Last week, Andrew gave us a closer look at the Fast Charge Qi Wireless Charging Pad from Samsung that we've all been eager to get our hands on. It met our expectations, charging both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ approximately 40% faster than the traditional 1A rate we've seen for a while now. That's certainly a sweet upgrade in speed, but its bright lights weren't ideal for bedside use, not to mention its steep cost. Choetech's Fast Wireless Charging Pad offers the same functionality, only with smarter lighting and a more reasonable price point.
The rubber ring on the top isn't as prominent as Samsung's, but it still works great for keeping your device from sliding around. Underneath is a larger rubber ring that also keeps the entire charging pad from shifting positions. Measuring a compact 3.3-inches in diameter, it fits nicely anywhere you choose to place it without taking up very much space. There's no built-in fan to disperse heat, but after several times charging my Galaxy Note 5 with it, I haven't noticed the pad getting very hot at all.
The halo around the charging pad illuminates green when you place a fast charging Qi-compatible device down, or blue for standard Qi-devices. It will adjust brightness automatically depending on the lighting in the environment. When it's lights-out for the night, the LED inside will turn itself off — while still charging your device — making sure to not blind you at your bedside. The top is made of a hard glossy plastic with a Choetech logo in the middle. A microUSB input can be found on the side for plugging in the included cable and fast charge wall adapter, or if you buy the fast wireless charging pad by itself, use any fast charge wall adapter.
The bottom line is if you're considering making the jump to this new fast wireless charging technology, but don't want to fork out the cash for the OEM name, this more-affordable product performs the same with a couple extra perks. Keep in mind that this charging pad will work with any Qi-compatible device, but you won't get those new quick charging speeds unless you're rocking a Galaxy Note 5 or S6 edge+. You can pick it up in black or white with the wall adapter for $49.99 or without for $34.99.
