You may have heard me whittling on about wireless charging before. I love how simple it is to just throw down my phone when it’s running out of power, and then pick it up when I need to use it, without fiddling about with cables. But I’ve always had one problem with Qi wireless pads: they’re slow, with most having a maximum output of 5W. If you’ve got time to wait for your phone to charge then great, but if you’re in a rush you’re better off plugging it into a mains charger. Also see: How to add Qi wireless charging to your phone. Choetech’s Fast Wireless Charging Pad instantly caught my attention, the first I’ve seen to output 10W of power. Unfortunately, right now only two phones support fast wireless charging: the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. In time I’m sure that will change, but right now it doesn’t help my Samsung Galaxy S6 charge any faster. Still, if you’re going to buy a wireless charging pad, you might as well buy one that’s futureproof. (And if you happen to own a Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+ then even better!) Even if your phone doesn’t support fast wireless charging, the Choetech remains one of the better wireless charging pads out there. It’s basically the Choetech T517 with the addition of fast charging – read our Choetech T517 review.
An LED circles the metal pad, glowing blue or green to denote charging status. Usefully, when you turn out the lights its ambient light sensor detects the change and turns out the LED, so it won’t keep you awake at night. The Choetech charging pad is also more accommodating than some Qi chargers we’ve tried, and you can put your phone at almost any angle and it will still charge. Also see: How to improve smartphone battery life. In common with the T517, we found we could charge our phone without removing the case, and appreciated the extra grip afforded by the raised rubber ring – avoiding you accidentally knocking the phone off charge – plus the grippy pad on the bottom to prevent it slipping on a desk. It looks almost identical to that pad, too, with a minimalistic design that features a silver aluminium pad, white rubber ring and glowing LED outer ring.It’s also available in black, and either should fit comfortably into any room or office. Also see: Best desktop chargers 2015. Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter. Marie is Editor in Chief of Tech Advisor and Macworld. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our English language, French and Spanish consumer editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry’s transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.
