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iPhone Fold: Everything we know about Apple’s Ultra foldable

Posted on August 29, 2026 by faz_business

Apple takes its sweet time adopting a new trend or technology, but when it does, it delivers one of the best implementations ever. That’s exactly what everyone is expecting from the company’s first foldable. Call it the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra, the Cupertino giant has more riding on this launch than perhaps any product launched in the last few years, and it could break cover later this year.

Apple has since confirmed its September 9, 2026 event date, with the tagline “Surprise and shine,” and sent invitations on August 26. The ‘surprise’ in the tagline could be a hint about the foldable iPhone. We’re now just days away from the iPhone Ultra’s expected reveal, and here’s everything you need to know about it.

iPhone Fold / Ultra: At a glance

Specification	Details
Name	iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra	Apple yet to confirm the official name
Release date	Should be September 9, 2026	Availability possibly October–December 2026
Starting price	$1,999–$2,500	256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage options rumored
Form factor	Book-style fold (horizontal)	Similar to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold but with a wider aspect ratio when unfolded
Inner display	~7.76–7.8 inches, OLED	4:3 aspect ratio; near iPad mini-sized when unfolded
Outer display	~5.3–5.5 inches, OLED	Usable as a standard iPhone when folded
Crease	Near-invisible	Apple reportedly pursued elimination “regardless of cost”
Chip	A20 or A20 Pro	Based on expected September 2026 launch timeline
Biometrics	Side-mounted Touch ID	Face ID likely dropped to save internal space
Cameras	Dual rear (main + ultrawide), no telephoto	One front camera on inner display; one on outer display
Battery	5,000–5,500 mAh	Largest ever on an iPhone, per Weibo leakers
Frame material	Titanium and aluminum	Could use liquid metal hinge

iPhone Fold / Ultra: Latest News

August 26, 2026: Apple confirms its September 9 event.
August 24, 2026: Luxury customizer Caviar unveils several custom “iPhone Ultra” editions, priced from $13,840 to $18,840, months before Apple’s own official reveal.
July 11, 2026: A leaked regulatory filing suggests the iPhone Ultra uses a dual-cell battery (1,921mAh + 2,962mAh) totaling ~4,883mAh.
July 6, 2026: Apple reportedly raises its foldable production target to around 10 million units for the year, per Nikkei Asia; IDC pegs the average selling price at $2,500.
June 16, 2026: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple is already developing a second-generation foldable, codenamed V78, for a 2027 release alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
May 26, 2026: A report by Letem světem Applem (via PhoneArena) shows the purported iPhone Ultra inside a protective case, revealing almost everything about the phone’s design.
May 26, 2026: A claim from Instant Digital (via Weibo) suggests that Apple is facing problems in improving manufacturing yields during the pre-assembly process. The issue is related to Surface Mount Technology (SMT).
May 19, 2026: Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (via Weibo) shares that Apple could adopt a similar crease-free solution as Oppo Find N6.
May 16, 2026: Chinese tipster Instant Digital (via Weibo) claims that Apple has achieved a visually crease-free foldable display with “long-term stability.” The core problem, however, is improving the hinge reliability.
May 11, 2026: A report from MacRumors states that the first foldable iPhone could arrive in just two colors at launch.
May 6, 2026: A Weibo post from the tipster Instant Digital claims that Apple’s first foldable could be easier to open and repair compared to other foldables on the market.
April 27, 2026: Apple has reportedly locked in the ‘iPhone Ultra’ name for its first-ever folding iPhone, alongside a MacBook Ultra, which could be the first-of-its-kind touchscreen OLED MacBook.
April 26, 2026: Renders shared by a Korean tipster yeux1122 (via Naver) suggest that the iPhone Fold could have a folded body thickness of 9.23mm, slimmer than what initial rumors suggested (roughly 9.6mm).
April 21, 2026: Chinese tipster Instant Digital (via Weibo) claims that the iPhone Fold could come with the Camera Control button.
April 7, 2026: After rumors about Apple hitting a development snag with the foldable, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pushed back by reinstating the September launch window.
March 21, 2026: Fresh rumor suggested that the iPhone Fold might not start shipping until December 2026, three months after its initial showcase at the September 2026 launch event.
March 16, 2026: Given that the device will run on iOS, and not iPadOS, it might miss out on some of the most popular apps or the advanced multitasking features built for iPads.

When will Apple release the iPhone Fold?

One of the most credible sources of information for upcoming Apple products, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, remains confident that the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold is on schedule for a September 2026 launch, at the company’s most important fall hardware event, which has also become one of the most important events in the consumer tech industry.

As mentioned earlier, Apple has confirmed its September 9 launch event. Although the devices haven’t been confirmed yet, we could see the iPhone Ultra join the two iPhone 18 Pro models at launch.

Apple has spent years watching from the sidelines, as Samsung, Google, and a couple of other Chinese companies reveal their foldables, and it wouldn’t risk revealing its first foldable through a separate event, one that might not have as much awareness or gather as much attention as its iconic fall event.

I believe the iPhone Ultra could be the last announcement, after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max reveal.

On the flip side, analyst Tim Long has flagged that shipments for the iPhone Fold might not begin until December 2026, implying the announcement and arrival could be separated by almost three months and corroborating a report by Nikkei Asia about Apple hitting development snags with the foldable related to engineering problems.

More recent reporting suggests the bigger risk is a staggered international rollout. Some supply chain sources claim that Apple might keep the iPhone Ultra US-only at launch. Buyers in other markets might have to wait a couple of months before getting their hands on it.

Date	Rumored milestone	Status
Sep 9, 2026	Announcement alongside iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max	Confirmed
Sep 2026	U.S. availability	Likely
Oct–Dec 2026	Wider international rollout, potentially staggered by region	Likely
2027	Full launch pushed due to engineering failures	Now unlikely — production has reportedly been raised to 10 million units, suggesting confidence in the September timeline

I think it makes sense, and for one good reason. Releasing the foldable iPhone about three months after the regular iPhone 18 Pro models ship would give customers and Apple stores a chance to catch their breath, and, at the same time, create more hype for the foldable. It would also let people decide whether to spend a fortune on an iPhone that folds in half or settle for the Pro or Pro Max.

How much will the iPhone Fold cost?

On pricing, sources largely agree: the iPhone Fold won’t be cheap, not by a long shot. Ming-Chi Kuo places the starting price between $2,000 and $2,500, a range that Gurman seems to agree with. However, we’ve also heard rumors that the starting price could be less than $2,000.

I believe a $1,999 starting price could be the sweet spot: high enough to reflect the technology but just below the psychologically daunting $2,000 ceiling.

