Best Products > Phones & Accessories 88 88 people found this article helpful The 7 Best Charging Stations of 2021 Get charged up at home, on the road, or in the office! by Emmeline Kaser Writer Emmeline Kaser is a tech writer and former editor for Lifewire. She writes and edits commerce content about consumer technology for Lifewire. our editorial process Emmeline Kaser Updated on August 03, 2021 Tweet Share Email Phones & Accessories Accessories Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Families and even individuals might find themselves in need of a single place to charge up all their devices. A single user can have a phone, tablet, wireless earbuds, and even a watch. A charging station makes all that one neat and organized place. We've sorted through dozens of charging stations out there and we've put together our picks for you. Some things to look for in a charging station including the number of charging ports available, the types of ports, and the number of slots to hold your devices. USB-A is the most popular by a large margin, but these days, USB-C needs to be there as well. All those cables can get messy, so a built-in storage area for cable length is also a good-to-have, lest you end up with a plate of spaghetti at the end. Also, pay attention to the finishes that are available, so the charging station can match your decor. So, read on and check out our best picks! The Rundown Best Overall: SIIG Smart 10-Port USB Charging Station at Amazon This is our favorite pick because of the number of ports available and the organization involved. Best Style: G.U.S. Eco Bamboo Multi-Device Charging Station at Amazon The station has space for three vertically oriented phones and two tablets or small laptops. Best Versatility: intelliARMOR PowerHub Wireless Charging Station at Amazon You can charge up to six devices on this one power station, which means the PowerHub very much earns its name. Best for Mobile Devices: Satechi Dock5 Multi-Device Charging Station at Amazon This is a nice overall charging solution for up to five devices at a time. Best Wireless Charger: Anker 3-in-1 PowerWave 10 Stand at Amazon This is a small device that lets you work with your phone while it's charging, and we dig that. Best Secure Charger: Apple MagSafe Charger at Amazon If you have an iPhone 12, and you need a wireless charger for it, this is a good pickup Best for Desks: EasyAcc Multi-Device Organizer at Amazon This is a great desk accessory that can help you charge a number of your mobile devices. in this article Expand Our Picks About Our Trusted Experts What to Look For in a Charging Station Best Overall: SIIG Smart 10-Port USB Charging Station 4 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On EBay What We Like Lots of ports Streamlined look Non-slip deck What We Don't Like No Qi charging No cables included Narrow slots SIIG 90W Smart Charging Station Review When you think about a charging station, you might think about larger families. But consider further that a family of four, each with a smartphone and tablet, already needs eight ports. So a 10-port charging system is not a crazy concept at all. Each of these 10 USB Type-A charging ports can put out a charge of 5V/2.4A. Some chargers will parse out power depending on how many devices are plugged in; this one puts out consistent power regardless. The slots that are built-in are a little thin at just .75 inches, so some thick cases might have trouble slotting in. At the end, you've got a non-slip pad for holding other devices or keys or coins. You can also place other devices you want to charge there like earbuds or watches. There is no Qi charger underneath which seems like a real miss. We'd also like to see some cables included, though we understand the omission considering there are many different kinds of devices out there. But overall, this is our favorite pick because of the number of ports available and the organization involved. Number of Ports: 10 | Power Output: 5V/2.4A | Type of Ports: USB-A "The blue LED light that surrounds the non-slip deck is a nice touch, especially for anyone who wants to use this charger on a bedside table." — Jeremy Laukkonen, Product Tester The 6 Best iPhone Lightning Cables of 2021 Lifewire Best Style: G.U.S. Eco Bamboo Multi-Device Charging Station 3.5 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On EBay What We Like Nice clean look Works with any charging cable What We Don't Like No built-in charger Eco Bamboo Multi-Device Charging Station Review Unlike most of the charging stations in this list, this one doesn't actually come with chargers. Rather, this is an organization tool you can use to sort out the various cables and devices you need to charter. For most, if not all of your devices, you'll already have a charging cable and brick. All that remains is a way to keep all of those things neat, and that's where this station comes into play. This charging station is made from sustainably sourced, natural bamboo that looks great. It has space for three vertically oriented phones and two tables or small laptops. The base of the charging station accepts your charging cables from the back. From there they can be coiled up and held in place with straps that run across the base. Simply feed through the end of the cable, and just like that you have a neatly organized charging station. It's environmentally friendly since it doesn't ship with electronics you don't need. It works with any cable or charger you have, though thicker cables might give it some trouble. But if you have all your cables in place with a place to plug them in, this charging