How to Choose a Mobile Phone Charger
You can't have a mobile phone without a charger. There is always one from the manufacturer in the original pack of each phone, but how to choose the right one if you want to get an extra charger or if you need to replace your old one? In this guide, we will advise you on how to keep track of the different types of chargers, what to look out for and how to choose the one that fits your phone and your needs.
How to choose a mobile phone charger - CONTENTS
- Tips for choosing a mobile charger
- What is important when choosing a charger?
- Classic chargers
- Quick chargers
- Wireless chargers
- Charging stands
- Car chargers
- Powerbanks
Tips for choosing a mobile phone charger
- Always choose a charger that is compatible with your phone.
- Watch for parameters such as fast or wireless charging options - if your phone doesn't support these, it's pointless to buy such a charger.
- On the other hand, the fast charging is a function that is really useful.
- Cheap chargers, often without certification, can cause a damage to the phone. The presence of the CE mark (certificate of safety) in the countries of the European Union is a good indicator. Price also says a lot - if it's too low, be careful.
- Choose a charger according to your needs - do you need fast charging or an option to charge the phone in the car?
What is important when choosing a phone charger?
Connector
Mobile phones are equipped with one of three connectors for charging. In addition to charging, it is also used to connect the phone to a computer and a two-way data transfer.
Power
The most important parameter that needs to be taken into account is power of the charger. This indicates how much current the charger is able to bring into the phone. This is logically reflected in the speed of charging. The power (in watts) is written on the charger itself or we can find it on the packaging or in the product description in the e-shop.
We can very easily calculate the power ourselves. You just need to know the values of voltage (V) and current (A). Multiply these two numbers to get the power.
The power of the charger should match the power of the phone or the battery . It definitely shouldn't be lower. On the other hand, it doesn't matter if the power of the charger is higher, but the speed of charging depends on the power of the phone (in layman's terms, it is a kind of door that allows only a fixed amount of energy to come into the phone at once and it doesn't really matter how much you send to the door).
So if you want to charge an 18W battery with a charger with a power of 40 W, it will have no effect and the phone will charge with a maximum power of the 18W that is supported by the battery. So it all depends on the phone. And although charging with higher power can't cause any damage to your phone, thanks to a set of fuses, it is still advisable to choose chargers with power that is supported by the phone. Up to 5 W is considered standard charging, higher values are generally included in the category of fast charging.
Voltage
Voltage together with current are the most important parameters of the charger. The voltage (V) basically indicates its power. The higher the voltage, the higher the power the charger is able to achieve while maintaining the same current.
The lowest allowed voltage is 5 V, but on the market we also find much higher voltage, e.g. 9 or 12 volts. This allows manufacturers, among other things, to reduce the current flowing to the charger without losing power. Conversely, if the phone's hardware and software allow it, also bring a larger amount of current to the battery in less time. This is how fast charging works.
Current
Current is the second important variable that indicates how powerful your charger will be. It is measured in amperes (you will find a similar information on the batteries themselves, it basically indicates how much current can fit in the battery). Normally you'lle find a current of around 2 A, some chargers even have 3 A. However, there are chargers on the market designed specifically for car charging, with a current of around 5 to 6 A.
A classic charger (also a network or AC charger) is a common part of the phone's packaging today. There are practically two types on the market - chargers with a cable connected directly to the adapter, but a more common form is a charger with a detachable USB cable, which also serves as a transfer cable for connection to the computer. The chargers use a standard 230 V socket voltage.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing a classic charger
Should I choose a charger with a detachable or fixed cable?
The advantage of chargers with a detachable cable is obvious - the cable is connected to the charger (the box you put in the socket) via ordinary USB. You can immediately use the cable itself as a data cable to connect to the computer. On the other hand, it is another connector that can wear out with frequent use.
Fast charging is priceless when you're in a hurry and suddenly find out that your phone only has 20 percent of battery left. The quick charger ensures that the phone reaches the required charge level very quickly. The latest technologies can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in less than an hour.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing quick chargers
Can fast charging damage the battery?
It can't. If the phone supports fast charging, it has control circuits and a battery itself adapted to be able to receive a larger amount of energy at once. It is therefore also protected against overvoltage, etc.
On what principle does fast charging actually work?
In short, the phone's control circuits are capable of delivering more current to the battery at once. You can learn more about fast charging in our article Why should I buy a quick charger .