A recent research firm, IDC, now expects an average selling price closer to $2,500, with top-storage configurations reaching $3,000 (via 9To5Mac). Apple has reportedly raised its production target to around 10 million units for the year, up from earlier estimates of 7–8 million.

Storage	Rumored price	Source
256GB	~$1,999–$2,320	Gurman / Kuo: “at least $2,000” Instant Digital (Weibo): ~$2,320
512GB	~$2,500–$2,610	Kuo upper estimate: ~$2,500 Instant Digital (Weibo): ~$2,610
1TB	~$2,900	Instant Digital (Weibo) only No corroboration from other sources

One genuinely new and useful comparison point: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra officially launched on August 7, 2026, at $2,099.99. That gives the iPhone Ultra’s expected $1,999–$2,500 range actual competitive context for the first time.

Design and display

Apple’s first foldable iPhone will follow a book-style foldable, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. However, unlike them, the iPhone won’t go after a tall-and-narrow design. Instead, it is believed to sport a wider form factor that looks like an iPad mini when unfolded.

The dummy models Sonny Dickson shared on X in April 2026 make this immediately apparent. Both the cover screen and inner screen are noticeably broader than existing book-style foldables; Apple is clearly charting its own way.

iPhone Fold technical drawing showing dimensions — yeux1122 / Naver

iPhone Fold inner screen. — yeux1122 / Naver

Pixel 11 introduces a new way for deaf users to communicate with people who don’t know sign language

Posted on August 12, 2026 by faz_business

Google’s new Pixel 11 series devices bring more than just hardware upgrades. One of the lineup’s most interesting new features is designed to break down the communication barrier between deaf and hard-of-hearing users and those who don’t know sign language.

Pixel Camera can now turn sign language into text

Google has introduced a new sign-to-text accessibility feature that uses the Pixel Camera to recognize sign language and automatically convert it into text, so users can sign as they normally would instead of stopping to type a response. Google says the goal is to turn the phone from a one-way listening tool into one that supports natural, two-way conversation during spontaneous, face-to-face interactions.

SL2T is our breakthrough sign language-to-text model powering new features for Deaf and hard of hearing users on @Android.

Starting with American Sign Language-to-English on Pixel 11, people can sign directly into Gboard and Live Transcribe instead of typing. pic.twitter.com/p9Vx7tJtLT

— Google DeepMind (@GoogleDeepMind) August 12, 2026

The feature runs on a new AI model called sign-language-to-text (SL2T), built by Google DeepMind, which the company says marks a breakthrough in translating sign language at scale. Once the Pixel Camera captures a user signing, the model translates it, and Gboard converts it into text anywhere someone would normally type, including web searches, messages, documents, and Gemini queries.

At launch, the feature supports American Sign Language to English translations on the Pixel 11 series, with Google saying more languages and support for additional devices will follow.

Built with privacy and real-world signing in mind

To protect privacy, the system tracks the location points on a signer’s body on-device instead of analyzing raw video, sending only those coordinates to Google’s servers for translation before discarding the original camera feed. Google DeepMind says the model was trained on more than 100,000 hours of data across more than 50 sign languages, and that it specifically tested performance for left-handed signers, who make up about 10 percent of users, and for one-handed signing, common when someone is holding the phone in their other hand.

The company says the model scored higher on a standard sign language translation benchmark than any previous system, though it hasn’t published data on how it performs in less controlled settings, poor lighting, or fast, casual conversation.

Translating sign language is a fundamentally different problem than translating speech, since sign languages have their own independent grammar and vocabulary instead of word-for-word mapping. An estimated 70 million deaf and hard-of-hearing people worldwide use sign language, and Google DeepMind says this marks the first time sign language AI at this scale has reached a consumer product. Whether SL2T holds up in fast, everyday signing, rather than the benchmark conditions Google has published so far, will determine if it becomes a genuine communication tool or another AI feature that undersells its own demo.

The Pixel 11 is almost here, but I’m more excited about what could come with it

Posted on August 7, 2026 by faz_business

It’s August, which means one thing if you follow smartphones even remotely closely: new Pixels are almost here. Google is holding its next Made by Google event on August 12, and this year, we’re expecting another packed lineup of phones. The Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold are all expected to take the stage. Yes, that’s the same four-phone lineup Google gave us last year, but the interesting part will obviously be what’s changing underneath. Between the usual camera improvements, new hardware, and whatever AI tricks Google has been cooking up, there should be plenty to talk about.

And the phones may only be part of the story. Google is expected to have a few more announcements up its sleeve, making this one of its biggest hardware events of the year. So, if you’re planning to tune in, here’s when the Made by Google event starts, how you can watch it, and everything we expect Google to announce.

Google’s Pixels are getting their glow on

First up, and probably the reason most people will be tuning in, is the Pixel 11 series. At this point, though, Google may not have many surprises left to pull out of its pocket. The phones have leaked extensively over the past few months, and if those leaks are accurate, anyone hoping for a dramatic redesign might want to temper their expectations. From everything we’ve seen so far, Google appears to be sticking with the design language it established with the Pixel 10 family. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing — I quite like the current Pixel look. Still, the Pixel 11 series probably won’t be one of those upgrades you can immediately identify from across the room. There is one addition that could make it stand out, though. Google has already teased a new light built into the camera bar, reportedly called HiLight or Pixel Glow. It appears to borrow its look from Gemini’s rainbow-like visual language, potentially lighting up while you’re interacting with Gemini or waiting for the AI to finish thinking. But I’m much more curious about what Google does with it beyond AI. Imagine different colors appearing for notifications, charging status, timers, or even incoming calls. If Google gives developers access to it, that little light could end up being far more useful for users.

The bigger changes should be happening inside. Google’s new Tensor G6 chip is expected to power the Pixel 11 lineup, replacing the Tensor G5 from last year. A faster processor is always welcome, but raw performance isn’t really what I’m interested in here. After using recent Pixels extensively, I want to see how the G6 behaves when you’re actually pushing the phone — shooting photos and videos, navigating on mobile data, jumping between apps, or simply using it outside on a hot afternoon. Better thermal management would mean much more to me than another impressive-looking benchmark score. Battery life and charging are equally high on my list. Samsung has finally started embracing silicon-carbon battery technology and faster charging with its Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, so I’d love to see Google make similar progress rather than playing things safe for another generation. A phone can have all the AI features in the world, but none of them are particularly exciting when you’re hunting for a charger halfway through the day. Then there’s the price. Android Headlines has reported that the Pixel 11 Pro could start at $1,099 in the US and €1,199 in Europe. If accurate, that would make the US model $100 more expensive than the Pixel 10 Pro, which launched at $999. The reported colors are Dune, Light Fog, Midnight Haze, and Pine, although those names apparently aren’t finalized yet. Still, with Google’s event only days away, I wouldn’t treat any leaked pricing or naming as gospel. We won’t have to wait much longer to find out what the Pixel 11 series actually costs — and, more importantly, whether Google has done enough this year to justify paying more for one.

