Budget Wireless Charger Showdown: 5 Qi Chargers all $11 - $15

[mmmmBACON]

On a related note: are there any of the "rectangle with LED" chargers left on eBay? I can't seem to find them at all. Plenty of the ones without the LED, however.

This is the cheapest I can find for the rectangle, no-LED version: http://www.ebay.com/itm/QI-Wireless...S_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&hash=item58aed62a29

This one looks promising as well, but I can't find any info on it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Qi-Wireless...l_Phone_PDA_Chargers&var=&hash=item54062ab860
It's rubberized and has 4 feet so I suspect it stays a lot cooler.

Sure, here you go. I'll update the OP with this link as well. It's the Rectangle w/LEDs @ $9.13US. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/QI-Wireless-Charging-Pad-Receiver-for-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-N9005-N9000-PA9-/151237254268?pt=US_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&var=&hash=item2336715c7c

I have seen that second one you linked before. I was going to give it a shot but I've got so many Qi chargers I decided not to. I don't think it would stay cooler than the Rectangle w/LEDs though as that Qi charger has built in ventilation with the grill on the underside and the rubber feet as well. But the non slip top is nice. If you want to give that one a shot it should work just as well, it has the standard 1A output.

 

[verywrigley]

Sure, here you go. I'll update the OP with this link as well. It's the Rectangle w/LEDs @ $9.13US.

I have seen that second one you linked before. I was going to give it a shot but I've got so many Qi chargers I decided not to. I don't think it would stay cooler than the Rectangle w/LEDs though as that Qi charger has built in ventilation with the grill on the underside and the rubber feet as well. But the non slip top is nice. If you want to give that one a shot it should work just as well, it has the standard 1A output.

Just to clarify an earlier question I had, mmmmBACON — I have an adapter with 5.1V/2.1A output. The Q8 itself has an input of 5V/2A. Will it be safe to use these two items together despite the 0.1 volt/amp difference?

 

[ANDROIDRAZRM]

Just to clarify an earlier question I had, mmmmBACON — I have an adapter with 5.1V/2.1A output. The Q8 itself has an input of 5V/2A. Will it be safe to use these two items together despite the 0.1 volt/amp difference?

Not him, but I'm sure that's within the tolerance.

 

[mmmmBACON]

Just to clarify an earlier question I had, mmmmBACON — I have an adapter with 5.1V/2.1A output. The Q8 itself has an input of 5V/2A. Will it be safe to use these two items together despite the 0.1 volt/amp difference?

A difference in amperage is no big deal as an AC Adapter does not force/push current, the device pulls what it needs. So if you had a 10A adapter, the Qi charger would still only pull 2A. The AC Adapter just makes that amperage available to use.

The voltage I'm not 100% certain on. A difference of .1v doesn't seem like that much of a problem, but difference in voltage is what can damage electronics. A higher amperage is completely fine. I'm not sure the voltage range that the Qi chargers can accommodate, if there is an accepted variance or if it needs strictly 5v.

So I can't quite answer that question. Amps is fine, voltage I'm not sure. You might want to check with someone else on that part.

 

[ynrozturk]

Yeah my Q8 (red LED) isn't that great, either. It needs to be placed perfectly or something. Not only that but when I put it on sometimes it will just beep like 4-5 times for no reason, and I'll have to reposition it. For $10 or so I guess it could be worse, but meh. I'd rather get 2 pints of Guinness for that money.

 

[mmmmBACON]

Yeah my Q8 (red LED) isn't that great, either. It needs to be placed perfectly or something. Not only that but when I put it on sometimes it will just beep like 4-5 times for no reason, and I'll have to reposition it. For $10 or so I guess it could be worse, but meh. I'd rather get 2 pints of Guinness for that money.

No I agree. $10 is still $10. It's unfortunate they changed the Qi charger and it is not as good. My Q8 with the blue LED still works perfectly. I've already taken the link out of the OP for the Q8 as there is no point having it there if it is no longer the same one I have.

You are powering it well though right? A good AC Adapter and USB cable, or something like the Blackberry folding blade?

 

[ynrozturk]

No I agree. $10 is still $10. It's unfortunate they changed the Qi charger and it is not as good. My Q8 with the blue LED still works perfectly. I've already taken the link out of the OP for the Q8 as there is no point having it there if it is no longer the same one I have.

You are powering it well though right? A good AC Adapter and USB cable, or something like the Blackberry folding blade?

Now that you mention it, I've only tried it with the stock USB cable it came with, running into my laptops USB 2.0 port, and suddenly I feel very silly. I'll bring this thing home and run it through a proper outlet.

Wow.. how embarrassing.

 

[mmmmBACON]

Now that you mention it, I've only tried it with the stock USB cable it came with, running into my laptops USB 2.0 port, and suddenly I feel very silly. I'll bring this thing home and run it through a proper outlet.

Wow.. how embarrassing.

Yeah, first try using a better USB cable. The included one is most likely garbage as most included USB cables are. Also make sure you are using a good AC Adapter that has equal or higher output than the 1.5A input requirement of the Qi charger. If you don't have a powerful enough AC Adapter, I mentioned previously, the Blackberry folding blade chargers are very cheap and power Qi chargers very well. They're also good at wired charging your phone very quickly if you need to as well.

But yeah, if there is no improvement using a better USB cable/AC Adapter, or something like the Blackberry charger, then the Qi charger is probably just not very good.

 

[ynrozturk]

Yeah, first try using a better USB cable. The included one is most likely garbage as most included USB cables are. Also make sure you are using a good AC Adapter that has equal or higher output than the 1.5A input requirement of the Qi charger. If you don't have a powerful enough AC Adapter, I mentioned previously, the Blackberry folding blade chargers are very cheap and power Qi chargers very well. They're also good at wired charging your phone very quickly if you need to as well.

