But there are cheaper options out there — even from Anker
Anker has a new line of wireless chargers that it’s calling the PowerWave series, viaMobileScout. The new chargers are designed to work specifically with Apple’s iPhone X and iPhone 8 smartphones and charge at the Apple-specified 7.5-watt spec for faster wireless charging on iPhones. That said, the new chargers can also charge at up to 10 watts, should you have a phone (like Samsung’s Galaxy S9) that supports a faster wireless charging speed.
The new PowerWave chargers bear a striking resemblance to the company’s existing PowerPort chargers, which also come in stand and flat styles, although those are black, not white, only charge at 5 watts, and don’t include a wall plug. But aside from the updated internals, the PowerWave chargers don’t really move the needle on Anker’s existing design, which is a little disappointing. The company hasn’t even upgraded the charging port to USB-C.
But I wouldn’t actually recommend buying either of Anker’s new chargers yet. They’re pretty expensive for what you’re getting at $49.99 for the stand version and $45.99 for the flat pad. Even considering the wall brick that Anker includes (which the company usually sells for $14 on its own), there are still cheaper 10-watt chargers out there that will also work with an iPhone — including ones that Anker sells, like the $26 PowerPort 10. It’s actually a little unclear why these exist, but based on the white color scheme, it feels like Anker is just trying to chase the iPhone market and cash in on all those new wireless charging phones that are out in the world now.
Still, given how frequently Anker products go on sale, you’ll probably be able to pick up a discounted PowerWave soon. But even if you do, be aware that there are still more interesting and innovative wireless chargers out there that you may want to consider instead
