Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad review: the cure for my last-minute iPhone charging woes

Ergonomic and just the tonic for those I-just can't-put-my-phone-down days

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The top of the Anker Wireless Charging Pad, which is sitting on a grey stone-effect surface, against a light pink background. Its cable is neatly wound and secured with a thin black elastic band.
(Image: © Future)

TechRadar Verdict

Satisfyingly simple and ergonomic, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad delivered the results I've come to expect from the brand. It provides speedy charging for iPhones and works well with both AirPods and compatible third-party earbud cases alike. If you want a sturdy desk-top charging pad, then this won't be the charger for you. But if it's a wireless charger that won't disrupt your everyday phone use that you're after, this is definitely the one to consider.

Pros

  • +

    Easy to hold

  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Reassuringly secure magnet

Cons

  • -

    Integrated power cable

  • -

    Slides around on surfaces

  • -

    Cable isn't adequately reinforced

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Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad review

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad is reasonably priced at $24.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95, so it's roughly the same price as a similar charging pad from ESR. Although I can't speak for its charging speeds, the ESR caught my eye as it has a reinforced cable base, and braided nylon around the wire, potentially giving it more longevity than the Anker equivalent, but I'll touch more on this later.

Equipped with Wireless PowerIQ, Anker's signature wireless fast charging, the speed at which the MagGo Wireless Charger Pad juiced up an iPhone 13 Pro was satisfying. It took just two hours and ten minutes to charge it fully, and it charged both AirPods Pro 2, and Motorola Moto Buds+ cases happily.

The magnetic attachment is satisfyingly strong. I was able to shake the phone about vigorously multiple times without the pad shifting more than a tiny amount from side to side. I also tested the magnet's strength by hanging the pad, with the phone attached, by its cable, and the phone stayed put – which is great, even for one of the best iPhone chargers. When it doesn't stay put, on the other hand, is when it's placed on a flat, smooth surface. As the concept behind this particular charger's design appears to be for it to be easy to hold, I can forgive Anker for this.

Due to its slim depth and curved base, it was pleasantly easy to continue to use my phone as it charged. I have rather small hands, and I didn't feel like it was particularly disrupting the way I'd usually hold my phone, which made a welcome change from the power banks I often use for this purpose.

One small negative I have to raise is that the integrated power cable was a little annoying. Because it's not removable, it makes it a little more tricky when you're trying to pack it up when heading out. I've not had it long enough to observe this, but my concern is that the first section of flexible cable that comes out of the pad could become worn over time –though this is only my speculation. My rationale is that if Mous managed to fit a USB-C port in the slimmest part of their low-cost MagSafe Compatible 3-In-1 Portable Charger, then I'd have thought that it'd be plausible for Anker to have done this too.

Overall though, this is a simple but satisfying MagSafe charger. I found it minimally disruptive and nice to hold as I continued to use my phone while replenishing its life force, and when left to charge my phone without me using it, the charging time was good for the price. If you're looking for something cheap but practical because your phone rarely leaves your hand, I'd recommend taking a look at the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad. However, if you're in the market for something a little different, we have a variety of other chargers to check out in our pick of the best wireless chargers.

The back of the Anker Wireless Charging Pad, which is sitting on a grey stone-effect surface, against a light pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad review: Price & specs

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Price$24.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95
Total power output15W
Devices charged1
USB-CYes – attached
Wireless chargingYes – MagSafe
Weight3.3 oz / 94 g
Dimensions2.36 × 2.36 × 0.47 inches / 60 × 60 × 12 mm

The side of the Anker Wireless Charging Pad, which is sitting on a grey stone-effect surface, against a light pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad?

Buy it if…

You want a comfortable solution
Due to its small and curved design, it's satisfyingly easy to hold as you continue to use your phone. I have small hands, and I found it a convenient alternative to larger options, like wireless power banks.

You want something small and light
Despite my niggles with the cable, the charger is light and compact, so you won't need to awkwardly cart about a charging stand.

Don't buy it if…

You want to take it out with you regularly
As the cable is fixed into the charging pad, it isn't the best choice if you regularly want to pack it away. You might be more organized than me, and be happy to fold up the cable each time and neatly secure it, but if you want to just chuck it in your bag, it's not as convenient to pull it back out as it would be if you could pack the pad and cable separately.

You want a secure desktop charger
This charger is perfect for hand-held use, but it isn't the best choice for desktop charging. With no anti-slip elements, and a smooth and slightly curved base, there's no chance of it staying put if the phone gets knocked or the cable gets pulled.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad review: Also consider

Apple MagSafe Charger
If you're a die-hard Apple consumer, then you'll be happy to know that there's an official Apple charging pad available to purchase at Amazon. Providing up to 15W of power, it's compatible with the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 Pro. It currently features as the best Apple MagSafe charger in our selection of the best wireless chargers.

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Cesci Angell
Cesci Angell
Staff Writer

Cesci is a Reviews Staff Writer for TechRadar. She writes in-depth reviews based on her real-world testing across a variety of categories, but has a particularly keen interest in home tech, and has written features and reviews about gadgets ranging from headphones to smart lights to graphics tablets. She also has a broad range of experience from working in different industries, from sustainable materials and packaging to skin care.