We spend a lot of money on tech, so an additional expense for something we don’t absolutely have to have can seem burdensome. Fortunately, there are a lot of great options with low price tags. Your dear author can attest to this one. The ease of use with wireless charging pads reigns supreme. Have you ever had all your cords fall behind your desk? Well, we have, and you only have two options to avoid it. Fasten your cords to your desk, or get a wireless charger. Coming from Anker — one of the best brands in power bank and charging technology — you can fully rely on the performance of this PowerWave charging stand. It works with all Qi-compatible smartphones, including the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and more. A built-in LED indicator will also let you know whether or not your device is properly aligned and charging. The RGB lighting here is bright as well. And, the touch sensor is a nice touch, even though it only really lets you toggle between three onboard lighting profiles. We've spent many weeks working and gaming on the Harber London Microfibre Minimalist Desk Mat, and we can honestly say that this is the best desk mats we've ever used. We would have put it at the top of our list, if it weren't for the fact that this is still first and foremost a mouse pad guide.

The yellow Roccat flag near the top left corner, on top of the Roccat logo, is a nice touch. However, it's still pretty minimal in terms of design and features. But, the focus here is agility so none of those matter. What is the best mouse pad to use?With productivity mice, however, we found that it works beautifully. The smooth gliding combined with its good amount of friction allows you a more seamless workflow – instead of having to constantly miss a button you're trying to press onscreen. Its anti-skid natural rubber base also does a great job of keeping it in place. Plus, its edges are stitched to ensure it lasts longer and minimizes fraying. The micro-texture cloth surface here is optimized for all sensitivity settings and sensors. And, it did feel great to game on during our testing, offering smooth and speedy gliding. Meanwhile, its non-slip rubber base keeps it in place. Though that should also have something to do with the fact that it's massive and that other peripherals like a gaming keyboard should act as weights.

The smallest mousepads we recommend are around 35 by 25cm in size, giving you plenty of freedom to move without taking up too much desk space. There are two sizes on hand – the square one that gives you a spacious 450 x 450 mm surface area and the XXL size that offers a massive 900 x 420 mm space. The square one, we've found, is more than good enough, but if you want to home all your peripherals, the bigger version is affordable and worth considering. One of the absolute best reasons to get a wireless charging mouse pad is that it can charge your mouse, phone, keyboard, and headphones all while you work! The real selling point here, though, is the mouse. You can completely rid your life of cords; scroll through Excel documents or explore the Appalachian wasteland in FO76 without having to tap out to change batteries.

One of the best things about this kind of charging stand is that it’s essentially multifunctional. You can set your smartphone on the stand and still use it for streaming or video calls and conferencing. You can also charge either vertically or horizontally (with most compatible smartphone models, at least), which is an added bonus — especially for streaming. Roccat has always had impressive RGB lighting, though it is something of an acquired taste. So it's no surprise that the Roccat Sense Aimo not only boasts two customizable zones and comes with 10 onboard RGB lighting profiles, but also delivers bright lighting that you can sync with compatible devices for your full immersion. To access those lighting profiles, you just need to press the built-in button, which also allows you to turn it off completely if you need a break. They’re pretty much as they sound. Wireless charging mats are literal mats, or little pads, that you can place your device onto. A stand will generally prop your device up. Charging mats are good for having on your desk or on a bedside table, so your phone or device is easily to hand. Wireless charging stands are especially good if you like to keep using your smartphone while it’s charging — because it’s upright — particularly if you're making video calls or streaming videos. How does a wireless charger work? It has no RGB or fancy features, but if you’re looking to upgrade your current mousepad, this one will improve your gaming experience no end.

Compared to the GIM mouse pad, you get a bigger width here, along with the option to choose between a soft or hard surface. The surface also comes with a waterproof coating to help protect it against accidental spills. We’ve compiled a short list with all the best reasons to buy a wireless charging mouse pad. Take a look! Charge While You Work To throw another spanner in the works, there are plenty of mouse pads out there that come with extra features such as wireless charging, USB ports and RGB lights. These are pretty unnecessary for the mouse pad itself, but if you’re looking for that extra bit of functionality or the aesthetic appeal of RGB lights, it’s good to know these options exist. Hybrid mouse mats are slightly rougher than standard plastic, but offer more control while still being speedy. In essence, you get the best of both plastic and fabric mouse pads, and this hybrid Razer gaming mouse pad is the best quality one you’ll find. With multiple color choices, waterproof construction, and a wide range of charging, this is a solid runner-up mouse pad. It’s compatible with all Qi devices and even has the quality of life feature of putting the charger on either side, so everyone should be able to use it comfortably.

Here is how to choose the best wireless charging mouse pad

Today, we see all sorts of gadgets with wireless charging capabilities. There are three types of wireless charging: A4WP, PMA, and WPC. WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) is the most popular version, and from it came Qi (“Chee”) charging. Qi charging is essentially what we envision when we see wireless charging mouse pads and similar devices.