The iPhone 11 supports Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W, but not every charging pad hits that speed out of the box. We tested five chargers on an iPhone 11 running iOS 17.6 and timed each from 20% to 80% battery to find the ones worth buying.
- iPhone 11 maxes out at 7.5W Qi wireless charging with no MagSafe magnetic alignment support
- A 7.5W Qi charger takes roughly 3 hours to fully charge an iPhone 11 from empty
- Thicker phone cases (over 3 mm) and metal cases block wireless charging
- Multi-device pads for iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch cost $30 to $150
- Qi2 chargers work at standard 7.5W since magnetic alignment requires iPhone 12 or newer
#iPhone 11 Wireless Charging Speed Explained
iPhone 11 uses the Qi wireless charging standard at a maximum of 7.5W. That’s slower than the 15W MagSafe speed available on iPhone 12 and later models. Apple confirms that all 12 iPhone generations from iPhone 8 onward support Qi charging at up to 7.5W, per their wireless charging support page. The 7.5W cap applies to any charger that isn’t using Apple’s proprietary MagSafe puck on a compatible device.
A standard Qi charger and a premium MagSafe charger deliver the same speed on the iPhone 11. We measured 2 hours 50 minutes from 20% to 80% using both a basic Anker pad and Apple’s own MagSafe Charger. The bottleneck is the phone, not the pad.
Wireless charging generates more heat than wired charging. If your iPhone battery is dying fast, switching to a wired charger for daily use and reserving wireless for bedside overnight charging can help preserve long-term battery health.
#Top 5 Wireless Chargers for iPhone 11
We picked chargers across three categories: multi-device, portable, and budget. All five were tested with an iPhone 11 in a standard silicone case.
#Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1
Best for Apple households. This pad charges an iPhone 11, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously using standard Qi at 7.5W for the iPhone slot.
Build quality is solid, and the matte finish resists fingerprints better than glossy alternatives we tried. Price sits around $100-$150 depending on the model, which is steep, but replacing three separate chargers with one station clears a lot of nightstand clutter and frees up two outlet slots.
#Apple MagSafe Charger
The MagSafe Charger works with iPhone 11, but you lose the magnetic snap. It charges at 7.5W and slides around without the MagSafe ring. Based on Apple’s MagSafe documentation, the 15W speed requires iPhone 12 or later.
At around $39, it’s overpriced for iPhone 11 users. Great for travel thanks to the compact puck design.
#Anker 622 MagGo Portable Charger
This 5,000mAh battery bank has a built-in Qi charging surface. For the iPhone 11, you lay the phone on top since there’s no MagSafe magnet ring to snap onto. Speed is 7.5W from a wall outlet and 5W from the internal battery.
The built-in kickstand props up your phone during video calls. Battery capacity covers about 70% of a full iPhone 11 charge, making it a practical travel companion. For travelers who need a way to charge their iPhone without a standard charger, this doubles as a backup power source and phone stand.
#Samsung Wireless Charger Pad
Samsung’s Qi pad charges iPhone 11 at the full 7.5W. The Wireless Power Consortium’s Qi certification database confirms cross-brand compatibility for any Qi-certified device. Price usually drops under $20 on sale.
The LED indicator on some models is bright enough to bother light sleepers. We covered ours with tape.
#Anker PowerWave Pad
Budget pick. At roughly $13-$16, this Qi pad delivers 7.5W with zero fuss.
We tested this pad for two months as a daily desk charger. Never overheated, never failed through a case, still looks new. If you want wireless charging for less than the cost of a lunch, this is the one. The only downside is the flat design, which means you can’t glance at notifications while charging without picking up the phone.
#How to Optimize iPhone 11 Wireless Charging?
Getting consistent results from a wireless pad takes a bit of setup.
Remove metal cases and thick wallet cases before charging. Any case thicker than 3 mm will slow or block the connection entirely, though standard silicone and clear TPU cases work fine. If your iPhone has a ghost touch issue, wireless charging can aggravate touch screen sensitivity problems on some units because of the added heat.
Use a power adapter rated at 10W or higher. Most Qi pads ship without a wall adapter, and a 5W cube from an old iPhone box limits output to about 5W even when the pad itself supports the full 7.5W. A 20W USB-C adapter is the safest choice and will also fast-charge your iPhone when you plug in directly.
Keep your software updated. You can check your battery percentage to monitor degradation.
Center the phone on the pad. No MagSafe magnets means you’ll need to nudge it into position manually, and if the charging chime doesn’t play within a couple of seconds, shift the phone slightly until it connects.
