Disclosure: ZenStand provided this unit as part of a sponsorship.

I've been using the ZenStand for a few months now, and I can say it's well designed, well made, and genuinely user-centric.

Design

The first thing you notice is the design. Most wireless chargers are plastic and metal; the ZenStand goes for something more niche and more premium. Brands like Nomad and Mous have experimented with glass and vegan leather, but the ZenStand stands out with a genuine walnut build.

My unit came in a slightly darker finish, which looks even better next to my light-colored wooden desk. The edges are sanded smooth, no sharp corners anywhere, and a layer of clear lacquer gives it a satisfying feel. I prefer the look of walnut to more common woods like oak.

The main body is finished in a dark matte paint that complements the wood well. The whole package is understated — "old money," if you know the look.

The base is adhesive, so the charger stays anchored to my nightstand instead of sliding around. That matters more than it sounds: when I grab my phone from bed in the morning, the stand stays put instead of dragging along and knocking everything over.

There's a second reason they pitch this as a bedroom charger — there's no LED indicator anywhere on the stand. That's a lifesaver for my wife. I'm a deep sleeper, so I never realized how much those tiny LEDs can affect someone else's sleep. I've had to tape over half the lights in our bedroom so she can rest.

Charging

The ZenStand has three charging pads: two larger pads and a third sized for the Apple Watch. I'm told Samsung watch support is in the works, but it isn't available yet.

Both larger pads are Qi compatible and have magnets built in, so my phone charges either lying flat or propped at an angle, and I never have to think about coil alignment, no more waking up to a dead battery.

The layout also solves a practical problem. My bedroom has limited outlets, and running chargers on both sides of the bed is a hassle. With the ZenStand, my wife and I can charge both phones from one unit.

Charging is rated at 15W for the main pad and 5W for the lower pad. Not the fastest out there, but I wake up at 100%, which is all I need — and I avoid the heat and fan noise that come with faster chargers.

Summary

The ZenStand is a design-first wireless charger, best suited to people who care about how their desk or nightstand looks. It won't win on raw performance the way gaming gear does, but for the right user it earns its spot.