If there is a silver lining to the removal of chargers from smartphone retail boxes, it’s the freedom to choose a power brick that best suits your collection of gadgets. As we carry and use more battery-powered devices than ever, your phone charger doesn’t just have to top up your phone. It can also charge your laptop, power bank, smartwatch, tablet, wireless earbuds, and other mobile accessories.
However, getting the right phone charger can be tricky, given the different fast charging standards used by different manufacturers. For example, if you own a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone, you’ll need a charger that not only supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD) but also Programmable Power Supply (PPS). Similarly, some smartphones rely on Qualcomm’s QuickCharge fast charging protocol, whereas others, like OnePlus, have proprietary standards.
Moreover, those wanting a multi-port power brick or one that can juice up their USB PD-compatible laptop also need to account for which USB ports they need or the output wattage of the charger. To help with your search, we have rounded up a wide range of power bricks that support different fast charging protocols, have different number of USB ports, and have different wattages. These chargers are ideal for charging existing and upcoming smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other devices that draw power from a USB port.
While shopping for a phone charger, one has to deal with a ton of jargon. Here’s a quick explanation of a few common terms to help you better understand them.
While practically any charger can juice up your phone, guaranteeing fast charging, especially with a conventional power brick, is uncertain. To ensure rapid, energy-efficient charging, check to see if your phone supports one of the modern power standards, then purchase an accessory with the protocol built-in.
Below, we’ll explore the fast-charging protocols commonly employed by smartphone manufacturers and the corresponding charging speeds you can anticipate.
Popular accessory manufacturers offer a great selection of wired chargers for smartphones. You can pick a suitable option based on the fast charging protocol used by your phone, tablet, and other mobile devices.
Among our recommendations, the Anker 313 Charger is perfect for Apple, Google, and Samsung smartphone owners. It can deliver up to 45W power and has a single USB Type-C port. You can also use it to top up any tablets and laptops that use the USB PD technology.
But if you want a multiport charger with high wattage output, the Shargeek 140W PD3.1 GaN Charger is an excellent option. It features three USB ports, including a Type-A, to offer up to 140W power. It also uses GaN transistors, supports USB PD 3.1, PPS, and QuickCharge 4+, and has swappable plugs for international travel.
Value-conscious buyers will appreciate the 45W USB-C PD Charger from Nekteck. It supports 45W charging and is USB-IF certified. However, that permanently attached USB-C cable is a problem, as you will have to replace the entire unit if the cable gets damaged.
While your budget might hold you back, try to buy a charger with a detachable cable and invest in a quality USB-C cable, as 5A USB-C cables are a requirement to enjoy PPS and 100W fast charging. Your smartphone will thank you, not in words, but by charging faster and wasting less energy.
Maybe if we start telling people the brain is an app they will start using it!