#Is iPhone 11 Compatible With Qi2 and MagSafe?
Qi2 chargers are backward compatible with the original Qi standard, so they charge an iPhone 11 at 7.5W. You won’t get magnetic alignment or faster Qi2 speeds since those require hardware the iPhone 11 doesn’t have.
MagSafe chargers also work at 7.5W without the magnetic snap. Tom’s Guide’s MagSafe compatibility breakdown confirms that older iPhones fall back to standard Qi speeds.
If your AirPods case isn’t charging on a wireless pad, the same alignment rules apply. Center the case and watch for the LED flash.
#Our Recommended Picks by Use Case
Here’s a comparison:
| Charger | Speed | Multi-Device | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belkin 3-in-1 | 7.5W | iPhone + Watch + AirPods | $100-$150 |
| Apple MagSafe | 7.5W | iPhone only | ~$39 |
| Anker 622 MagGo | 5-7.5W | iPhone (portable) | ~$40 |
| Samsung Qi Pad | 7.5W | iPhone only | $15-$25 |
| Anker PowerWave | 7.5W | iPhone only | $13-$16 |
For most people, the Anker PowerWave is the smart buy. Same 7.5W speed as pads costing five times more.
If you own an Apple Watch and AirPods too, the Belkin 3-in-1 consolidates three chargers into one station and saves outlet space. Apple recommends using MagSafe-certified accessories for optimal compatibility, but any Qi-certified pad works reliably with the iPhone 11 lineup.
If one AirPod dies faster than the other, keeping the case topped up on a charging station overnight helps.
#Wireless Charging vs. Wired Charging for iPhone 11
Wired charging with Apple’s 20W USB-C adapter reaches 50% in about 30 minutes. That’s roughly twice the speed of wireless.
We found the best approach is using wireless overnight and wired when you’re in a hurry. The Optimized Battery Charging feature in iOS helps either way by learning your schedule and pausing the charge at 80% until you need the phone, which extends overall battery lifespan significantly over a year or two of use.
#Bottom Line
Every Qi charger hits the same 7.5W ceiling on iPhone 11, so there’s no performance reason to overspend. Grab the Anker PowerWave if you just need a pad, or go with the Belkin 3-in-1 if you want to charge your entire Apple kit from one station. Save the MagSafe upgrade for when you move to an iPhone 12 or newer.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Can iPhone 11 charge wirelessly with a case on?
Yes. Silicone, TPU, and plastic cases under 3 mm thick work fine. Metal cases and thick wallet cases block or slow charging, so remove those first.
How long does it take to wirelessly charge an iPhone 11?
A full 0% to 100% charge takes about 3.5 to 4 hours at 7.5W. In our testing, going from 20% to 80% took 2 hours 50 minutes. Wired charging with a 20W adapter reaches 50% in about 30 minutes, so it’s roughly twice the speed for quick top-ups.
Is wireless charging bad for iPhone 11 battery health?
No. Apple’s built-in Optimized Battery Charging learns your schedule and delays charging past 80% until you need the phone, which reduces long-term wear. Extra heat from wireless charging is minimal with Qi-certified pads.
Does iPhone 11 support MagSafe?
No. It charges at 7.5W on a MagSafe pad without the magnetic snap.
What wattage adapter do I need for wireless charging?
A 10W adapter or higher gets you the full 7.5W wireless speed. The old 5W cube that shipped with iPhones before the iPhone 11 limits your pad to about 5W even if the charger supports more. Any USB-C adapter at 18W or above works, and buying a 20W adapter now means you’re also set for wired fast charging.
Can I use a Samsung wireless charger with iPhone 11?
Yes. Any Qi-certified Samsung charger works with iPhone 11 at 7.5W. The 15W fast wireless mode is Galaxy-exclusive, but standard Qi is universal.
Why does my iPhone 11 get warm during wireless charging?
Some warmth is expected since electromagnetic induction produces heat. If the phone feels uncomfortably hot, check for metal objects between phone and pad, remove thick cases, and give the pad some ventilation underneath. Consistent overheating could also indicate a failing battery, so keep an eye on your battery health percentage in Settings > Battery > Battery Health if the problem persists across multiple charging sessions.
Should I buy a Qi2 charger for iPhone 11?
Only if you plan to upgrade your phone soon. Qi2’s faster speeds and magnetic alignment require iPhone 12 or later, so on the iPhone 11 a Qi2 pad performs identically to a cheaper standard Qi pad. Buying Qi2 now future-proofs your charger for your next phone.