I followed the ‘Plus 5’ rule for wireless charging, and it fixed my iPhone’s charge speeds


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Kayla Solino/ZDNET

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ZDNET’s key takeaways 

  • It’s easy to reduce the efficiency of a wireless charger without realizing it. 
  • Proper tools and charging gear ensure your devices charge quickly and safely.
  • Investing in at least a 20W wall adapter is a good starting point.

Wireless charging (often enhanced by MagSafe compatibility these days) is one tech development that I can say has improved my daily routine. These chargers are great for reducing cord clutter, charging multiple devices at once, and streamlining the look of your desk, table, or nightstand.

While wireless chargers are practical, it’s easy to miss out on their benefits without even realizing it. You could be using the wrong cables and wall adapters, turning your hands-free charger into a useless puck. Here’s how to fix that. 

Also: My new favorite Anker charger has a useful smart display (and won’t break the bank)

Since wireless charging isn’t 100% efficient, during charging, your device(s) may lose some power to heat and magnetic field leakage. To compensate for this, it’s best to use the cords and adapters that come with your wireless charger, or invest in a wall brick with a higher wattage than your charging setup.

Why your wireless charger isn’t charging fast

Here’s an example. If you plug a 15W wireless pad into a lower-wattage wall brick (especially one that’s not certified or purchased at sites like Temu, which raise safety concerns), your charger will likely work, but not at optimal levels. It’s more likely that this setup will throttle your charging speed from 15Ws to something lower, prolonging the time to charge fully and downgrading your setup from fast charging to something not quite as fast. 

My ZDNET colleague, Editor-in-Chief Kerry Wan, says this degraded charging experience happens often in his home, as it’s easy to flip-flop cords and wall bricks without noticing. 

Underneath the "robot" exterior is a powerful, high-quality 65W GaN charger

My colleague Adrian Kingsley-Hughes reading the output on this 65W Ugreen wall brick while charging a device. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Wan says he and his partner have a collection of random power adapters in their home office, and oftentimes use the wrong one for their wireless chargers in other areas of their home. “Switching to a higher-output Anker one or using the original charging brick for the pads (which usually deliver five watts more than needed) made things noticeably quicker,” Wan says. Oftentimes, you can see these changes reflected in how your device charges, too. 

Also: This handy USB meter tells you what’s actually going on with your ports – and it’s only $20

Wan says when his Samsung phone is charging with the correct wireless setup, it properly indicates “fast wireless charging” on his lock screen with a shorter estimated charge time. As a mobile gadget and accessories expert, I’ve seen this happen first-hand, too. 

I’m lucky to have plenty of fast chargers or gallium nitride (GaN) chargers lying around my house, so it’s not often I pick up a faulty setup. But it happens, especially with USB-C compatible accessories. While it seems like every USB-C device is interchangeable, there’s a reason why your iPhone doesn’t charge the same when you’re using the included cord or brick from a random Amazon gadget as it does when you’re using a certified setup, and the same goes for wireless charging. 

The “Plus Five” Rule

As a general baseline to avoid reduced charging efficiency, use a power adapter that provides 5W more than your wireless charger’s maximum output. In general, for iPhone fast charging, you’ll need a USB-C wall brick with at least 20W of power. Apple currently has a guide for power adapters, but standard charging requires a 5W USB or a 15W USB-C port. Many wireless chargers (often MagSafe options) now offer 15W Qi2 fast charging, so a 20W wall brick is a great idea.

Also: I cracked open cheap charging gadgets from Temu – and it was worse than I expected

We’ve tested several wall bricks and adapters, including options that can travel around the globe. I prefer 45W options for most of my everyday devices, except for my MacBook Pro, which I use a 67W or higher adapter for, as recommended by Apple. Lately, I’ve been using Anker’s newest 45W GaN charger, which features a built-in digital display. 

It’s also important to consider how you’re using wall bricks, too. If you charge multiple devices from the same adapter, the wattage is likely split. This reduces the wattage to each device and, in fast charging, likely drops your expected 15W speedy boost into a slow-to-go slurp. I recommend keeping at least one wall adapter dedicated to your wireless charging setup, so you never have to worry about unintentionally downgrading your charging. 

For wall adapters that the ZDNET team has tested and recommended, here are a few of our picks.





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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