Anker PowerWave II Stand Review
It seems as though wireless charging has become the new standard for mobile charging. It’s easier than fumbling with cables and it presents another taste of a future with universal standards for things like charging or power.
Anker recently released a new wireless charging stand! Lets take a closer look…
At a glance:
- Price: $39.99 (on Amazon)
- Output: Ranging from 5W–15W (dependent on the device)
- Input: 12V — 2A
- LED indicator to let you know the charging status
- Support for charging with phone cases up to 5 mm thick
- Support for vertical & horizontal charging
In the box:
- PowerWave II Stand
- Power adapter with 5 ft power cord
- Welcome guide
- Worry-free 18-month warranty (with friendly customer service).
Initial Impressions
Right off the bat, the PowerWave II Stand looks pretty nice. It’s rounded edges give it a soft, yet sleek aesthetic. The base is circular and has a rubberized ring on the bottom to prevent the stand from sliding around. Where you place your phone, there’s another rubberized pad to keep your phone from sliding off the charger. Everything feels stable and sturdy which is very reassuring. The stand’s dimensions are 3.54 x 3.54 x 4.53, so it doesn’t take up very much room.
The stand is powered by a wall adapter that connects to the back of the stand through a coaxial power connector. At 5ft, I found the cable to be sufficiently long to reach the nearest outlet. It’s also a nice touch that the cable wasn’t built into the stand so it can be replaced in the future if needed.
When you place your device on the charging stand, a blue indicator light illuminates so you know that it’s charging. Although it’s a small detail, I appreciate the pinhole design Anker chose for the LED indicator because it’s bright enough to see, but not so much that it becomes a distraction in the dark. On previous models, Anker has used a ring design for the LED indicator which looks nice, but can be a bit too bright in the dark.
Of course, the signature feature of wireless charging stands is the upright position your phone charges in which allows you to see the screen and interact with it while charging. In addition to this, the stand has a dual coil setup which enables you to charge vertically or horizontally. I find that, more often than not, I place my phone vertically on the stand so I can easily see incoming notifications, but the option to charge horizontally is great for watching videos.
Comparing it to the PowerWave 7.5W Stand, which is an older version, there’s definitely some updates and improvement in the overall look of the device, as well as the maximum charging output (7.5W vs. 15W). If you aren’t picky about aesthetics though, these differences probably wont make much of a difference to you, so your main consideration will likely be regarding the charging output.
What’s with all the outputs?
The PowerWave II Stand is versatile when it comes to it’s charging output. However, the output that you get to take advantage of depends on the device you’re using. Here’s the breakdown:
- 15W Max Charging: Pixel 4 / Pixel 4 XL / LG V50 / LG V40 / LG V30 / LG G8 / Sony Xperia XZ3
- 10W Charging: Samsung S20 / S10+ / S10 / S10e / S9+ / S9 / S8+ / S8 / Note 10 / Note 9 / Note 8 / Note 7
- 7.5W Charging: iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / XS / XS Max / XR / X / 8 / 8 Plus
- 5W Charging: Pixel 3 / Pixel 3XL / All Qi-enabled phones and devices
My current device is a Pixel 3, so thanks to Google’s unreasonable limitations, I don’t get to take advantage of the full charging outputs that the PowerWave II Stand has to offer. As annoying as it is, it hasn’t really bothered me too much because I typically use a wired connection when I need to quickly charge my phone.
Stand or Pad?
It’s worth mentioning that, in addition to the PowerWave II Stand, Anker also has the PowerWave II Pad (which is currently $29.99 on Amazon). Both offer the same range of charging outputs. The main differences are in the position that your devices charges in and the price. The price difference is likely due to the fact that the PowerWave II Stand has two charging coils (to enable vertical and horizontal charging), as opposed to the PowerWave II Pad which only has one.
Wireless stands are ideal for use-cases where you want to be able to see the screen while your phone charges. Some examples might include your desk, where you may want to easily be able to see incoming notifications while you’re working, or on your bed stand, if you want to easily see the time when you glance at your phone.
Charging pads, on the other hand, provide a flat wireless charging surface. This tends to give them a wider range of utility, especially if you have other devices, besides a phone, that charge wirelessly and might not sit correctly on a charging stand. For example, I have a the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro wireless earbuds, which can be charged wirelessly in the case (or with USB-C). A wireless charging pad is perfect for charging this, although out of curiosity, I tried charging it on my PowerWave II Stand and it worked just fine. I’m guess this wasn’t a particular use-case that Anker had in mind though.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference so consider your use-cases as you decide which wireless charging options will be best for you. If you’re interested in learning more about the PowerWave II Pad, check out this review by Joe Gobran.
Considerations
Packaging
I’ve started to notice with some Anker products that the packaging can be quite wasteful. I’m sure there are certain decisions that go into the packaging that ensure that the contents are protected, but I have to imagine that there would be other options that would minimize the amount of materials needed.
Power adapter
I’m a minimalist when it comes to my tech accessories so I prefer to have as few cables and adapters as possible. Since jumping on the USB-C bandwagon over a year ago, i’ve managed to get to a point where most of my devices have wireless or USB-C charging (with the exception of a some headphones and my Kindle).
The USB-C junkie in me would have loved to see this charger come with USB-C instead of a coaxial power connector. Had they gone this route, Anker could have sold the stand at multiple price points where you could just buy the stand or bundle it with a cable and power adapter.
However, the way Anker chose to set it up is great for those who just want to buy something that’s going to work out of the box without having to think about the compatibility of accessories.
The Bottom Line
Pros:
- Range of outputs
- Looks nice
- Well-built
- Dual charging coils
- Comes with power adapter
Cons:
- Not powered by USB-C
- May not be able to take advantage of higher charging output depending on your device
- Not particularly ideal for travel
The $40 question is…should you buy it?
It depends. If your device will support the higher charging outputs of the PowerWave II Stand and you’re looking for a relatively stationary wireless charger, then it’s very worth it. If not, you might be able to get the same charging output from a cheaper option (such as the PowerWave Pad and Stand bundle which is currently $25.99 on Amazon).
If you do decide to go for it, the Anker PowerWave II Stand leaves very little to be desired. I’ve been depending on Anker for my charging and audio needs for years now and I have yet to be left disappointed. It’s pretty much as good as a wireless charger can get. It’s aesthetically pleasing, has excellent build quality that i’ve come to know and expect from Anker products, and it works as expected.
Did you get the Anker PowerWave II Stand? What are your thoughts? Feel free to comment below!
