iPhone mini was in a case. But, my iPhone 14 Pro would occasionally pencil dive off the charger if I would hit a bump on my drives.
ESR sells a variant of the charger that sticks to your vehicle's air conditioning vent, or you can opt for a separate type that uses a suction mount that you affix to your dashboard or windshield. ESR recently launched a new variant that has an integrated fan, making it a better option for users who live in warm climates.
It's worth mentioning that this car charger doesn't include a car charging adapter, only a USB cable. It also only delivers about half of what Apple's official MagSafe charger dishes out — but since it's one of the most affordable and durable MagSafe-style chargers available, I still think it's worth buying.
Key Features
| Maximum power output | 7.5 watts |
|---|---|
| Bundled power adapter | No |
| Warranty | 1 year |
ZEEHOO Wireless Car Charger
Pros
- Strong enough to hold large phones such as the Galaxy S23+
- Generous 18-month warranty
Cons
- Doesn't play nicely with cases
The ZeeHoo is a reasonably-priced charger with a convenient auto-opening clamp that'll grip practically any sized smartphone. Android users can charge at up to 15 watts (which are some of the fastest speeds achievable on wireless car chargers).
This option comes with a USB-C cable and a secure suction cup that can be installed on your vehicle's air vent, dashboard, or windshield. Compared to the competition, we like that this charger offers a full 360 degrees of rotation to ensure you or the person in the passenger seat can get a straight-on view of your smartphone's display.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that if you live in a warmer climate, ZeeHoo sells a similar mount with a built-in fan which should prevent your phone from overheating.
Key Features
| Maximum power output | 7.5 watts for iPhone, 15 watts for Android |
|---|---|
| Bundled power adapter | No |
| Warranty | 18 months |
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Dash & Windshield Mount
iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Dash & Windshield Mount
Pros
- Highly adjustable mount
- Suction cup is extremely sturdy
Cons
- USB cable is non-removable
- Expensive
Rather than using a claw-like grip, the Velox charger relies on a circular array of seven powerful magnets. Like the iOttie Auto Sense that came before it, the charger features a telescopic arm and a suction-cup-style mount you can affix to your dashboard or windshield.
The Volox is much more streamlined and easier to use than other wireless chargers since all you have to do is hand off your iPhone to it. I appreciate that the wireless charger has a soft, silicone casing to lessen the likelihood of scratches on my iPhone. Its suction cup is also super sturdy. Best of all, you don't have to worry about wireless charging coils being misaligned, and you won't have to double-check to make sure your phone is secure since its magnets are so strong.
It's also worth mentioning that this charger was specifically designed for the iPhone 12, 13 and 14 line of smartphones since they're equipped with magnets, but it delivers only half of what Apple's official MagSafe charger can achieve.
Although I was happy to see that a 12-volt USB-C power adapter was included, I wish the USB cable were removable just for peace of mind knowing if it were to fail, I could replace it with another one. Fortunately, iOttie backs the charger with an impressive 2-year warranty.
Key Features
| Maximum power output | 7.5 watts |
|---|---|
| Bundled power adapter | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Spigen Mag Fit Phone Holder Car Mount
Pros
- Provides path to the fastest charging speeds
- Has a convenient vent clip
Cons
- MagSafe cable is sold separately
- Expensive
Annoyingly enough, at the time of publishing, there is still not an official, MFi-approved MagSafe car charger. MFi stands for "Made for iPod, Made for iPhone, and Made for iPad" — and only MFi-approved devices can take advantage of MagSafe's faster 15-watt charging speeds that are twice as fast as Qi charging.
To make up for the lack of MFi-certified car chargers, Spigen has released a holder for Apple's official MagSafe charger. The holder has a vent clip that attaches to your vehicle's air conditioning vent, so you can get the fastest speeds possible over MagSafe. Your iPhone magnetically connects to the MagSafe cable, which rests in the holder.
Unfortunately, the MagSafe cable and the required USB-C car charger are not included. But if you want the fastest possible speeds (just over 30% of battery life in a half-hour), opting for this holder and the required components might just be worthy of the splurge.
Key Features
| Maximum power output | N/A |
|---|---|
| Bundled power adapter | No |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Other Wireless Car Chargers We Considered
- Anker MagGo Wireless Car Charger- My co-tech editor and I swear by Anker's accessories for their reliability and durable build quality, but given the MagGo's steep $70 pricing point, we opted against testing it — especially after seeing numerous reviews which said their smartphone dislodged from the mount and that the suction cup failed. We expect fast charge speeds from the MagGo, so if that's most important for you, it may be worth the splurge.
- Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE Magnetic Wireless Car Charger- The Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE conveniently comes with a USB-C cable and a 4-feet-long power adapter. However, a number of customer reviewers remarked that the magnet wasn’t strong and that their iPhone would frequently come detached from the mount, especially if it had a case on. I also was disappointed to see that the mount only charges at 10 watts when most of Belkin’s other accessories support faster 15-watt speeds.
- iOttie Easy One Touch 2 Wireless Car Charger- Despite being a couple of years old, iOttie’s Easy One Touch 2 charger is still available for purchase. It may require you to manually insert and adjust its claw and cradle to dock and remove your phone rather than automatically open and close after hitting a button like the newer Auto Sense model — but it still delivers similar charging speeds and is oftentimes cheaper. It has an attached MicroUSB cable and comes with a power adapter.
- iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Qi Wireless Car Charger- The iTap 2 is a fine choice if you prefer a magnetic-style mount but don’t have an iPhone with MagSafe. The included magnets were strong during my tests (just as long as you have a thin case) but require you to align them using a placement guide. The iTap 2 is only available for your vehicle’s AC vents, which isn’t as stable as the CD-slot and dash-mount style iTap two magnetic mounts which have since been discontinued.
- Satechi's Magnetic Wireless Car Charger- This option features a much more durable mostly aluminum design and has a removable USB-C cable, but testers at Wirecutter remarked that this charger replenished their iPhone's battery only about 30% after an hour which is slower than most other models. We also wish it included a power adapter for the price.
- SCOSCHE MagicMount Pro Wireless Car Charger-SCOSCHE’s chargers are sturdy and hold up well over time, but in my experience testing them, they didn’t charge my devices as rapidly as iOttie’s chargers. They also got warm when using it for long periods of time. Fortunately, the charger automatically will shut itself off if it gets too hot.
- Spigen OneTap Wireless Car Charger- We love that the Spigen OneTap comes in several variants so you can stow your phone against your AC vent, in your cup holder, or on the dash. However, the OneTap was slower at charging our iPhone during our tests than the competition. It did do a good job at holding the heavy iPhone Pro Max though, so if you have a large iPhone it may be worth a look.
Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
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