How We Test

Our methodology is built for repeatability, safety, and real‑world relevance. We test with controlled environments, calibrated tools, and a matrix of devices and cases to reveal how chargers behave across use cases—not just in ideal conditions.

Lab environment and equipment

• Ambient controls: 22–24°C room temperature, monitored humidity; thermal soak before tests
• Power quality: AC line monitoring, surge‑protected and isolated; cables measured for resistance and length
• Tools: USB‑C power analyzers, IR thermal camera, contact thermocouples, gauss meter, precision scale, calipers, sound meter, programmable DC load for brick validation

Core protocols

• Power and thermal curves: We log voltage/current at 1–2 s intervals and surface/coil temps through 0–50–80–100% charge states. We record time to 50/80/100% and maximum steady‑state temperature. We flag throttling, fan noise, or thermal runaway behavior.
• Alignment and stability: We measure magnetic hold, tilt stability, and “blind‑dock” ease with typical cases. For car mounts, we run vibration and temperature cycles and check for net battery loss during navigation + music + wireless CarPlay/AA.
• Efficiency and standby draw: We measure idle consumption and active efficiency under realistic loads and note brick/charger pairing sensitivities.
• Footprint and UX: We assess cable routing, LED brightness, nightstand light spill, and StandBy/Continuity Camera positioning for productivity.

Certification and safety checks

• We verify Qi/Qi2 listing where applicable, inspect required markings, and validate brick outputs against spec. We note when proprietary watch pucks or MFi requirements apply.

Scoring and recommendations

• We weight results by use case (bedside, desk, 3‑in‑1 dock, car, travel). A bedside pick must be cool, quiet, and dim; a desk stand must balance angle, stability, and video‑call utility; car mounts must maintain charge under navigation without overheating.
• Each recommendation lists exact brick wattage and cable spec that achieved our results, plus known compatible devices and cases.

Retesting and updates

• We retest when firmware, materials, or standards change (e.g., Qi2 profiles, new phone thermals). Version notes explain what changed and the impact on scores.

Limitations

• Lab conditions can’t mirror every environment. We disclose assumptions, outliers, and any device‑specific quirks. When wired beats wireless for battery longevity or speed, we say so—and include wired options in the ecosystem blueprint.