Finally, a Pixel for your keys

Next up is easily the announcement I’m most excited about: the Pixel Tag. Google has somehow gone this long without making its own Bluetooth tracker, but if the recent leak spotted by 9to5Google is accurate, that could finally change at this year’s event. And honestly, it’s about time. Apple has had AirTags for years, Samsung has its SmartTag lineup with a third-generation model reportedly on the way, while Pixel owners have largely had to rely on third-party trackers. A proper Pixel Tag could finally fill that rather obvious hole in Google’s hardware ecosystem.

The leaked tracker has an oblong design and is expected to work with Google’s Find Hub network, which would allow nearby Android devices to help locate something you’ve lost anonymously. The feature I’m really hoping makes the cut, though, is Ultra-Wideband. That could give the Pixel Tag much more precise directional finding when you’re close to a lost item — the kind of experience that makes hunting for keys buried somewhere around the house considerably less annoying. There is one slightly amusing design choice, however. The Pixel Tag reportedly won’t have a built-in lanyard hole, meaning Google could follow Apple’s approach of making you use a separate accessory if you want to attach one to your keys or bag. Samsung’s rumored Galaxy SmartTag 3 is apparently heading in the same direction, too. So it’s quite clear that Bluetooth trackers have collectively decided that holes are no longer fashionable. Still, if Google gets the fundamentals right — particularly UWB tracking and tight integration with Find Hub — the Pixel Tag could be one of the smallest announcements at the event, but potentially one of the most useful.

Google’s little circle gets a bigger brain

Of course, it wouldn’t really feel like a Made by Google hardware event without a new Pixel Watch showing up, and this year, that should be the Pixel Watch 5. Visually, Google doesn’t appear to be tearing up the rulebook, but the upgrades happening underneath could be much more interesting. Battery life is the first thing I’ll be watching. The Pixel Watch 5 is expected to squeeze slightly larger batteries into both sizes, which is always welcome on something you’re supposed to wear all day, track workouts with, sleep in, and somehow still have enough juice left for the next morning. It’s also rumored to use a faster version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, which should hopefully make everyday interactions feel quicker and smoother.

Storage could get a surprisingly big bump, too. Rumors point to the Pixel Watch 5 offering twice as much storage as its predecessor. That might sound excessive for a watch, but it starts making more sense when you consider how heavily Google is leaning into Gemini Intelligence. With Wear OS 7 pushing smartwatches toward becoming more contextually aware and capable of handling tasks on your behalf, that extra room could eventually become quite useful. As for the hardware itself, the familiar 41mm and 45mm sizes are expected to stick around, along with the same IP68 dust and water resistance and 5ATM rating. So, if you already like the circular Pixel Watch design, Google apparently sees very little reason to mess with it. Pricing could remain familiar as well. According to GSMArena, the 41mm Pixel Watch 5 is expected to start at $399, with LTE adding another $100, while the larger 45mm model could begin at $429.

But wait, Google might not be done

Those are the announcements I’d put firmly at the top of the list, but Google could still have a couple of surprises waiting in the wings. And this is where things get a little more interesting. Earlier this year, Google confirmed that it was working on a new generation of laptops that would bring Android and ChromeOS much closer together. We haven’t heard much about the project since, but Google previously pointed to a fall launch, which puts us awfully close to that window. I’m not necessarily expecting Google to roll out a laptop on stage on August 12, but a teaser, a name, or even a proper look at what it has been building certainly wouldn’t feel out of place. The interesting bit is that these so-called Googlebooks aren’t expected to replace Chromebooks. Instead, they could sit above them as a more premium option, built around a unified operating system and much tighter integration with Android phones.

Then there are smart glasses, because apparently every tech company has looked at Meta’s Ray-Bans and decided our faces are the next great computing platform. Samsung has already given us a glimpse of its own plans, and Google has been steadily building toward Android XR glasses as well. That makes the Made by Google stage a pretty tempting place to show them off again. I wouldn’t necessarily count on being able to buy a pair immediately, but a fresh demo or even a launch window would be enough to get my attention. And that’s what makes this event particularly interesting. We already have a pretty good idea of what’s coming from the Pixel 11 family, but it’s the things Google hasn’t spent the past few months leaking all over the internet that could end up providing the biggest surprises.

How to watch Google’s August 12 showcase?

All of that sounds exciting, but there’s one rather important detail left: how do you actually watch Google announce everything? Google is doing things a little differently this year — Google will share its announcements earlier in the day before holding the Made by Google show later that evening.

The event takes place on August 12 at 3 PM PT, and you’ll be able to watch the entire thing live on YouTube. So, whether you’re here for the Pixel 11 series, desperately waiting for the Pixel Tag like I am, or simply curious to see whether Google has a surprise tucked away for the end, you can tune in and watch everything unfold in real time. And considering how much hardware could be on the table this year, it might be worth sticking around until the very last announcement.

Google Contacts borrows a handy iPhone trick to make sharing your number easier

Posted on July 17, 2026 by faz_business

Google is rolling out a small but useful update to the Contacts app on Android that makes it much easier to find and share your own contact details. Instead of digging through settings or creating a separate contact for yourself, you’ll now see a dedicated ‘Your Info’ card at the very top of your contacts list.

The feature gives you quick access to your phone number, email addresses, and other personal details while also adding a faster way to share them with others. The update is arriving with Google Contacts version 4.83.13.940538822 and is rolling out widely (via 9to5Google).

What does the new ‘Your Info’ card do?

Tapping into the Your Info card pulls up your profile picture, phone numbers, email addresses, and any other details you have chosen to add. If your device has a number tied to it, that one gets labeled as your device number and automatically appears first in the list. Right next to your info sits a dedicated share button, letting you send your contact card as a VCard file to anyone who needs it.

You also get to pick exactly what information shows up before sharing, so you are never forced to hand over more than you intend to. By default, only your device number gets shared automatically, keeping the rest of your details private unless you choose otherwise.

Why does this update feel familiar?

