Which unit is best when it comes to getting a grip on charging your phone?
Most of us have a smartphone and know keeping it charged throughout the day is essential. Many phones now have wireless fast-charging capability, which makes getting a suitable phone holder a practical no-brainer. Just pop the phone on to it and charging begins without faffing around with plugs and cables.
While the units will all charge, they may not do so at the same rate, so which will top up your phone while keeping you en route and entertained? We plugged in eight to find out.
How we tested them
Any mount has to be simple to use, so we assessed build quality, ease of fitting and stability on a bumpy road. We wanted a USB 12V adaptor and the more sockets, the better.
Charging was checked using an Android Samsung S10e smartphone, with its 3100mAh battery. Starting with around 50 per cent charge, we first checked no-load charging for 30 minutes, then repeated the test while driving and using a sat-nav app on 4G.
We used the leads and adapter supplied or a 9V USB adaptor if they were not.
Verdict
With similar performance and a better price, the Olixar 15W takes over from our previous pick, the soon-to-be-replaced iOttie. The Choetech made an impressive test debut in third place.
- Olixar 15W Wireless Charging Windscreen & Dash Car Holder
- iOttie Easy One Touch 2 Car Holder & Qi Wireless Charger
- Choetech Wireless Car Charger 10W
Reviews
Olixar 15W Wireless Charging Windscreen & Dash Car Holder
- Price: around £20
- Rating: 5 stars
- Mounting: windscreen/dashboard/air vent
- Contact: mobilefun.co.uk
Even allowing for the cost of a USB adaptor, this was still good value for money. The Olixar charged at 9V for a combined figure of 30 per cent, leaving it not too far off the more expensive iOttie.
We liked the adjustable foot and the automatic electronic closing on to the phone, which opened via a choice of two side buttons. It was very stable when mounted on the windscreen, but the locking mechanism was very tight.
There’s also the option to turn it into a dash-top mount and an adapter for fitting to an air vent, so it covers all bases. A worthy new winner.
Buy now from MobileFun
iOttie Easy One Touch 2 Car Holder & Qi Wireless Charger
- Price: around £50
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Mounting: windscreen/dashboard
- Contact: amazon.co.uk
Although due for replacement this year, the iOttie remains an impressive device. It was consistently stable and easy to read, whether stuck to the windscreen or the dashboard top.
We liked the multi-adjustable, twin-arm system, which gave a great choice of places to position the smartphone.
The price has risen a little, but the iOttie came with a twin-socket USB adaptor and managed a 35-per-cent combined increase in charge. The mechanical locking and unlocking system worked well and was softer than some of the undamped set-ups. The two-year warranty was a bonus.
Buy now from Amazon
Choetech Wireless Car Charger 10W
- Price: around £20
- Rating: 4 stars
- Mounting: windscreen/dashboard
- Contact: box.co.uk
Despite its appealing price and USB to USB-C cable, there was no adapter, which added to the overall cost. The arms had to be pressed manually on to the phone, while a rear-mounted button released them, although quite sharply.
We liked the Choetech’s foot, which prevented the phone slipping when it was installed or released. It charged 13 per cent with no load and 12 per cent when in use. That’s not bad, but put it behind the iOttie despite the price advantage.
With only one arm and a single ball joint, it also wasn’t quite as adjustable as the iOttie or Olixar.
Buy now from Box
Belkin 10W Wireless Car Charger
- Price: around £35
- Rating: 3.5 stars
- Mounting: air vent
- Contact: box.co.uk
The Belkin only attached to an air vent, yet came with a usefully long 1.2-metre USB to USB-C lead and produced a very good combined charge figure of 30 per cent via the twin-socket adapter provided.
It’s good to use too with an automatic opening and closing mechanism for the arms that was released by a button on the side. The Belkin also had an adjustable foot, and the device fitted on to an air vent via a two-position clamp that allowed for the size of the vanes.
While it was not as stable as some rivals, it was the best of the air-vent units we tested.
Buy now from Argos
Xiaomi Mi 20W In-Car Wireless Fast Charger
- Price: around £43
- Rating: 3.5 stars
- Mounting: dashboard/air vent
- Contact: mobilefun.co.uk
The Xiaomi is mainly fitted to air vents, but came with a small stick-on dash mount. Its spring-loaded jaws gripped well, although it wasn’t as stable as a windscreen mount.
The unit’s electronic arms worked well, automatically closing on the phone and opening at the touch of a button, but it’s a shame the foot wasn’t adjustable.
At 33 per cent, the combined charge was one of the best on test and the adapter supplied gave 9 and 5V outputs from its twin sockets.
Buy now from Amazon
Halfords Wireless Charging Holder
- Price: around £16
- Rating: 3.stars
- Mounting: windscreen/dashboard
- Contact: halfords.com
The similarity between this unit and the Pama is obvious, with the charging pad being pretty much identical. This meant the Halfords shared a niggle with the Pama, because it easily tipped back or forth when tapping the top or bottom of the phone.
Unlike the Pama, the Halfords holder used a ball joint to fit to a stick-on bracket, which was very stable, particularly on the windscreen, although it would also stick to a flat dash top.
Performance was similar to the Pama’s, with a combined charging figure of 17 per cent; that wasn’t too shabby, but it was still some way off the best here.
Buy now from Halfords
Pama 10W Universal Qi Wireless Charging Car Vent Holder Grip ‘N’ Go
- Price: around £17
- Rating: 3.stars
- Mounting: air vent
- Contact: mobilefun.co.uk
Charging only at 5V, the Pama’s results were predictably down on the 9V rivals’. Nicely finished in shiny piano black, it had an older-style USB-to-micro-USB lead, but no adapter. An LED light changed from red to blue to indicate it was on and charging.
The Pama clamped to a vent slat and was locked using a plastic wingnut, which meant it was suitable for all vanes. There was no opening mechanism, which made installing and removing the phone an awkward, two-handed job.
Stability wasn’t too bad, but the Pama is showing its age.
Buy now from MobileFun
Scosche 10W MagicMount & Qi Wireless Charge Car Holder
- Price: around £70
- Rating: 3.stars
- Mounting: windscreen/dashboard
- Contact: mobilefun.co.uk
As the name suggests, this charging pad needs no arms, because the phone sticks to the unit magnetically. This meant slotting a steel plate into the phone case, which added a little weight and bulk.
Once on the pad, the phone didn’t move. It’s shorter than most, so its stick-on screen mount held the charging pad securely on the windscreen, while dash mounting is also an option.
At 1.5 metres, the USB-to-micro-USB cable was easily the longest here and its combined charging figure of 34 per cent was very good, up with the best in this test. It’s an impressive holder, but that comes at a price.
Buy now from Amazon
Keyword: Best wireless charger phone holders 2022