Phones with wireless charging are cool. The technology saves you the hassle of dealing with those pesky cables — just drop it on a pad and watch everything light up. However, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. Wireless charging usually takes longer than using a cable and makes phones difficult to use while charging.
Wireless charging is mainly available on high-end phones with glass backs — metal and wireless charging don’t mix. Not every flagship has the technology, but more and more manufacturers are hopping on the bandwagon. Phones with the feature either support the PMA or Qi standard, although Qi is the more popular choice. Here are the best ones.
Huawei P30 Pro
This is the latest and greatest Huawei phone on the market. It impresses with its incredibly versatile camera setup, featuring four sensors on the back. It does wonders in low-light scenarios and gives you plenty of versatility thanks to the wide-angle and 5x telephoto lenses.
The P30 Pro supports wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging.
The phone looks gorgeous, sporting a much smaller notch than its predecessor and thinner bezels all around. Like the Mate 20 Pro, it comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and wireless charging. It even supports reverse wireless charging.
The phone is powered by the Kirin 980 chipset and sports a 6.47-inch display that’s curved on the sides. Other specs and features include IP68 water and dust resistance, up to 512GB of storage expandable via Huawei’s proprietary Nano Memory card, and a massive 4,200mAh battery. The phone is available in Europe and many other regions, but it was not released in the U.S.
Read more:
- Huawei P30 Pro review: A phone with superpowers
- Huawei P30 Pro vs Pixel 3 XL: The ultimate low-light camera comparison
- Huawei P30 Pro vs Huawei P20 Pro: The best gets better
Samsung Galaxy S10 series
All three Galaxy S10 phones that are already available — the Galaxy S10 Plus, S10, and S10e — supports wireless charging. What’s more, they all feature what Samsung calls Wireless PowerShare, allowing them to double as a charger for other wireless charging devices.
The Plus model offers the most of the three Galaxy S10 phones, sporting the largest display and battery as well as two front-facing cameras. It also comes with three rear cameras, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and an IP68 rating, all of which are available on the regular S10 as well.
Those looking for a budget Samsung flagship should go with the Galaxy S10e, which sports the smallest display and comes with two rear cameras instead of three. It also doesn’t have a curved screen or an in-display fingerprint scanner. But it does have the same chipset, plenty of RAM, and is resistant to water and dust. All three models support expandable storage and come with a headphone jack on board. They are among the best phones with wireless charging you can get.
Read more:
- Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review: Almost apex
- Samsung Galaxy S10 series: Which phone is right for you?
- Samsung Galaxy S10e review: The best Galaxy S10 for most people
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The Galaxy Note 9 was named Android Authority’s best smartphone of 2018. It offers everything you need: a large 6.4-inch display, a powerful Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 chipset, and up to 8GB of RAM. It also has a large 4,000mAh battery, is resistant against water and dust (IP68), and features as much as 512GB of expandable storage.
What makes the phone stand out is the signature S Pen, which has a new trick up its sleeve. It supports Bluetooth Low Energy, allowing it to remotely control the camera. It also has a headphone jack that’s missing on most flagships these days. All these things combined make it one of the best phones with wireless charging you can get.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 also impresses in the photography department, sporting a dual-camera setup with variable aperture. It’s made of glass and metal and has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. The phone launched with Android 8.1 Oreo on board but can be upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung’s new One UI on top.
Read more:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: In praise of incrementalism
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 battery review: Huge, but enough?
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs iPhone XS Max: Which is worth your $1,000?
Sony Xperia XZ3
The combination of high-end specs, a premium design, and a few other bells and whistles like 3D Creator make the Xperia XZ3 one of the best phones with wireless charging. It’s not the best phone in Sony’s lineup, though. That title goes to the Sony Xperia 1, a flagship phone that unfortunately doesn’t support wireless charging.
