The best wall chargers: A buyer's guide

Manufacturers ditching wall chargers seems to be all the rage these days whenever you pick up a new phone. The problem is that the older options you have lying around your house may not be up to snuff with today’s fast-charging technology. Of course, OEMs will tell you to grab a first-party wall charger, but is that really your best option? In some cases, yes, but there are so many more third-party options to choose from.

We’re here to highlight some of the best wall chargers you can buy, including both first- and third-party options. Some offer multiport functionality, while others offer impressive fast charging options, and some pack the best of both worlds. What are you waiting for? Let’s get your battery back to a full charge.

Buying the right wall charger for your needs

There’s a lot to look for as you shop for a wall charger, and it all starts with a trustworthy brand. We highly recommend Anker, but there are plenty of other good options out there. We do our best to ensure that all of these choices balance price, quality, and reputation.

Once you’ve settled on a solid brand, it’s time for more specific questions. The best place to start is with how many ports you need. Many wall chargers include some mix of USB-A and USB-C ports, and you can occasionally find multiport options with multiples of each USB type. Of course, the more devices you plan to charge, the larger a wall charger you’ll need. This adds weight and may make for a worse travel companion.

The third point to research is how fast your wall charger will actually deliver its juice. Fast charging is generally a standard feature these days, but not all fast charging is created equal. You’re not as likely to find a third-party charger that can handle top speeds like VOOC technology. It’s also important to know if your devices can handle Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or USB-PD (Power Delivery) to tap into the highest speeds. Some newer handsets, like the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, use a special standard of USB Power Delivery, which is PPS (programmable power supply).

Anker Nano II 65W: The best wall charger for most people

Anker offers a great variety of wall chargers, portable battery packs, and many other accessories. There’s something for everyone, and the company offers great quality, as well as modern technology. Right now, the best option for the common user is the Anker Nano II. There are three versions of it: 30W, 45W, and 65W.

You can obviously save some cash and get a 30W one ($23.99 at Amazon), which will work perfectly with most phones. The 45W ($39 at Amazon) version is also great. That said, upgrading to the 65W doesn’t cost that much more. It’s worth getting the faster charger so you can future-proof yourself for upcoming phones with faster charging capabilities. Or you can use it to also charge more power-hungry devices like tablets, and even most laptops.

Unless you have one of the very few phones with ultra-fast charging speeds, chances are your device will do fine with this 65W charger. This should cover the most popular modern devices, such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 15. You would have to get something very powerful like the ASUS ROG Phone 7 to charge at 65W.

Anker’s compact design means that you can take this wall charger with you on the go. It’s as tiny as wall chargers get. The one downside is that it only has one charging port. It’s a USB-C port, to be exact. Not many users want too many ports, though. If you do, take a look at the other options listed below.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Anker Nano II 65W.

Are you looking for other recommendations? While the Anker Nano II 65W is our top recommendation, keep reading for other choices worth considering.

Other products worth considering

The best wall chargers

• ElecJet X21 GaN Pro: It packs blistering 65W charging speeds and a trio of ports to choose from, all wrapped in a compact GaN design.
• Anker 747 Charger (GaNPrime 150W): An excellent multiport option for those needing to charge three devices simultaneously.
• Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro: Spigen’s GaN wall charger offers solid 20W speeds and is one of the smallest options you’ll find. It’s also more affordable.
• Ugreen Nexode 200W USB-C GaN Charger: This charging hub packs six total ports and enough power to quickly get you back on your feet. It plugs in with an AC cable to keep your devices close at hand.
• ElecJet 45W Super Fast Charger: It’s not easy to find third-party chargers for Samsung’s Super Fast Charge, but this is a great option. The 45W speeds and PD PPS should handle most devices with ease.
• Samsung 45W SuperFast Travel Adapter: Samsung’s proprietary SuperFast adapter is a natural partner for the latest Galaxy devices with a small, travel-ready footprint but a relatively high price.
• Anker 733 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 65W): This wall charger is extraordinary, as it also doubles as a portable battery.
• Anker 521 Power Bank: This wall charger also doubles as a battery pack, but it is much smaller. It can also charge pretty fast!

ElecJet X21 GaN Pro: Great for charging multiple devices

If we could name a second-favorite wall charger, this would be it. The ElecJet X21 GaN Pro simply covers all of the bases, and it offers impressive speeds while doing so. As you can see above, it packs three total ports, which means you can get all your devices back up and running simultaneously. ElecJet’s X21 GaN Pro is a bit expensive, but it opens the door to far more flexibility.

This multiport wall charger tops out at 65W, which makes it an excellent option for everything from smartphones to laptops. The duo of USB-C ports come with USB Power Delivery PPS, and the interchangeable prongs are key for travel. We managed great speeds when using two of the three ports, though tapping into all three can slightly limit your output.

Check out our full review to learn more about the ElecJet X21 GaN Pro.

