The Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Pad ($69.99) is a simple black puck that allows you to charge any Qi-enabled smartphone without the use of wires. It functions no differently than other wireless chargers we've tested—you simply place your phone on top of the pad and it begins to charge. But owners of the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+ can take advantage of the pad's Fast Charge capability, which allows you to charge your device up to 1.4 times faster than standard wireless charging. That makes it a good buy if you own a phone that supports Samsung's new tech, but everyone else can pick up a standard Qi pad for a bit less money.
Design and Compatibility
The Wireless Charging Pad is a compact black or white disc. It measures 3.5 by 7.2 by 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.72 ounces, and is small enough to pass for a coaster from above. It has glossy plastic surface and a rubber ring for grip.
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The front of the pad has an LED light to indicate charging status (more on this in the next section). On the bottom of the pad are vents for a built-in fan that's needed to reduce the heat from Fast Charge. The pad itself needs to be plugged into the wall in order to charge your devices. Samsung includes a 2A adapter and warns that using any other can cause damage to the Charging Pad.
The charger works with any Qi-enabled smartphone. However, only the Note 5 and the S6 edge+ support the Fast Charge feature that allows the Charging Pad to push power to the device more quickly. Other smartphones will charge at their regular rate.
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I tested the Charging Pad with the aforementioned Note 5 and S6 edge+, as well as the Droid Turbo 2 and the Nexus 6. It was able to handle smaller phones like the Galaxy S6 and larger ones like the Note 5 without issue. You probably won't be able to charge a large tablet on it, since you need to center and balance your device on the puck (and if it's not centered properly it won't charge).
Charging and Conclusions
Setting the Charging Pad up is simple. Just connect the power adapter to an outlet and plug the Charging Pad in. After that, you're good to go.
Like Qualcomm Quick Charge, Samsung's Fast Charge is a handy new feature that allows devices to charge significantly speedier than those that lack the technology. (Right now, only the Note 5 and the S6 edge+ support it.) According to Samsung, Fast Charge is up to 1.4 times as fast as standard charging, and supported devices can reach a full charge in 50 minutes. I found that to be fairly accurate in testing, as I was able to charge both the Note 5 and the S6 edge+ in about one hour. Qi-enabled phones that lack Fast Charge are a bit slower to charge than with a standard power adapter.
When using a Samsung device with the Charging Pad, the screen automatically turns on and the phone emits an audible beep once it's in place. Non-Samsung phones, like the Nexus 6, don't do this. The LED status light turns blue when charging, and green once fully charged. But again, this is only with Samsung phones. For other phones, the LED will turn blue to show that the device is being charged, but it won't turn green to notify you that it has reached maximum capacity. You can leave a phone on the Charging Pad overnight, though the LED is bright enough that it might bother you if you keep it near your bed.
Charging through cases is possible, though it depends on the case. I was able to charge the Note 5 while it was in a thin TPU case, but a thicker Speck CandyShell case didn't register.
For $69.99, the Samsung Wireless Charging Pad is a solid buy if your phone supports Fast Charge. Even if doesn't, or you don't own a Samsung phone, it's still reliable and easy to use. But non-Samsung users are better off saving some money and picking up a general Qi-compatible charger like the Tylt Vu.
Samsung Fast Charge Wireless Charging Pad
4.0
Check Stock$39.99 at Amazon
MSRP $69.99
Pros
-
Increased charging speed for Fast Charge devices.
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Compact, attractive build.
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LED status lights.
Cons
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Slower than wired charging for most devices.
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Some Samsung-only features.
The Bottom Line
Samsung's Wireless Charging Pad is compact, fast, and reliable. It's compatible with all Qi-enabled devices, but it works best when you use it with a Samsung phone that supports Fast Charge.
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