The Sony Xperia XZ3 runs Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
The phone has a curved OLED display, dual front-facing speakers, and ships with Android 9.0 Pie on board. Sony’s skin sits on top of the OS and adds features like Side Sense, which brings up a mini app drawer when you double tap the edge of the screen. Unlike most flagships these days, the Xperia XZ3 doesn’t have a notch and only comes with a single rear camera. The fingerprint scanner is located at the back.
The Xperia XZ3 isn’t for everyone, especially because of its high price tag. It launched for $900, but it’s currently $100 cheaper on Amazon. You can get it in three colors — black, green, and white.
Read more:
- Sony Xperia XZ3 hands-on: Keeping up with the times
- Sony Xperia XZ3 specs: More of the same, but is that bad?
- Sony Xperia XZ3 camera review: Great sensors, not so great cameras
Google Pixel 3/3 XL
Not only are the Pixel 3 and 3 XL among the best phones with wireless charging, they are also on our list of the best phones you can currently get. The phones support fast wireless charging — 10W — with the help of the Pixel Stand, which retails for $80. While on the stand, the Pixel 3 can turn on the Do Not Disturb mode automatically at night, transform into a photo frame, and more.
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are very similar in terms of specs. They both come with the Snapdragon 845 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 64/128G of storage under the hood. You’ll also find the same 12.2MP camera on both devices, which takes fantastic pictures.
The biggest difference between the two is the display. The Pixel 3 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD+ display, while the one on the XL model comes in at 6.3 inches, offers Quad HD+ resolution, and has a notch. Pricing starts at $800 (Pixel 3) and $900 (Pixel 3 XL).
Read more:
- Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL review: The Android iPhone
- Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL vs the competition
- Google Pixel Stand review: The best accessory Google has ever made
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro support 15W wireless charging and was the first phone on the market to support reverse wireless charging. That means you can use it as a wireless charger by placing any Qi-compatible phone on its back.
The handset sports an in-display fingerprint scanner, has a massive battery, and comes with 3D facial recognition.
The Mate 20 Pro is aimed at demanding users, offering a large 6.39-inch display, the Kirin 980 chipset, and as much as 8GB of RAM. It has three cameras at the back, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4,200 battery. It even has 3D facial recognition.
The phone has a premium design with its glass back and a metal frame, and comes in a variety of eye-catching colors. Unfortunately, it wasn’t released in the U.S. It’s on sale in a lot of regions, including Europe, where pricing differs from country to country. For reference, you can get it from around 710 euros ($800) in Germany.
Read more:
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro review: The best phone for power users
- Huawei Mate 20 vs Mate 20 Pro: Past meets future
- Huawei Mate 20 AI camera features explained
Xiaomi Mi 9
The last model on our list of the best phones with wireless charging is the Xiaomi Mi 9, which offers great value for money. Starting at just 450 euros (~$505), it features the latest and greatest Snapdragon 855 chipset, three rear cameras, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. It also has an eye-catching design and is made of glass and metal.
The Xiaomi Mi 9 supports fast wireless charging that gets the battery from 0 to 100 percent in just one hour and 40 minutes.
The global version of the handset comes with 6GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage, while users in China also get variants with 8 or 12GB of RAM and as much as 256GB of storage. The phone supports fast wireless charging and can go from 0 to 100 percent in just one hour and 40 minutes if you get the special Charge Turbo wireless pad. It also supports 27W wired charging that will fully charge the battery in around 65 minutes.
The low price tag means Xiaomi had to cut some corners. For example, there’s no IP rating, which is more or less standard on flagships these days. There’s also no expandable storage or a headphone jack. But overall, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is still a fantastic phone.
Read more
- Xiaomi Mi 9 review: The latest flagship tech at a reasonable price
- Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Pocophone F1 quick look
- Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Xiaomi Mi 8: Fast track to improvements
There you have it, folks. These are the best phones with wireless charging capabilities in our opinion, though there are a number of other great options available. These include the LG G8 ThinQ, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, and Nokia 9 PureView, among others. Which ones would you add to the list of the best phones with wireless charging? Let us know in the comments!