yo, congrats on the upgrade! honestly i've spent way too much time testing this stuff with my own gear. basically, if u want that absolute 21W max speed, ur unfortunately stuck with the Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen). I tried using a generic Anker 313 Wireless Charger (Pad) and it was like watching paint dry compared to the official stand... totally frustrating when ur in a rush. heres the breakdown of what i've found from personal experience: * **Option A: The Official Route.** The Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) is the only one that hits 21W cuz it uses Google's proprietary handshake. Plus it has a built-in fan which is huge because heat is what usually kills charging speeds anyway. It's pricey, but it's the only way to avoid that annoying "charging slowly" notification.
* **Option B: EPP Chargers.** If u go with something like the iOttie iON Wireless Duo, ur gonna get 12W max. It's fine for overnight, but for a quick desk top-off? kinda meh tbh.
* **Option C: Qi2/MagSafe.** I'm currently using a MagSafe-compatible case with an Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad). It's super convenient for alignment, but ur still limited to 15W max (and usually it hovers around 12W in reality). TL;DR: dont waste money on third-party pads if speed is ur #1 priority. Get the Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) or just stick to a wired Google 30W USB-C Power Adapter for the real fast speeds. be careful with those "15W" claims on Amazon, they rarely hit that on Pixels!! good luck!

Ok so, I've been down this rabbit hole too and honestly, unless you wanna drop big bucks on the Google one, you're gonna be capped at 15W max on most third-party gear. But seriously, don't waste money on those super cheap 5W pads!! I'm always a bit cautious about heat, so I prefer stands that actually have decent airflow to protect the battery. For your desk, these are amazing budget-friendly options that hit that 15W EPP limit:
* INIU 15W Wireless Charging Stand with Auto-Adaptive LED Indicator (Model: WI-211) — I got mine for like $18 and it's surprisingly solid.
* ESR 15W Wireless Charger with CryoBoost Cooling Fan — This one is usually around $25 and keeps the phone cool, which is huge for longevity tbh. Just make sure you're using a high-wattage wall plug or it wont reach those speeds anyway. It's not 21W, but for the price, it's a mood. Good luck! 👍

mwushixsfn is spot on about the thermal throttling... it's a huge bottleneck. Over the years, I've tried many different setups and used a power meter to see what's actually happening behind the scenes. If the phone hits a certain temp, that 15W EPP speed drops off a cliff. In my experience, even if a pad says 15W, the phone often pulls closer to 11W once it gets warm. If you want a really solid build quality that actually stays consistent, I've had great luck with these:

• Samsung Super Fast Wireless Charger Single Pad EP-P2400
• Mophie 15W Wireless Charging Pad
• Satechi Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand Basically, if youre not using the official stand, you just gotta accept that 15W EPP is your ceiling. Just make sure whatever brick youre plugging the pad into supports PD 3.0 or PPS, or it wont even hit those 15W speeds. I've seen so many people plug a fast pad into an old brick and wonder why its crawling... definitely check the specs on your wall plug too.

For ur situation, i totally get the struggle. i was sooo tired of slow speeds, so i grabbed a cheaper 15W EPP pad. i think u only get the full 21W with the pricey ones, but these save money: * Spigen ArcField Wireless Charger (15W Max) (~$25)
* Ugreen 15W Qi Wireless Charging Pad (~$18) Honestly, i'm super happy with the Spigen ArcField. it works well and was cheap! gl

Just sharing my experience: I actually went through this exact same rabbit hole last month cuz I was super paranoid about battery degradation from heat. Basically, unless you use the proprietary stand, the phone's internal controller is gonna throttle speeds to stay safe anyway. I tried a few 'fast' 15W pads and honestly, most of them got my Pixel 9 Pro way too hot for comfort. I ended up settling on the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 15W Wireless Charging Pad with Wall Charger because it adheres to the Qi EPP standards properly and keeps thermals stable. I also tested the Mophie 15W Universal Wireless Charging Stand and it was decent, though again, you're capped at 15W max. It's frustrating that we're locked out of that 21W peak without the Google gear, but tbh the safety of a slower, cooler charge is worth it for long-term battery health. gl!!

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.