WIRED has updated its magnetic power bank guide for February 2026, adding a Sharge model and revising prices as Qi2 chargers begin shifting from 15-watt wireless charging to 25 watts on supported phones.
For iPhone owners, the practical point is boring but useful: a magnetic battery pack sticks to the back of the phone and charges without a dangling cable. For Android users, the same idea now depends on Qi2 support, which is still limited, or on “Qi2 Ready” phones that get the magnets through a compatible case.
What the standards actually do
WIRED explains MagSafe as Apple’s magnetic accessory system for the iPhone 12 through iPhone 17 lines, excluding the iPhone 16e. The ring of magnets helps align charging coils, which can improve wireless charging compared with older Qi pads and also holds accessories such as wallets and mounts in place.
Qi2 is the newer wireless charging standard developed with Apple and the Wireless Power Consortium. Unlike MagSafe, it is not limited to Apple hardware. WIRED says Apple updated the iPhone 12 and newer models to support Qi2. The latest Qi2 25W revision raises the maximum wireless rate from 15 watts to 25 watts, with supported devices including the iPhone 17 range and Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL.
The physics remains annoying. WIRED notes that wired charging is faster and more efficient than wireless charging. Lost energy becomes heat, and heat can affect battery health. Magnetic alignment helps, but it does not turn wireless charging into magic.
The current picks
- Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) (Qi2): WIRED names Anker’s $90 pack its top overall Qi2 choice. It has a 10,000-mAh capacity, a kickstand, a two-way USB-C port, and a display showing remaining power and charge time. WIRED’s Simon Hill says it added 25 percent to an iPhone 14 Pro in about 20 minutes. Specs listed by WIRED put it at 15 watts wirelessly and 27 watts over USB-C.
- Mophie Powerstation Wireless Stand: WIRED lists Mophie’s 10,000-mAh pack as runner-up. It has Qi2 certification, a USB-C port, and a rotating fabric-finish kickstand. WIRED says it is slimmer than the Anker but limited to 20-watt USB-C charging and uses four LEDs instead of a screen. The guide lists it at $90 from Mophie and $40 from Best Buy.
- Sharge Icemag 3: WIRED added this $68 sale-priced pack in the February update. It supports Qi2 25W wireless charging, has a permanently attached USB-C cable that can deliver 35 watts, includes another USB-C port, and uses a fan with RGB lighting to cool the phone. WIRED says the light can now be turned off, a small mercy for anyone charging next to a bed.
- Baseus Picogo Qi2 25W MagSafe Portable Charger: WIRED features this model as a Qi2 25W option with a built-in cable. The guide lists it at $63 on Amazon, down from $75.
WIRED says its testing involves at least a week with each magnetic power bank, measuring added battery on an iPhone, checking Qi2 models with a Pixel 10 Pro XL, testing ports and cables, timing recharge from empty, and evaluating size, magnet strength, heat, kickstands, and displays.
The publication also discloses that its editors independently select featured products, while WIRED may receive compensation from retailers or purchases made through its links.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