Anker 747 Charger (GaNPrime 150W): A multiport beast of a wall charger

You will be seeing Anker on the list quite a bit, but the company knows how to build a great wall charger. The Anker 747 Charger is for those who need a high-end multiport charger to juice up many devices simultaneously, and quickly. It comes with four ports, of which three are USB-C connections. The fourth one is a standard USB-A port.

It’s smaller than most chargers that can handle these speeds, thanks to GaN technology. The unit also offers Power IQ 4.0 and Active Shield 2.0 for protection. It’s pricey, but it may be the only wall charger you’ll need. By the way, it can charge even faster at up to 150W!

There’s a one-port version, too. It’s the Anker 717 Charger ($69.99 at Amazon), and it can charge at 140W. It costs $94.99. That said, we feel like if you’re already spending nearly $100 on a charger, you might as well pay $15 more for the Anker 747 and get multiple ports and a bit more speed.

Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro: A pint-sized GaN punch

Spigen may be known first and foremost for its portfolio of phone cases, but it’s not a one-trick pony. This is one of the most compact GaN wall chargers you can get, and it just goes to show how little size truly matters. It packs a single USB-C port with Power Delivery 3.0 and up to 20W speeds. The Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro retails at $29.99, though it’s frequently on sale for around $20.

While you’re probably not going to rush out for the ArcStation Pro to charge all your devices simultaneously, the tiny footprint is the key selling point. It’s easy to cram into a pocket, and the prongs fold for easier storage. Spigen’s GaN construction also helps to keep the ArcStation Pro running cool while you get back to full strength. We managed just about full charging speeds from the Google Pixel 5, Apple iPhone 12 Pro, and Nintendo Switch, though 20W rates won’t be enough for your trusty laptop.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro.

Ugreen Nexode 200W USB-C GaN Charger: The best for the desk

Ugreen is a company less heard of, but everything we’ve seen from it is great. The Ugreen Nexode desktop charger is definitely one of the best wall chargers. This thing is a beast of a multiport charger if you want something for a desk, side table, or any other stationary location.

It has a max output of 200W, and can charge up to 6 devices simultaneously. The base has four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. The first two USB-C ports max out at 100W, and the other four can charge at up to 65W. Meanwhile, the USB-A ports can each output a max of 22.5W.

All of this goodness won’t come cheap, of course. This thing has a $199.99 MSRP. That said, we’ve often seen it discounted to about $130.

ElecJet 45W Super Fast Charger: A great third-party charger for Samsung

It’s not always easy to hunt down a wall charger that can handle Samsung’s 45W Super Fast Charge technology. This pick from ElecJet is one such charger, and it bundles plenty of extras to go with the single USB-C port. You get North American prongs fixed to the back, along with interchangeable European and UK adapters. ElecJet includes a one-meter USB-C to USB-C cable for good measure, in case you’ve left yours behind.

You shouldn’t have much trouble reaching peak 45W speeds, as ElecJet’s wall charger supports both USB PD and USB PD PPS standards. At $24.99 MSRP, this charger is on par with Samsung’s 25W option, yet it achieves much greater speeds. This might be your best bet if you want an affordable wall charger that doesn’t skimp on top speeds.

Check out our full review to learn more about the ElecJet 45W Super Fast Charger.

Samsung 45W Travel Adapter: The best wall charger for Samsung devices

This is the best wall charger if you’re looking for the best Samsung Galaxy charger. It packs 45W of charging power into a small, plastic body, and you get a selection of interchangeable adapters to take on your next trip. Samsung also bundled a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box in case you leave yours behind.

While the single USB-C port can be limiting, Samsung packed plenty of advanced standards into its portable wall charger. It comes ready for USB PD PPS and USB Power Delivery 3.0, which means it can handle iPhones and other devices without issue. You may want another charger for your laptop, though, as the 45W limit takes longer than a 65W option.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung 45W Travel Adapter.

Anker 733 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 65W): A wall charger that doubles as a portable battery

The Anker 733 Power Bank is a true gem. Its main lure is that it can operate as a wall charger and a portable power bank, as it has a 10,000mAh integrated battery. There are two USB-C ports on board, as well as a single USB-A port.

When plugged in, the Anker 733 can charge at up to 65W. This number goes down to 30W when using the unit as a portable battery. Like any other modern Anker charger, it is spec’d with PowerIQ 3.0 and ActiveShield 2.0.

Anker 521 Power Bank

If you like the idea of the Anker 733 Power Bank, but feel like it just isn’t portable enough, you’ll love the Anker 521 power bank. It is much smaller, and comes in various very fun colors. Looks and size aren’t all this charger has going for it, though. This is still one of the best wall chargers around.

The unit comes with two USB-C ports, and it can charge at up to 45W, which is plenty fast for a charger of this size. Additionally, it packs a 5,000mAh battery inside, which means you can use this as a portable battery pack when on the go.

FAQs

Are you looking to ditch traditional chargers? If you have a phone with wireless charging, we also have a list of the best wireless chargers around.