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Whether you think it’s just a trendy party trick or the next feature we should all come to expect from high-end handsets, wireless charging is catching on and has been featured in a number of top-tier devices.
And while the future of its popularity still hangs in the air, we rounded up the best phones (in no particular order) that are available now and feature the technology. All these handsets, save for one Lumia, feature the capability natively and don’t require a special phone case.
In addition, if you’re looking at this list with envy while holding your own wire-charging phone, don’t feel glum. Our own Sharon Vaknin found a way to get wireless charging on a Samsung Galaxy S3 with a simple hack and some spare Palm Pixi pieces. There’s no guarantee that this method will work on other Samsung handsets (or any other phones for that matter), but if you’re feeling adventurous and crafty, who knows what you might stumble on. (Just don’t blame us if it doesn’t work out!)
Josh Miller/CNET
Nokia Lumia 920 (AT&T) — November 11, 2012 Though some may find its curvy shape too bulky, the Lumia 920 is one of the current top-tier Windows Phone handsets on the market. It not only has built-in wireless charging, but it has an ultra-sensitive PureMotion HD+ screen you can use with gloves, turn-by-turn directions, and a $100 price tag, too. Read the full review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
HTC Droid DNA (Verizon Wireless) — November 21, 2012 As our favorite Droid du jour, the DNA from HTC already impressed us with its blazing quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, and great 8-megapixel camera. But we really dug its long-lasting battery that can wireless charge. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
LG Nexus 4 (T-Mobile) — November 13, 2012 Google’s flagship phone of the season, the Nexus 4, was a huge success. And while it lacks 4G LTE, this unlocked phone (which is also available on T-Mobile) has mass global appeal, is highly affordable, and includes a ton of other features like wireless charging, Android Jelly Bean, and an attractive build. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
Nokia Lumia 822 (Verizon Wireless) — November 19, 2012 Unlike the Lumia 920 mentioned above, the 822 — along with the 810and the 820 — doesn’t have built-in wireless charging. Instead, these handsets require after-market covers that aren’t included, and cost about $40. As for the 820 itself, it has 4G LTE, a good 8-megapixel camera, and 64GB of expandable memory going for it. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
HTC Windows Phone 8X (AT&T) — November 9, 2012 Despite its unimpressive camera and flush buttons, the HTC 8X is a thin, colorful, and sleek Windows Phone device that we’re really fond of. Similar to the Nokia Lumias, the 8X follows the Qi wireless standard, and can be used with chargers like the Energizer Inductive Charger. Note that only Verizon’s 8X will have wireless charging. The phone also has 4G LTE and excellent call quality. Read the full review.
James Martin/CNET
LG Spectrum 2 (Verizon Wireless) — October 30, 2012 Flying under the radar is the Spectrum 2, which is currently the best LG phone on Verizon in our opinion. While we weren’t huge fan of its audio speakers and the fact that it runs on Android 4.0, the phone made up for it with its 4G LTE speeds, reasonable price, and wireless charging capabilities. Read the full review.
Compare these phones head-to-head.