Wireless chargers work on a principle of electrical induction. It is created between two coils, one is located in the charging pad, the other in the phone. Wireless charging of phones is definitely stylish - you place the device on a pad and charging starts. However, the most significant disadvantage is the speed. Although it is now starting to improve, wireless charging is still a bit slower than the conventional one, and it cannot be even compared to fast charging. Currently, the maximum power that this type of charger can handle is around 15 W.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing wireless charger
Is wireless charging suitable for every phone?
No, the phone must support it, so it must be adapted for wireless charging. It is usually promoted by the manufacturer and you will always find this information in the parameters of the device. Currently, we find the support of wireless charging in the flagship models of some manufacturers (unfortunately not all of them) and some phones of the upper middle class.
Charging stands (also docking stations ) eliminate one significant disadvantage of conventional or plug-in chargers: If you need to have a constant view of the display (eg when working at a computer), a phone lying horizontally on a table or somewhere where you find a free socket for a charger is not very practical. The charging stand, on the other hand, keeps the phone upright so you can see it clearly all the time. The charging stand is a practical accessory to your office desk. You come to work, you plug in your phone and that's it. What's more, thanks to the control circuits, that contemporary phones come with, it doesn't even matter if the phone stays in the charging stand all day.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing a charging stand
Are the charging stands suitable for every phone?
It depends on the connector of your mobile phone. Whether USB-C, micro-USB, or Lightning. There is a wide range of charging stands available for all types of connectors. Some are designed for a specific phone brand (it differs, for example. with the width of space for the phone), others are very universal.
Do charging stands have any other advantage?
Yes, some of them will serve as a docking station in addition to charging, which will make it easier for you to connect your mobile phone to your computer.
Car chargers differ from classic chargers in the way they are used. A different way of connection is important. For a connection to the power supply, they use either the integrated USB connector or, in older car models, the classic car socket. The connector itself for connecting one or more phones is usually a standard USB. It is therefore possible to use the cable that is included in the package with the phone. In any case, car chargers are very practical. If you drive often, you don't have to worry if you're leaving the house with a empty phone battery. On business trips and holidays, car charger is a must have.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing a car charger
Are they suitable for charging multiple devices at once?
Car chargers with two or more outputs are quite common these days, you simply connect it with USB cable. If you buy such a charger and you know that charging one device is not enough for you, choose a charger with a higher output voltage - definitely more than two amperes. The voltage is divided between the devices and with more connected devices, the whole process will take much longer. In addition, it harms the charger itself.
Charger packed for travels - this is how we could also call the popular powerbanks. In other words, these are chargers with their own power source, they function as external batteries for the phone. They need to be recharged in advance, but then you can fully charge the device two to three times without a need to plug your phone into the socket. They are suitable in situations where you need to quickly recharge your phone in the field.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing a powerbank
What can affect the performance of the power bank?
You should focus on all the important parameters when choosing a power bank. In particular, the battery voltage, output voltage, charging speed and power losses during charging and discharging. The performance and functionality of the power bank is then a combination of these features.
What capacities power bank have and which one to choose?
Capacity is undoubtedly one of the most important parameters. This number indicates how much current can be stored in the power bank. However, how quickly and how many times you will be able to charge your phone, depends on a number of factors.
The main catch is that the manufacturers declare the capacity of the power bank at a voltage of 3.7 V. But the USB cable has an output voltage of 5 V. Anyway, if we count with the 3.7 V voltage, we will find power banks with a capacity of 5,000 to 40,000 mAh - with that we can easily charge a laptop. A capacity from 10,000 to 20,000 mAh is sufficient for charging mobile phones. These powerbanks are suitable for all current types of mobile phones and batteries inside of them.
Are there powerbanks offering wireless charging?
Yes, you can use them not only to charge mobile phones, but also to charge smart watches , for example. The only condition is that your watch need to support wireless charging. And just like with conventional wireless chargers, charging will take longer than with a standard power bank.
Glossary - Mobile phone chargers
UBC-C
Universal double-sided type of connector for connecting a mobile phone (or other device) to a phone or computer.
Battery capacity
The amount of power that the battery is capable of holding. It is given in mAh. The higher it is, the more energy you can use to charge your device.
Battery type
Indicates the technology used to make the battery. This is reflected in its durability, but also in the speed at which the battery will be charged.
