Should you buy the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo or Wireless Charging Pad?

We're a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe Android phones, and take advantage of their ability to wirelessly charge whenever possible.

Samsung Wireless Charger Duo

Double charger

$115 at Amazon

Pros

• Charges two devices simultaneously.
• Offers both upright and flat charging options.

Cons

• Takes up a considerable amount of room.
• No real discount over getting two separate chargers.

This is a dead-simple way to charge up two phones, or a phone and a Samsung smartwatch, at the same time with a single charging pad. It charges devices quickly with one cable — but it's over $100, which is expensive for what it does.

Samsung Wireless Charger Pad

Simple single

$60 at Amazon

Pros

• Simple and relatively small.
• Same Fast Charge speeds as the Duo.

Cons

• Can only charge one device at a time.
• Doesn't offer a stand-up configuration.

If you only have the need to charge a single phone or Samsung smartwatch at a time, this simple flat charging pad is cheaper and takes up far less room than the Wireless Charger Duo.

Samsung's recent wireless chargers are all roughly the same in terms of capabilities, but the form factors and extra features vary between models. This one is pretty simple: decide how many devices you need to charge at once, and whether they need to be in one place.

How many devices do you need to charge?

This is a simple equation: how many devices do you need to charge, and how much do you want to spend? If money's no object, and you expect to charge multiple phones at once frequently, then Samsung's Wireless Charger Duo is a great solution. It gives you the ability to charge two phones, or a phone and Samsung smartwatch, at the same time. The Wireless Charger Duo is a single paid with a single charger, which simplifies setup.

If you think $115 is too much to spend on a wireless charger of any type, we get it. You can buy Samsung's single-device wireless charging pad and get the same charging speeds, high-quality materials, and Samsung design; but of course, it can only charge one device at a time. It's designed to charge up Samsung's phones at the fastest possible rate, and it also works with Samsung's latest smartwatches — everything since the Gear S3 Frontier. It doesn't offer a presentation-like stand like others, but it's much smaller and stays out of the way as a result.

The Wireless Charger Duo doesn't work with all smartwatches

The main appeal of the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo is that it's a single pad that can charge up your phone and smartwatch at the same time. The stand-up portion is designed to be used with a phone, and the small flat part is for a smartwatch. But this doesn't mean the right side will work with any smartwatch — it's specifically designed for Samsung's latest wearables, the Galaxy Watch, Gear Sport, Gear S3 Frontier, and Gear S3 Classic.

If you're looking to charge up a different smartwatch, an older Samsung smartwatch, or a fitness tracker, you'll need to look for another all-in-one solution that supports your wearable of choice. The Wireless Charger Duo is a proper Qi wireless charging device, but that doesn't mean that your wearable necessarily supports Qi fully. Many wearables, despite using Qi, need a specific charger or adapter to charge correctly.

Samsung Wireless Charger Duo

Double charger

$115 at Amazon

A great all-in-one solution for people who have two phones or a phone and a smartwatch to charge nightly.

The Wireless Charger Duo is a perfect nightstand accessory for anyone who has two different phones, or a phone and a Samsung smartwatch, to charge at the same time. It can provide quick charging for both devices at once as well. But it's an expensive solution to the problem.

Samsung Wireless Charger Pad

Simple single

$60 at Amazon

Most people only need one wireless charger, and Samsung's simple pad is a great choice.

Maybe you only have one device that needs to be wirelessly charged, or you're willing to deal with separate chargers for each device. If so, you can get the simple and smaller Wireless Charger Pad and save some money while charging up your phone or smartwatch just as fast as the Duo — just not at the same time.