Fast wired charging has become a common feature on smartphones today, but Samsung's recent flagships continue to be superior to the competition thanks to their support for fast wireless charging. Wireless charging in both regular and fast forms pales in comparison to wired fast charging, but Samsung's implementation of fast wireless charging drastically cuts down on the time it takes to charge a phone from 0 to 100 percent when compared to standard wireless charging.
Alongside the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung introduced its convenient fast wireless charging stand, but third-party manufacturers have been offering fast wireless chargers that work with the Korean giant's devices since the launch of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ last year. Tronsmart, one of the big names in the charging accessories market, recently released a fast wireless charger dubbed Chocolate. That name isn't just chosen for its funkiness – this charger really does look like a slab of chocolate, with a silica gel material used for making the side that charges your device.
Right off the bat, its regular non-standing pad nature stands out as a disadvantage compared to standing chargers, but its unique design makes it an interesting product. The Chocolate charger isn't just for Samsung devices – it will work with any smartphone with support for the Qi wireless charging standard (which is pretty much the standard used by every Android device that supports wireless charging). That also includes all Samsung flagships since (and including) the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.
Also Read: Tronsmart Titan review: five fast charging ports in one for your Samsung devices
Tronsmart was kind enough to send us a unit of its cute little fast wireless charger, and I have been using it for a couple of weeks in place of the Samsung wireless charging stand. The best part about this charger is just how lightweight it is, although that does make you feel like the thing could break with even the slightest mishandling. There's a slight creaking sound when you put pressure on either side of the charger, so its light nature does make for poorer build quality compared to the Tronsmart Titan.
But once you connect it to the charging cable, the charger sticks in one place thanks to the four rubber pads at the back. Even if it does move around, it's never a problem when it comes to charging your device. The Chocolate charger isn't very finicky about how you place your phone on it. You can put the phone diagonally across the charger, place it straight over the entire surface, or put it at a 90 degree angle across the charger's width, and charging works properly most of the time. An indication light at the bottom tells you if charging is working, although this light can be easily hidden based on the orientation of the phone on top.
Like Samsung's fast wireless charging stand, you need to use Samsung's official fast wired charger in order to use the Chocolate charger in fast charging mode. Charging speeds are similar to Samsung's charger – the Galaxy S7 edge took just a little over two and a half hours to reach 100 percent charge from zero. The Galaxy Note 5's smaller battery reaches full capacity in around two hours, and so does the Galaxy S7's. Naturally, using the device while it's charging will increase charging times. I never noticed any overheating, and the charger itself remains remarkably cool at all times.
As far as wirelessly charging your Samsung phone is concerned, the Tronsmart Chocolate works as well as any other charger out there. But I have to admit that Samsung's wireless charging stand has me spoiled because of the convenience it offers. The standing nature of the charger goes well with Samsung's Always On Display feature on the S7 and S7 edge, and you don't have to take the phone off the charger to properly use it while it is being charged. Every wireless charger stand gives you this convenience, and its absence is a disadvantage for all regular charging pads.
But the Chocolate wireless charger is still a nice product: It has a cute yet simple design and it's also considerably cheaper than Samsung's official fast wireless chargers (although it doesn't come bundled with a charging block). It's priced at around $25 in most markets, and folks in the US can even pick it up for as low as $17.99 from Amazon. If you can afford Samsung's wireless charging stand, then that is the one to get. If not, then the Chocolate fast wireless charger is certainly a very nice alternative.
Grab the Tronsmart Chocolate from Amazon, and visit the official Tronsmart website for more information.