But yeah, if there is no improvement using a better USB cable/AC Adapter, or something like the Blackberry charger, then the Qi charger is probably just not very good.

Just to make it known, it's the same crap, even with a proper cable and charger. I guess the new ones aren't as good as the older versions.

 

[ANDROIDRAZRM]

Heads up!

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/ac...are&siteId=lw9MynSeamY-e0aS9z2_Xeh7qUlvy2qpuQ

I don't know how long this deal will last, but this is definitely going to replace my dysfunctional Q8. $5.50 after tax for me, hard to beat.

edit: ...aaaaand it's sold out. Hopefully someone was able to grab one, I was able to get two.

double-edit: back on!

 

[pkelly517]

Heads up!

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/ac...are&siteId=lw9MynSeamY-e0aS9z2_Xeh7qUlvy2qpuQ

I don't know how long this deal will last, but this is definitely going to replace my dysfunctional Q8. $5.50 after tax for me, hard to beat.


...aaaaand it's sold out. Hopefully someone was able to grab one, I was able to get two.

Got 4. $16 and change after discount and tax.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

 

[dspcap]

Got 4. $16 and change after discount and tax.

Sent from my Nexus using Tapatalk

and those of us late to the party got none

 

[mmmmBACON]

and those of us late to the party got none

Not even available to anyone outside the US. So it's pretty much a non deal for damn near everyone anyway.

 

[DizzC]

Just thought I would share my two cents.

My Q8 is a bust just like everyone else who got the red led version. Getting a max charge rate of about 350ma with the blackberry blade charger. Also I agree with other users about it being really finicky about placement. I have to put it on just perfectly before it's starts charging. The extra time it takes really defeats a lot of the convenience of having a wireless charger.

I'm also surprised at how cheap it feels. It's extremely light and the plastic looks terrible. Mine even came with a bunch of scratches on it after pulling off the plastic.

Can't believe I waited a month for this to arrive. Going to have to decide which qi charger to try next.

In case anyone is curious this is what the internals look like.

 

[DrErect]

Just thought I would share my two cents.

My Q8 is a bust just like everyone else who got the red led version. Getting a max charge rate of about 350ma with the blackberry blade charger. Also I agree with other users about it being really finicky about placement. I have to put it on just perfectly before it's starts charging. The extra time it takes really defeats a lot of the convenience of having a wireless charger.

I'm also surprised at how cheap it feels. It's extremely light and the plastic looks terrible. Mine even came with a bunch of scratches on it after pulling off the plastic.

Can't believe I waited a month for this to arrive. Going to have to decide which qi charger to try next.

In case anyone is curious this is what the internals look like.

It's a real hassle with the nexus 7. At times the led light turns blue which indicates its charging, but I have to go under battery and check it's actually charging. Not sure if it's only me or me being really clumsy.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[mmmmBACON]

Just thought I would share my two cents.

My Q8 is a bust just like everyone else who got the red led version. Getting a max charge rate of about 350ma with the blackberry blade charger. Also I agree with other users about it being really finicky about placement. I have to put it on just perfectly before it's starts charging. The extra time it takes really defeats a lot of the convenience of having a wireless charger.

I'm also surprised at how cheap it feels. It's extremely light and the plastic looks terrible. Mine even came with a bunch of scratches on it after pulling off the plastic.

Can't believe I waited a month for this to arrive. Going to have to decide which qi charger to try next.

In case anyone is curious this is what the internals look like.

I just took my Blue LED Q8 from the OP (that works fantastically) apart to see how mine looks in comparison. It's completely different.

Clearly somewhere along the way, they switched up how they built it. Mine has 2 separate circuit boards for the Qi coil and the microUSB input. The coil is better attached with better protection, and there is additional protection from the bottom casing as well.

 

[DizzC]

I just took my Blue LED Q8 from the OP (that works fantastically) apart to see how mine looks in comparison. It's completely different.

Clearly somewhere along the way, they switched up how they built it. Mine has 2 separate circuit boards for the Qi coil and the microUSB input. The coil is better attached with better protection, and there is additional protection from the bottom casing as well.

Wow, what a difference in build quality. Can't believe how shoddy mine looks in comparison to yours. I would be more upset but I guess it was only $10.

 

[mmmmBACON]

Wow, what a difference in build quality. Can't believe how shoddy mine looks in comparison to yours. I would be more upset but I guess it was only $10.

I do kind of feel bad though. A lot of people bought it based on my placing it at the top of the list of chargers I tested. I had no idea they would switch it up like that...

 

[puska]

I also get the one with red led and mine put out 680 with BlackBerry 1.8A charger

So I guess it all depends

 

[Rashman78]

Higher Range?

mmmBacon, thanks so much for the analysis. I have been using one of the rectangle w/ LED chargers and am very happy with it. I like the convenience of not having to fumble around for a cord in the dark when my wife is asleep (I use Tasker to automatically turn my phone to silent mode during sleeping hours when I am at home, so as to avoid the phone beeping when it begins charging).

It seems that the Qi standard was updated some time ago (I am a new member and therefore cannot link to the various articles on this) to support up to a 40 mm charging distance, but most of the devices in this thread seem to be more of the old 5mm range variety (or in some cases with your paper stack tests, up to 8-9mm). Do you or anyone else know of any chargers that support the newer standard and higher range? I ask because I'm very intrigued by the projects I've seen where people have installed the chargers into their nightstands (again I can't link, but search youtube for qi nightstand), but I'd like to avoid potentially destroying my furniture if I make a mistake. The top layer of my nightstand is only about a centimeter thick, so I'm hoping I can find a charger that can be affixed to the underside of it, inside of a small top drawer.

Thanks for all the info and insight!