If this setup sounds a lot like something you have seen before, that is because it basically is. iPhone users have had a nearly identical feature for years, called My Card, which also sits at the top of the Contacts app for quick access

This follows Google’s earlier rollout of the Calling Card feature, which lets you personalize how your own contact photo and name appear during calls. Google has also published a support page explaining how the feature works as it rolls out to more Android users.

I’ve tried nearly every iOS 27 feature, and these 3 are why I’m still excited about the update

Posted on June 20, 2026 by faz_business

It’s been a little over a week since Apple’s WWDC keynote, and the iOS 27 beta is already out in the wild. While Apple spent plenty of time talking about its Gemini-powered Siri, the thing I was most excited about was getting the update onto my iPhone 16e and seeing what it was actually like to live with.

I’ve been using the beta every day since then, and one thing has become pretty clear: not every new feature lived up to the hype for me. Some felt more interesting during the announcement than they do in everyday use, while others simply haven’t found a place in my routine. But a few features have been the complete opposite. They’re the ones I’ve found myself returning to again and again without even thinking about it. After spending more than a week with iOS 27, these are the three features that have stood out the most — and the biggest reason I’m still excited about this update.

The fitness app finally feels like a fitness app

I’m a bit of a fitness nerd. Whether it’s squeezing in a workout after a long day or making sure I close my Activity rings, I’m always keeping an eye on my progress. That’s why the Fitness app is one of the apps I use the most on my iPhone, and honestly, I’ve felt for a while that it deserved a refresh. The old design wasn’t bad by any means. It was clean, familiar, and easy to navigate. But it also felt a little static, especially compared to modern fitness apps that do a much better job of making your workout data feel engaging and meaningful. There was plenty of information there, but not always in the most exciting way.

The redesigned workout experience in iOS 27 changes that. Everything feels better organized, and the information I care about is much easier to spot at a glance. More importantly, the app finally feels built around the workout itself rather than just a place to store data. For example, I went on a 10km run this morning, and one of the first things I noticed afterward was how prominently my route map was displayed. Instead of digging through menus to find it, the map was right there, front and center. It reminded me of a presentation you’d expect from dedicated fitness apps like Strava. This isn’t the biggest change in iOS 27, but it makes reviewing a workout feel far more rewarding. That’s really what I like about the redesign. The Fitness app finally feels more alive. Rather than simply showing me numbers and charts, it does a better job of highlighting the moments and milestones that make working out feel satisfying.

The cleanup tool finally cleaned up its act

I never thought I’d be talking about photo editing tools as one of my favorite parts of iOS 27, but here we are. The updated Cleanup tool and the new Reframe feature have genuinely made me spend more time editing photos directly on my iPhone 16e. And honestly, that’s saying something. Before this update, Apple’s Cleanup tool was one of those features I wanted to like but rarely used. Compared to the object-removal tools on Pixel and Samsung phones, it often struggled with anything more complex than a simple background distraction. The results were hit-or-miss, and most of the time I’d rather leave the photo alone than risk making it look worse. Thankfully, that has changed.

Over the past week, I’ve used Cleanup on everything from random objects in the background to people accidentally walking into a shot, and the results have been surprisingly good. One example that genuinely impressed me was when I tried removing a book that was partially covering my face in a photo. I expected the tool to either leave behind a blurry mess or distort my face. Instead, it removed the book cleanly and reconstructed the missing area so well that it looked like the book had never been there in the first place.

For the first time, Apple’s Cleanup tool feels reliable enough that I actually want to use it. The new Reframe feature is interesting for a different reason. Using generative AI, it can virtually adjust the framing of a photo after it’s been taken, giving you a little more flexibility if you didn’t quite nail the shot. I don’t see myself reaching for it every day, but that’s okay. It feels more like a feature you’ll appreciate when you need it, rather than one you’ll use constantly. And that’s what I like about both additions. One solves a problem I run into regularly, while the other serves as a safety net for moments when a photo isn’t quite framed the way I want.

Every “what is that?” now has an answer

Of all the new AI-powered additions in iOS 27, on-screen awareness is probably the one I’ve used the most. And yes, the moment you hear about it, you’ll probably think, “Wait, isn’t this just Circle to Search?” Honestly, that’s not a bad comparison. Circle to Search is easily one of my favorite features on my Google Pixel 10a. I use it all the time. If I’m scrolling through Pinterest and spot a chair I’d love to buy, I can instantly search for it. If I’m watching a YouTube video and notice a pair of sneakers someone is wearing, I can quickly find out what they are. Sometimes I’ll come across a landmark in a travel reel, a gadget in a review video, or even an unfamiliar dish in a food post, and Circle to Search gives me answers in seconds without forcing me to switch apps or start a new search from scratch.

That’s the same reason I’ve grown to like on-screen awareness on the iPhone. Instead of manually copying text, taking screenshots, or opening Safari to search for something, I can simply ask Siri about what’s currently on my screen. For example, while reading an article, I used it to learn more about a company mentioned in the article. When browsing online stores, I used it to identify products and compare them with similar options. I even found myself using it while planning a trip after spotting a location in a social media post and wanting to learn more about it. What makes the feature feel useful is that it understands both the visual and textual information on your screen. Siri can analyze what you’re looking at and use that context to answer questions or help you take action. Apple is also opening this up to developers through dedicated APIs, allowing apps to expose relevant information that Siri can understand and interact with. This feature removes a lot of tiny bits of friction throughout the day. And those are often the features that turn out to be the most valuable.

A week later, these are still my favorites

I’m still spending time with iOS 27 on my iPhone 16e, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past week, it’s that the best features aren’t always the ones that are advertised. Sometimes they’re the smaller additions that become part of your daily routine. For me, that’s exactly what happened with these three features. Whether it’s the refreshed Fitness app making my workout data more enjoyable to revisit, the improved Cleanup tool saving photos I would’ve otherwise ignored, or on-screen awareness helping me find information without jumping between apps, they’ve all earned a place in my everyday use.

There’s still plenty of iOS 27 left for me to explore, and I’m sure I’ll discover more favorites as I continue using the beta. But if you’re wondering which features have stood out after a week of real-world use, these are the ones I’d point to first.

