Design

Probably one of the first things you’ll notice is that this Qi charger is much larger than many of the small disc-shaped wireless chargers we typically see. In fact, it’s about the size of a smartphone itself. However, this has an added benefit of making it easier to align your phone so it hits the “sweet spot” for wireless charging and you’re not left guessing if your phone is charging or not.

The PowerWave Base Pad also has anti-slip pads on the top and the bottom, so it doesn’t slide around your desk and your phone doesn’t slide off the top of the pad. It even has some weight to it which makes it a good, sturdy base for charging your phone.

Performance

The PowerWave Base Pad performs well, but you need to be sure to pair it with the correct wall charger (which is not included with the base).

If you’re not concerned about speed, then any 5V 2A USB wall charger will do. This includes all of Anker’s USB chargers, or the charger that comes with iPads (the small, white charging block that comes with the iPhone XS and older will not work as it is only 5V 1A).

The PowerWave Base Pad is capable of higher speed wireless charging. If you want faster charging (up to 7.5W on iPhones and up to 10W on support Android phones), you’ll need to use a Quick Charge 3.0 charger. Unless you have a need for fast charging, I recommend using the regular, “slow” charging of a 5V 2A wall adapter as it will generate less heat and help with the longevity of your phone’s battery.

The PowerWave Base Pad has adequate ventilation and while reviewing this charger, it did not become alarmingly hot during the charging process. Keep in mind that Qi charging itself will generate a lot of heat, so your phone and the base will both appear warm to the touch. This is to be expected.

I have a plastic TPU case on my iPhone X and the Base Pad was able to charge my phone without issue. However, keep in mind that any cases containing metal, as well as wallet cases that hold your credit cards behind your phone, will interfere with wireless charging.

Features

The PowerWave Base Pad has a small LED on the front. Although the LED stays on the entire time your phone is charging, the LED is dim enough that it will be fine for the bedroom. The LED will flash to indicate there is an issue with the charging process (such as metal on the back of your phone).