station might be the last piece in your puzzle. Number of Ports: 0 | Power Output: N/A | Type of Ports: N/A "This is a solidly-built charging station, and it’s put together well enough to stand up to daily use and even some inadvertent abuse." — Jeremy Laukkonen, Product Tester Lifewire Best Versatility: intelliARMOR PowerHub Wireless Charging Station 4.5 View On Amazon What We Like Charges anything PD and Quickcharge Wireless charger What We Don't Like Large Power cable is not detachable Ports on all sides Intelli PowerHub Wireless Charging Station Review The Intelliarmor PowerHub wireless charging station calls itself a universal charger because it can charge anything. There's a qi charging wireless stand, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and two AC outlets. The USB-A ports charge at 5V/2A, the USB-C port charges at 18W of power delivery, and the two AC outlets on the back output 110V. Basically, you can plug in any kind of charger into one of those ports, so it's incredibly versatile. The charging pad is very good with a wide charging area. Our reviewer, Jeremy writes, "during experimentation, I was able to nudge my Pixel 3 past the edge of the cradle before breaking the connection, and could successfully establish a connection with the phone significantly off-center." The five-foot cable on the back is very thick and not detachable. If it could detach, this charger would be much more travel-friendly. As it stands, this is more of a set-and-forget kind of situation. Also, having ports on all sides makes for something of a nightmare of cable organization. But, you can charge up to six devices on this one power station, which means the PowerHub very much earns its name. Number of Ports: 5 | Power Output: 5V/2A, PD18W, AC110V | Type of Ports: USB-A, USB-C, A/C "This is billed as a universal charging station and fits that bill pretty well, so you get a whole range of charging speeds from this device." — Jeremy Laukkonen, Product Tester Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen Best for Mobile Devices: Satechi Dock5 Multi-Device Charging Station View On Amazon View On Satechi.net What we like Small footprint Smart charging chipset Built in Qi charger What we don't like No included cables Pricey The Satechi Dock5 Charging station is one of our favorites on this list. There aren't a lot of ports, but the ports it has are powerful. You'll get 10W of wireless charging on the Qi pad in front. Each USB-A port outputs 12W of power each and the USB-C port's output is 20W each of power delivery. That's a lot of juice for this small station. It also has a small footprint so it doesn't take up a lot of room. This charging station does not include cables, which is something we'd like to see considering how expensive it is. It does have a nice design though so the price might be worth it to you. Number of Ports: 4 | Power Output: 10W/12W/20W | Type of Ports: USB-A, USB-C, Qi wireless charging Best Wireless Charger: Anker 3-in-1 PowerWave 10 Stand View On Amazon View On Walmart View On EBay What We Like Very small Qi and USB-A Charging Fast charging What We Don't Like Wireless charging is touchy Anker has long been a leader in charging technology including wireless changing. The PowerWave 10 charging stand offers you the ability to charge up to three devices simultaneously. The wireless charger is rated for up to 10W of wireless charging, You can charge wireless with your phone either in the horizontal or vertical orientation, though some reviewers noted that a thinker case can prevent the coils from lining up correctly. On the back, you have two additional USB-A ports so you can charge two other devices as well. The smart chip also protects against overcharging and over-current while charging. All this charging capability keeps things in a small footprint so it doesn't take up too much space at all. We'd like to see a USB-C port here in 2021, and the power brick on the cable is a little larger than we'd usually like. This is a small device that lets you work with your phone while it's charging, and we dig that. Number of Ports: 2 | Power Output: 12W | Type of Ports: USB-A The 2 Best Charging Cables for Androids of 2021 Best Secure Charger: Apple MagSafe Charger 3.7 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Secure connection Qi charging works on any wireless accessory Support 15W Fast charging What We Don't Like Does not come with a charging brick Some cases affect Magsafe Expensive for what it is Apple MagSafe Charger Review When the iPhone 12 debuted in the Fall of 2020, it came with a new charging concept called Magsafe. This uses the Qi charging standard in conjunction with magnets to align the coils. Simply snap the MagSafe charger onto the back of the iPhone and it charges your phone. The magnets secure the MagSafe charger to the back of the phone so you can accidentally knock the phone off the stand. Plus, the MagSafe charge uses Qi, so you could use it on any phone that accepts wireless charging (though there would be no magnets to align the coils). That's pretty cool, but the MagSafe charger is really just a normal Qi charger with magnets. At $40, it's pretty expensive for what it is. We love the idea of attaching a wireless charger to the phone, but it's just a bit too rich for our blood, especially considering that the MagSafe charger doesn't come with the power brick you need to attain the 15W of charging it's capable of. If you have an iPhone 12, and you need a wireless charger for it, this is a good pickup. But if you just have a Qi-enabled phone, this is not the charger for you. Number of Ports: 0 | Power