The Best 3-in-1 Apple Charging Stations After Testing Top Models

Posted on June 6, 2026 by faz_business

Best 2-in-1 Chargers

Zens

Nightstand Charger Pro 2

With a weighty base, an adjustable Qi2/MagSafe charging pad, and a fold-out Apple Watch charger around the back, this Zens 2-in-1 is ideal for folks with an iPhone and Apple Watch. The Apple Watch pad folds out of the back, tucking your watch out of sight and allowing room for the strap to droop. The pad works great with StandBy mode. You can also fold the pad flat and charge AirPods or other phones if you need to, just not at the same time as your iPhone. Sadly, this has a barrel port for the provided cable and charger (USB-C would be better), the Apple Watch charger can be a little stiff and tricky to fold out, and it’s pricey, but I love the quality, look, and feel.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Belkin

UltraCharge 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger (Qi2 25W)

Belkin’s UltraCharge 2-in-1 unseats our previous favorite, the BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1, which is still a great option. However, the latest model features Qi2 25W charging support to charge compatible devices even faster. It also has a folding design, allowing you to take it with you on the go, but it also works great as a permanent charger for your desk or nightstand. Over on the back, there’s a spot to place AirPods or any wireless earbuds with wireless charging. What’s also great is the spare USB-C port—you can pop in a cable to charge your Apple Watch at 5 watts (or another device); it just won’t charge very fast. (Belkin also has a 3-in-1 version of this model if you want a dedicated spot for the Apple Watch.) Best of all, Belkin includes a very compact 45-watt power adapter and a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is better than many other wireless chargers that cost more. It’s a nifty little thing, and looks great in blue. —Julian Chokkattu

iOttie Velox Duo for $33: This was our 2-in-1 pick for a while. The black-and-gold combo looks great, the magnet is strong, and there’s a weighted base. On the downside, it only charges iPhones at up to 7.5 watts. The permanently attached USB-C cable is a good length, but you do have to provide a wall adapter.

More 3-in-1 Chargers to Consider

We have tested several other 3-in-1 Apple charging stations. Here are a few we liked:

A mobile phone smart watch and case of earbuds on a multipronged stand on top of a wooden nightstand

Noco X Grid XDS3 for $130: Well-made, with an eye-catching design, this 3-in-1 charger has a wide base that’s great for stability. It’s easy to remove your iPhone one-handed too, though it does have a relatively large footprint. It’s a bit bulky to travel with. You can stick your Qi2 phone to the pad in portrait or landscape, and the large bottom 5W pad is suitable for AirPods or even a second phone. It supports Apple Watch fast charging, but I didn’t like the way my Apple Watch tended to tilt to one side, and the charging pad positions are fixed (you can’t change the angle). You get the adapter, generous 6.5-foot braided USB-C cable, though, and plug adapters for different countries in the box.

Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe for $100: Twelve South’s 3-in-1 is an elegant wireless charger for the nightstand and gives the iPhone plenty of breathing room to rotate it to landscape mode and take advantage of StandBy. I like that the iPhone charger can swivel up and down. On the base is a fast charger for the Apple Watch that you can flip up, and the back has a spot for the AirPods or another wireless earbuds case. It’s nice and weighty and doesn’t slide around easily. It comes with a proprietary, removable charging cable, along with a charging brick, and international plug adapters for the US, UK, EU, and AU.

Image may contain Wood Furniture Table Hardwood Smoke Pipe and Electronics

Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station for $150: Sporting a tree design similar to our top pick from Belkin, the very latest Qi2 25W charging, fast Apple Watch charging, active cooling, and an interactive display, this is perhaps the most feature-packed 3-in-1 charger on the market. You can connect via Bluetooth and configure in the app to set wallpapers for the clock, schedule night mode to dim the display and turn off the cooling, and track your charging stats in a table. I’m just not sure it’s worth the premium. The finicky touch display is flat, so you have to sit up to see it, and it looks a bit cheap to me. It also feels superfluous when your iPhone already offers Standby mode.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe for $112: This was our old 2-in-1 pick for iPhone and Apple Watch. I like the soft-touch finish, the pad on top can move through 70 degrees, and the shelf for your Apple Watch works with any strap. The braided USB-C cable is permanently attached, but you get a 30-watt wall charger in the box. I don’t remember having issues when I first tested, but using it again, I found the weight of the camera end of my iPhone 14 Pro caused it to slowly droop when in StandBy mode. It’s also kinda pricey.

Zens Office Charger Pro 3 for $85: I’m a fan of some of the interesting, out-of-the-box designs that Zens turns out, but this 3-in-1, while well-made and perfectly functional, doesn’t really stand out. It’s Qi2 certified (15W for iPhone, 5W for Apple Watch, 5W for AirPods), looks nice, and comes with the cable and charger, though it has a barrel port.

Lululook 3-in-1 Charging Station for $60: This is a perfectly competent 3-in-1 with Qi2 certification (15W for iPhone, 5W for Apple Watch, 5W for AirPods). It’s compact, you can angle the iPhone pad, and I like the gold finish of my review unit, but I prefer the Twelve South above, or the ESR if you don’t want to spend as much.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Wireless Charging Pad for $80: Qi2 support provides magnetic alignment for your iPhone and delivers 15 watts of charging, and there’s a spot for AirPods on this compact dual pad. A USB-C port allows you to charge something else, such as an Apple Watch, and you get a 5-foot USB-C cable and 30W power supply in the box. There is also a 3-in-1 pad ($110) that adds an Apple Watch charger on the right side.

Nomad Base One Max a flat black panel with and upright square to wrap a watch around and a flat disc to place a mobile...

Nomad Base One Max for $150: This was our 3-in-1 pad pick, but stock is running low, and it is being discontinued. The MagSafe charger keeps your iPhone out of sight and supports 15-watt charging, the Apple Watch charging puck sticks up for Nightstand mode, but it’s not a fast charger. I tried it with a loop band and a normal strap, and I could fit the AirPods Pro case in the spot behind the Apple Watch puck to recharge it just fine. The metal chassis is heavy and, paired with the anti-slip rubber base, this thing stays put. It comes with a 2-meter USB-C to USB-C cable, which is great if you want to plug it into your new iPhone 16 to juice it up faster, but I wish it came with a 30-watt charging adapter. Nomad sells this one that we’ve tested and like.

QDOS SnapStand 3-in-1 for £80: This clever design feels sturdy and comes flat, and you can fold out and angle a magnetic pad for charging your iPhone (StandBy mode works fine). There’s a pop-out Apple Watch charger around the back, and the base has a pad for your AirPods. You get a black USB-C cable, but you’ll need a charger (at least 25W). I like that it’s partly made from recycled materials, and it folds away very neatly, but the charging speeds are relatively slow (7.5 watts for the iPhone and 2.5 watts for the Apple Watch).

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station Stand for $90: This good-looking 3-in-1 charging tree is more affordable than our top pick, boasts Qi2 certification for 15-watt charging, and comes with a charger and cable. It just misses out on a place above because of the offset pad for the Apple Watch. It is slippery, so your Apple Watch may tilt, though I never had an issue with it not charging. Anker included stickers to combat this, but they are a fiddly and inelegant solution. It’s also a shame that the main pad for your iPhone is fixed, so you can’t adjust the angle. But these are minor gripes.

Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe for $90: This dinky, dense, 2.5-inch cube from Anker was our previous compact pick. It has a MagSafe pad on top (15 watts), and the top section hinges to a 60-degree angle, revealing a charging surface for your AirPods. The wee pop-out shelf on the side has a built-in Apple Watch fast charger. You get a 5-foot cable and a 30-watt charger in the box.

Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand for $130: This compact, attractive 3-in-1 is a little smaller than the Belkin, so it doesn’t take up too much room, and it folds down compactly for travel. The aluminum build is attractive and sturdy (the iPhone mount is made of stainless steel). This is on reviews editor Adrienne So’s bedside table, and it recharges her Apple Watch Ultra 2 from 70 percent to full in around 30 minutes.

Case-Mate Fuel 3-in-1 Foldable for $50: Finished in a classy gray material, this 3-in-1 charges an iPhone in a case or any Qi smartphone, and it’s easy to fold flat and pack in a bag. It also has a built-in Apple Watch charger and a spot for AirPods. A cable and a 45-watt charger are included. I also tested the solid Case-Mate Fuel 4-in-1 ($150), which is quite good, but the unnecessary LEDs and Fuel logo put me off.

Best 4-in-1 Chargers

Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger with iPad Charging Stand for $78: If you also own an iPad, why not a 4-in-1 charging station? Zens’ modular design has a main stand for your iPad, a MagSafe pad in front to float your iPhone, and a slight indentation to charge AirPods below. The Apple Watch charger is a separate section that attaches magnetically (on either side) and holds your Watch in horizontal Nightstand mode. It feels durable with a grippy, rubbery, flecked black finish made from recycled plastic. You get a 65-watt power adapter, power cable, and adapter plugs for the US, UK, and EU, which is quite handy. The main drawback with this is the large size, and you have to connect a cable to the USB-C port on the side to charge your iPad.

Journey Glyde 4-in-1 Portable Charger for $170: Former reviews editor Adrienne So almost voted for this multidevice MagSafe power bank to get a separate recommendation until she noticed the price. It’s a 10,000-mAh-capacity power bank that can charge up to four devices at a time and uses the Qi2 charging standard. However, our pick for this spot is so much cheaper, and the Glyde does not have a kickstand.

Scosche Baselynx 2.0 Modular Charging Station for $90: What if three spots are not enough? Scosche has you covered with this modular charging station. The basic stand is a 2-in-1 for your iPhone and AirPods, but you can add an Apple Watch charger, a toast rack-style vertical station with USB-C ports, or even an AC outlet with USB-C port, for a big combined charger ($220). The trouble is, it gets quite big and expensive as you add modules, and I don’t love the way it looks, but it’s a neat idea.

Avoid These Chargers

Infinacore T3 Pro a black angular charging stand

Not every charger will be a winner. Here are the ones we didn’t like.

Infinacore T3 Pro: The T3 Pro is a 3-in-1 stand that looks and feels very cheap, and it got warm when charging my iPhone. Its saving grace is that it is cheap. It also has Qi2 certification and works with StandBy mode. I also tried the fold-out triple pad Infinacore T3 Wireless Charging Station. Aside from the ugly plastic design, the weak magnets meant it did not work well when folded into the triangular configuration (this also blocks a pad).

Groov-e Asteria Wireless Charging Station with Alarm Clock: There’s a wee clock on the front of this charging station, which can accommodate an iPhone, AirPods on a pad around back, and an Apple Watch up top. It feels and looks very cheap, slides around a little too easily, the magnet is weak, and the clock seems redundant when you can set your iPhone in StandBy mode. I also tried the Triton 3-in-1 folding pad, and it was okay. They are very affordable, but you must provide your own power adapter.

Zike 3-in-1 Z557C Stand: This 3-in-1 charger works perfectly well, but there are several better options above. The iPhone pad allows for StandBy mode but is not adjustable. The Apple Watch pad flips up or can be laid flat, and there’s a spot for AirPods on the gray felt pad. It has a barrel port, so you must use the supplied power adapter. What I really dislike about this charger is the ridiculously bright, utterly pointless white LED on the front that stays on the entire time.

Alogic Matrix Ultimate: This 3-in-1 charger has a folding design, supports fast charging, includes a detachable 5,000-mAh power bank, and comes with a nice pouch, but it is kinda bulky, and the white finish picks up dust and smudges very easily. I have also had issues with other Alogic batteries failing and not supplying the stated capacity.

STM Goods ChargeTree Go: This charging tree station folds flat and can charge a trio of Apple gadgets. But there’s no quick-charge support, my Apple Watch kept sliding out of place during the night, and there’s no adapter included. It’s not cheap either.

A Quick Primer on MagSafe

Most of the wireless chargers in this guide are MagSafe wireless chargers or Qi2 certified. That means they take advantage of the magnets embedded in the back of the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17 range. I cannot stress this enough: If you buy a case, ensure it is a MagSafe case. We have several third-party options in the linked case guides above. A normal iPhone case will weaken the pull of the magnets in the device and will not stick to MagSafe accessories well.

What’s the point of MagSafe? You don’t have to worry about misalignment with the wireless charger, meaning you won’t wake up to a dead iPhone. Technically, this perfect alignment enables chargers to deliver faster 15-watt charging. MagSafe is also available in the AirPods charging case (depending on your model). Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro with the wireless charging case will work with nearly all of the standard Qi wireless charging pads on these chargers (as will many third-party wireless earbuds), but if you have AirPods with MagSafe, then you can hook them up to the magnetic mounts as well. If you don’t have a MagSafe iPhone, then your device won’t be able to attach to these chargers, though we do have some recommendations for older iPhones (and the iPhone 16e).

Qi2 is the latest wireless charging standard, and Apple worked with the Wireless Power Consortium to develop it. Compared to the original Qi standard, it brings MagSafe-style magnetic charging, faster charging rates, and improved efficiency—but where MagSafe is an Apple technology designed for Apple products, any device can support Qi2. Apple updated the iPhone 12 and newer to support Qi2, so Qi2 should be a term you look for when shopping for a magnetic wireless charger. Qi2 Android phones are still thin on the ground right now—it’s officially available in Google’s Pixel 10 series—though Qi2 Ready phones add magnets using a compatible case. Expect more Qi2 Android phones soon. A Qi2 charger can charge your iPhone and any other Qi2 phones.

While Qi2 charging generally goes up to 15 watts, the Qi2.2 update, branded as Qi2 25W, can go up to 25 watts. But support for Qi2 25W is currently very limited, and includes the iPhone 17 range and the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

What Are StandBy Mode and Nightstand Mode?

You’ll see us bring up two specific modes throughout this guide: StandBy mode and Nightstand mode. What are they?

StandBy mode was introduced in iOS 17. When you place your iPhone on a charger in landscape orientation, it will turn the screen into a dock of sorts, showing the clock (with different designs you can choose from), photos from your library, or widgets. If you have an iPhone that supports an always-on screen, you can choose to have the display automatically turn off after some time when the iPhone isn’t in use or if the room is dark. Head to Settings > Standby to customize it.

Nightstand mode has long been around on the Apple Watch. Basically, when the watch is sitting upright and charging, the clockface will stay on so you can always tell the time. You can customize this on your Apple Watch by heading to Settings > General > Nightstand mode.

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Android Canary update brings big changes, but nothing is guaranteed

Posted on March 20, 2026 by faz_business

Google has rolled out a fresh Android Canary build, and it looks more complete than you might expect from an experimental release. The catch is simple. This version exists to test ideas, not to promise them.

Android Canary 2603 bundles practical additions like app lock, chat bubbles, and a redesigned screen recorder. It’s available across a wide range of Pixel devices, but this update is meant for developers rather than everyday use

That context matters when reading into any of these changes. Features shown here can still be removed before a stable release, even if some eventually appear in beta builds.

Even so, this build offers a useful snapshot of where Android may be heading next.

New features worth watching

App lock is one of the most practical additions. You can now long press an app and secure it directly, which adds a layer of privacy without digging through settings menus

That same menu also activates bubbles more fully. Conversations can float on screen as overlays, making multitasking feel more natural than before

The screen recorder has also been reworked into a floating pill interface. It lets you quickly choose between recording the full screen or a single app, then moves you into a preview flow where you can edit, delete, or share the clip

Google has even refined smaller details. The long press menu now groups shortcuts into a cleaner layout that expands only when needed.

Why this update isn’t final

There’s a reason none of this should be taken as final. This channel exists for developers to explore early features and APIs, not as a preview of what will ship next

That gap between polish and certainty is important. Some features already feel complete, but they can still be adjusted or dropped before Android 17 reaches stability. Even changes that move into beta are not guaranteed to stick.

There’s also a tradeoff to consider. Canary builds aren’t designed for daily use, so most people won’t try them unless they’re comfortable dealing with bugs or manual installs.

What you’re seeing here is Android in an active state of change, with ideas being tested in public before decisions are locked.

What to expect next

Some of the smaller changes hint at a broader direction. The return of separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles suggests a rethink of earlier design decisions, while heavier use of blur points to ongoing visual refinement

There’s still no clear timeline for what carries forward. Google hasn’t confirmed which of these features will land in Android 17 or when they might reach stable devices, even on supported Pixel models.

If you’re tracking Android’s evolution, the next step is to watch what shows up in beta builds. That’s usually where experimental ideas start turning into features you’ll actually use.

CarPlay is still on track for Tesla cars, but you might have to wait longer

Posted on February 15, 2026 by faz_business

Tesla’s long-awaited adoption of Apple CarPlay is still happening – just not as quickly as some drivers had hoped. After signaling last year that support could arrive by the end of 2025, the electric carmaker has hit a few unexpected hurdles that are slowing the rollout, according to the latest edition of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter.

A delayed but ongoing integration

Tesla began working to bring Apple’s CarPlay system to its vehicles amid a period of soft sales and mounting pressure to boost demand. At the time, adding CarPlay was viewed internally as more than a minor software update. For many car buyers, CarPlay has become a must-have feature – a familiar, iPhone-like interface that seamlessly integrates navigation, messaging and music into the dashboard.

Despite Tesla’s reputation for having one of the best in-house infotainment systems in the auto industry, customer demand for CarPlay has remained strong. Tesla’s software already supports Apple Music, Spotify, video playback, web browsing and deep integration with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. But for many users, that’s not enough. CarPlay’s simplicity and ecosystem integration remain a powerful draw.

Tesla confirmed plans to support CarPlay in a windowed mode within its existing interface. However, technical challenges have pushed the timeline back.

During testing, Tesla discovered compatibility issues between Apple Maps and its own mapping software used for self-driving features. Specifically, turn-by-turn guidance from Tesla’s navigation system did not properly synchronize with Apple Maps when autonomous driving was active. In scenarios where both systems were visible side by side, this mismatch could confuse drivers.

Tesla requested engineering changes from Apple to address the issue. Apple implemented the fix in a later update to iOS 26 and the latest version of CarPlay. But another obstacle emerged: not enough users had installed the updated software.

CarPlay isn’t just another dashboard app – it’s become a central part of how many drivers interact with their vehicles. For iPhone users especially, the ability to mirror apps, access messages, use Apple Maps or Google Maps, and rely on Siri through a familiar interface can significantly improve the driving experience.

Tesla has long resisted adding CarPlay, arguing that its own system offers superior integration

But as competitors increasingly include CarPlay as standard, the absence has been a sticking point for some potential buyers. Adoption rates of iOS 26 have been slower than previous releases. Apple recently revealed that 74% of iPhones released in the past four years are running iOS 26 – slightly behind the pace of earlier updates. Crucially, the necessary Apple Maps fix did not arrive in the initial iOS 26.0 release but in subsequent updates. Apple has not disclosed how many users are on those later builds.

For Tesla, rolling out CarPlay before a critical mass of drivers has the compatible software could create inconsistencies and support issues. That has prompted a more cautious approach.

The good news is that CarPlay remains firmly on Tesla’s roadmap. As iOS 26 adoption continues to rise, the technical barriers should gradually ease. Apple is also expanding CarPlay functionality, adding support for third-party voice chatbot apps and enhancing its premium Ultra version – moves that could make the eventual Tesla integration even more compelling.

For now, Tesla drivers eager for CarPlay will need to wait a little longer. But the direction is clear: the feature is coming – just on a timeline dictated as much by software adoption as by engineering.

These $300 OnePlus smartphones have bigger batteries than the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 17 combined

Posted on January 8, 2026 by faz_business

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched two new smartphones in its native market — the OnePlus Turbo 6 and the Turbo 6V — both of which feature a gargantuan 9,000 mAh battery. In a market where phones over $1,000 feature 5,000 mAh batteries, the OnePlus smartphones set new endurance benchmarks.

Let me give you some context. Samsung’s $1,049.99 Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 5,000 mAh battery (and the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t expected to have any significant improvements in that area). The $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max (eSIM variant) sports a 5,088 mAh cell.

When midrange phones outlast premium flagships

Even the newly launched $899.99 OnePlus 15 and the $699.99 OnePlus 15R, which are among the biggest battery smartphones, feature 7,300 mAh and 7,400 mAh batteries, respectively. However, the OnePlus Turbo 6 and Turbo 6V virtually break all the standards set by these phones.

Both the Turbo 6 and the Turbo 6V, which cost less than $350 when converted from the Chinese price (for the baseline variants), feature a 9,000 mAh battery, almost as big as the combined capacity of the S25 Ultra and the iPhone Pro Max.

With such a massive battery, the Turbo smartphones should easily last over a day between charges, leaving you with around 40-50% battery for the next day (depending on your usage). I consider this a legitimate step toward normalizing two-day battery life on smartphones.

Furthermore, the OnePlus handsets also support 80W wired charging, which might not sound a lot for 9,000 mAh batteries, but should still charge the phone in around an hour and 30 minutes. In retrospect, the charging speed is faster than most non-Chinese flagships available in the United States.

Unfortunately, none of the smartphones is available outside of China yet. There’s a good chance the Turbo 6V makes it to the Nord outside of China, but OnePlus hasn’t confirmed anything yet.

Talking about other specifications, the Turbo 6 and the Turbo 6V sport a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED screen that supports an extremely high refresh rate (165Hz on the former, 144Hz on the latter). Powering the Turbo 6 is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC (also found on the Nothing Phone 3), while the Turbo 6V runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC.

Both phones are available in multiple memory and storage variants: Turbo 6 with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, and Turbo 6V with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Cameras, however, are similar on both phones: a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP monochrome sensor, and a 16MP selfie shooter.

The baseline OnePlus Turbo 6 (12GB + 256GB) costs CNY 2299 in China, which is about $328, while the entry-level Turbo 6V (8GB + 256GB) costs CNY 1899, about $271. They’ll be available for purchase in China from January 8, 2026.

While we’re not certain when these handsets will be available in the U.S., they’ll surely help shift buyers’ expectations away from budget smartphones and encourage other manufacturers to up their battery game.

24 Best Wireless Chargers (2025), Tested and Reviewed

Posted on March 23, 2025 by faz_business

Other Wireless Chargers We Tested

Baseus Nomos a rectangular charging station with a panel angled upward to prop a phone against

There are a lot of wireless chargers. Here are a few more we like, but for one reason or another don’t warrant a place above.

Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charging Station for $150: If you liked the PicoGo W2 above but need more gadget-charging power, this 5-in-1 could be worth a look. It also has a tilting pad and retractable USB-C cable, but adds two more USB-C ports and one USB-A, along with a stats-filled display. It’s perfect for your desktop. I also tried and quite liked the Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station ($90), which combines a similar folding Qi2 pad with three US AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and one USB-A.

Rapport London Formula Wireless Charging Tray for $475: Yes, this is an obscene price for a Qi wireless charger. You can probably make a version for a fraction of the cost. But Rapport’s build quality is quite nice, with a lacquered grey box and a soft-touch fabric to keep your watches and phone scratch-free. It reliably recharged several Android phones without making them too warm, all while offering storage for a few watches. It’s attractive, but you have to have cash to burn at this price.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro Convertible Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand for $45: This Qi2-certified stand has a magnetic pad that can lay flat to charge older phones or fold out to act as a stand for MagSafe iPhones and other Qi2 phones in portrait or landscape orientation (handy for StandBy mode). It charges at up to 15 watts and comes with a 5-foot USB-C to USB-C cable and a power supply.

Casetify PowerThru 2-in-1 Charging Stand for $92: If you want a charger for your MagSafe iPhone and AirPods (or other earbuds), this one from Casetify is a decent pick. It has a squared-off base with an indent for AirPods, a metallic rod, and a slightly adjustable MagSafe pad for your iPhone that charges at 7.5 watts. I don’t love the visible logo around the pad or the options with basketball courts and other designs for the base, and it has a bright LED.

Apple MagSafe Charger for $46: Apple’s MagSafe charger is quite basic. Since the charger magnetically stays attached to MagSafe iPhones, you don’t have to worry about accidental misalignments causing you to wake up to a dead device. There’s no charging adapter but this is the version with the longer 2-meter cable.

Courant Catch:2 Essentials for $150: Wireless chargers should look nice. You shouldn’t settle for anything less! This Courant dual charger oozes luxury with its Belgian linen-wrapped surface (especially in the camel color). I’ve used it by my front door to recharge my partner’s and my wireless earbuds for two years. The rubber feet prevent it from shifting around, but even if there are five coils in this pad, you should try to be precise when you put your device down to charge and make sure the LED lights up to double-check. It comes with a color-matching USB-C cable.

Mobile phone resting on a small charging pad on the edge of a table

Zens Liberty Wireless Charger for $100: I tested the Glass Edition ($140) of this wireless charging pad, and it looks stunning with the 16 overlapping copper coils on display (the standard version has a woolen fabric top). It can charge two devices simultaneously at up to 15 watts apiece, and there’s an optional Apple Watch add-on ($20). As stylish as it is, the price is too high. Because you can see the coils, placement is never an issue, but it’s a bulky charger, the fan is audible at times, and while I had no problem charging my iPhone or AirPods, my Pixel 6 Pro got very warm on this pad.

Zens Liberty Wireless Charger Glass Edition a mobile phone resting on a small charging pad on the edge of a table

Xiaomi Mi 80-W Wireless Charging Stand for $50: By far the fastest wireless charger we have tested, this stand is only worth considering for Xiaomi phones (it seems to charge most other phones at 10 watts or below). I tested with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which tops out at 50 watts (some Xiaomi models can go higher). The unusual sail shape combines a white triangular section with a clear acrylic base that has a subtle groove to hold your phone in place and a gap underneath for the exhaust grill from the noisy fan. The USB-C port and LED indicator are on the back.

Don’t Bother

They can’t all be winners. Here’s a wireless charger we don’t recommend.

Soft black mat with rounded corners on top of a wooden surface

Raycon Magic Mat Pro for $40: I love the idea of a mouse mat with a wireless charging spot for your phone, but the execution here is terrible. The spot is finicky to find, it can’t cope with thick cases, and my Xiaomi 14 Ultra would not charge at all (the camera bump is too big). Raycon says the fake leather is waterproof, but I found it a dud as a mouse mat and uncomfortable to rest my arm and hand on.