I "upgraded" to this 7.5W charger from Anker's older PowerPort 5W pad. I like that it's bigger and has the retaining lip around the edge. But this new one doesn't charge through my Otterbox case + PopSocket, which admittedly is a very thick combo. But somehow the older model was able to work. So sending this one back, sadly.
UPDATE:
Anker contacted me soon after I posted this review and offered to make things right. This amazing customer service is why I will continue to purchase Anker products!
Let's start with the good: it's a sleek wireless Qi charger that I assume charges at 7.5W for the iPhone X and 10W for Android devices. Although it comes with a micro usb cable, it does not come with a wall plug so I have no way of telling. I also found out that if you want to get true fast charging, you'll need a Quick Charge 3.0 wall plug to reap the benefits of fast charging so make sure you have one or get the other unit that comes with a wall plug. One thing I do notice is that it has a tiny blue light that gets covered up when I lay my phone down. This is much better than my Samsung charger that emits a blue light that kind of keeps you up at night. The Anker charger is also more forgiving with regard to how accurately you lay your phone down, but like most wireless chargers, it still requires you get it close to the coils. If I were to be critical of the charger I would say that it does seem to get a tiny bit warm, which hasn't caused any problems, but I have read that could wear down the longevity of your phone in the long run.
I purchased both this charger and the Belkin Boost Up Wireless charger for my iPhone XS Max and my friend's iPhone 8 Plus. The Anker charger wins in every category. With the Belkin charger, the phone needs to be placed in the perfect position for it to work properly AND the Belkin charger has a proprietary charging cord. The Anker fast charger seems to have a larger surface area that works with charging an iPhone and the use of microUSB cable makes this charger easier to use at home or while travel. This charging pad is also thinner than the Belkin Boost Up.
I love Anker and when I purchased my new iPhone Xs that supports it, decided I would go all in and get a wireless charger for my nightstand.
I've been using this for a few months now and have not had any issues with it. It looks nice on my nightstand and has a simple blue light, that lights up when you set your phone on it to show it is charging. The nice thing about this light, is being where it is placed, your phone will probably cover it up, so you should not be bothered by it at night.
I have a fairly thick case on my phone, but as soon as I lay it down, it starts charging and the phone does not feel too hot.
Overall this is a great and cheap charger to throw on a nightstand or desk!
I talked to a friend about wireless charging, and they thought it was interesting, but they said they often used their phone when it's plugged in and charging. They don't buy wireless chargers because they can't really use their phone while it's laying flat on the charging surface.
But I've found wireless charging to be a great change. If you keep one of these in your living room (or wherever you spend time the most) and just set your phone down on it whenever you're not texting or playing wordscapes (or whatever y'all are doing), you'll find that your phone is almost always charged. Better yet, you can get one of these for your desk at work and leave another at home and you'll never really think about charging again. It's really neat, and until battery life in phones hits the 100+ hour mark, I see these chargers as being a solid buy.
Some gripes I have are that phone placement seems to have to be somewhat precise on these chargers. But really it's not that big of a deal if you just glance at the screen and make sure it says charging when you set the phone dow. Charging isn't super fast, but again, if you have your phone on these when not in use this is a non-issue.
Feature Product
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 30+ million powered by our leading technology.
- One for All: Works at high speed with most wirelessly-charged phones, including the latest iPhone (7.5W) and Samsung and LG flagship phones (10W). Quick Charge 3.0 wall charger required (not included).
- Non-Slip, Yes Slim: A slim line profile provides an aesthetically pleasing complement to your desk, while the rubberized surface prevents slipping and sliding.
- Case Friendly: Don't fumble with your phone case. Power Wave transmits charging power directly through protective cases.
- What You Get: Power Wave 7.5 Pad, 3 ft. Micro USB Cable, welcome guide, worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Description
Troubleshooting Tips:
• If your phone has a expandable grips or your phone case is more than 5mm thick, please remove your case/expandable grips before charging.
• Ensure that your phone is centered on the wireless charging surface.
• Restart your phone and the wireless charger. If this does not work, try using another wall charger and cable.
After posting a 1-star review for this product I was contacted by Anker and they sent me a replacement charging pad. The 2nd charging pad I received works well with the iPhone X and I have not had any issues. Taking off 1-star for quality control, but if you receive a unit that works then this a 5 star product and the company was good about replacing the defective item.
Original Review:
Not sure how this product has so many good reviews. I have tried using this charging pad for over a week now with an iPhone X and it does not work. You have to place your phone just right on the pad to get the charging icon to appear, but even when you get the charging icon the pad does not actually charge your phone. It has worked maybe 2 out of 10 times I have attempted to use the pad (charging my phone at a very slow rate). Most of the time the battery percentage does not go up despite the charging icon appearing, and one time it was actually draining my battery at a fast rate (not sure how that is possible).
Update: Anker contacted me and offered to replace the unit. Looks like it was defective, as I can not hear the new unit at all. so I upped my rating. Great customer service..
--- OLD REVIEW FOLLOWS ---
I bought three different Anker wireless QI chargers.. One for downstairs, one for upstairs and one for work. They are all different types.. This one (lets call it the Apple 7.5w) makes a slight pulsing noise while charging the iPhone. It is not very loud, but at night, next to the bed, you can hear it. I tried it with my iPhone XsMax, and a different iPhone 8, both had the same problem. I tried it with a bunch of different wall power adapters (including high power iPad, and 2amp+ chargers) and it did not help. Of the three QI chargers, the Anker USB-C made no noise. This one is loud and the lowest cost one (I call it the Apple 5w) is not quite as bad, but i use it at work, so it is hard to really tell how loud it is.
Item requires close alignment of iPhone XS or it does not charge. I have knocked it out of alignment about half the nights I’ve used it. I would bump my phone grabbing for my glasses and not notice I broke the connection and the phone would not charge.
In the meantime Anker saw my review and contacted me to offer replacement with the Powerwave STAND. I’ve used the stand for two weeks and never had a problem. I still thrash my bed stand at night trying to find my glasses but the stand design keeps the phone charging.
Meantime I moved the PAD to my work and it works fine on my desktop.
Great customer service. I am very happy with both the pad and stand.
I bought it to charge my Note 9 with otter case which is pretty thick.
pros
it does charge with thick other case
cons
for a moment it acted as if I need to REPOSITION the phone the charge.
Maybe anker should do more testing to see if that would be a problem..
I had to reposition then it started to charge.
Other than this very minor issue of repositioning the phone
I am happy with it
Plan to buy one for my car as well
Bought a new iPhone with wireless charging and buying a wireless charging pad was near the top of my list.
It's been wonderful. Instead of fumbling for a cable and plugging it in (tough when it's late at night and the lights are off), I just place my phone on it and it charges. My phone's the XS Max and size is never an issue. It just works.
Also, like most Anker products, the packaging is great.