Output: 15W | Type of Ports: Qi "The MagSafe Charger provides faster charging speeds than a traditional Qi wireless charger on the iPhone 12." — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester Andrew Hayward / Lifewire Best for Desks: EasyAcc Multi-Device Organizer USB Charger Docking Stand 2.8 View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Sears.com What We Like Attractive design Storage drawers What We Don't Like Questionable build No charger included EasyAcc Multi-Device Organizer Review Charging organizers are a great way to organize all of your charging cables and devices. This charging station doesn't have any power built into it, but you can use it to organize all of your charging equipment into one attractive unit. There's also a second drawer for other desk accessories you might need to store. Overall, there's room in the charging station for two upright phones, and two to three tablets depending on orientation. The charging station is built of fiberboard and staples, covered with faux leather with white stitching. This makes for an attractive build but it may not be terribly sturdy. This station is designed for you to put in your own multiport charger, but we'd really like to see one included. For the price though, that might be too much to ask. Like the bamboo station above, this is a great final piece to your charging puzzle. Number of Ports: 0 | Power Output: N/A | Type of Ports: N/A "The dock has two slots for vertically oriented phones on the front, so setting your phone down will let you see the screen at a glance." — Jeremy Laukkonen, Product Tester Lifewire Final Verdict Overall, we like the SIIG 90W Smart charging station the best because of how many ports you get in one unit. You can charge basically everything with a single charging station, which is what a charging station is meant to do. If your needs are more varied, the intelliARMOR PowerHub does exactly what its name implies. You get power for everything including qi wireless charging, USB-C, USB-A, and even two AC plugs. It doesn't matter how your device charges, you're good to go. About Our Trusted Experts Jeremy Laukkonen has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. He has a background in trade publications and auto mechanics, and he's reviewed a wide range of devices for Lifewire including phones, laptops, speakers, TVs, and more. He liked the SIIG charging dock for its numerous ports and even distribution of power, but he did wish it offered wireless charging. A former editor of Lifewire product round-ups, Emmeline Kaser has years of experience researching and writing about the best consumer products out there. She specializes in consumer tech, including charging stations like the ones featured on this list. Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer who has been covering technology and video games since 2006.His areas of expertise include smartphones, and he reviewed the Apple MagSafe Charger on this list. Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he's not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he's playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he's a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can. FAQ What cables can you use with a wireless charger? While USB-A (the rectangle) is the most common, more charging stations are adopting the faster and more versatile USB-C connector (the flattened oval). Is wireless charging harmful? You do have to wonder how all that power gets sent to your phone without a cable, but rest assured that wireless charging is completely harmless to humans and other electronic devices. Yes, wireless charging uses electromagnetic radiation, but the fact of the matter is virtually all modern electronics, even sensitive ones like pacemakers are shielded against the relatively low levels of electromagnetic radiation that wireless chargers give off. How quickly can your device charge with a charging station? This depends on the type of connection you use as well as the device you're charging, a phone typically won't take as long to top off as a tablet (smaller battery, faster charge). And micro-USB won't charge a device as fast as USB-C or Lightning connections. Lifewire "Looks and aesthetics have their place, but users shouldn’t value design over function when it comes to their charging station. Battery technology today has allowed industry leaders to dramatically alter the size of power stations, but at the end of the day, the larger the battery, the more power it provides." — Jason Wong, Founder and CEO of omnicharge What to Look For in a Charging Station Specialty vs. Generic If you only expect to charge a few devices at a time—like an iPhone and an Apple Watch—it’s worth checking out options that look great, too. If you want more versatility, opt for a more generic model that’s capable of holding several differently-sized devices and comes equipped with a bunch of charging ports. Quick Charge Look for a charging station that supports Quick Charge if you have an Android phone that’s capable of taking advantage of the extra power. If you have an iPhone that supports fast charging via USB-PD, a lot of great options also support that standard. Before you buy, check to see if a unit’s capabilities fit your needs. Wireless Charging Even if none of your devices support wireless charging just yet, it could pay off to invest in a charging station that does. If this seems like an interesting feature, choose a model that has a variety of traditional charging ports in addition to a wireless charging pad. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit