What are the types of phone chargers and why should knowing about them matter to you? Is fast charging possible with every smartphone? Is it worth using certified replacements? Find out the answers to these questions.
You've held more than one smartphone in your hands, and you probably know their most embarrassing secret. Some phone batteries only last a day. Others last much longer – even a week. Fortunately, you buy the device along with a charger, so when the battery starts to fail, you plug your phone into a power source and everything works as it should again. It seems simple, but it's worth knowing a few facts about safely charging your smartphone.
What's worth knowing about fast charging?
Not every smartphone available on the market supports the fast charging process. There are still many such devices. So, if your smartphone wasn't equipped with this feature from the factory, even if you connect it to an express charger, it may not make much of a difference. The quickest way to check is in the technical specifications of your device. The charging process will still take a long time, and using this option can lead to battery performance degradation. Why? Because your device is not equipped with appropriate safeguards, which can lead to damage as a result of improper charging.
However, keeping up with the times, market demands, and competitive pressure, smartphone manufacturers are increasingly equipping them with technologies that support fast charging. Such a phone is equipped with appropriate components, allowing it to support a charger with higher amperage. Qualcomm, the manufacturer of processors that enable fast charging of your smartphone, assures that its solutions can charge up to 75 percent faster than in a phone lacking this technology.
When can we talk about fast charging?
The power of a standard power adapter, which allows you to charge your smartphone via a USB cable, is approximately 5 watts. Fast charging technologies allow for higher power output. This possibility first appeared in 2013 thanks to Qualcomm. Their technology, called Quick Charge, is available in all devices equipped with Snapdragon processors supplied by Qualcomm. This enables fast charging of smartphones with a power output of 15 to 18 watts.
OPPO also offers its solutions, providing fast charging with VOOC technology, which is primarily available on devices from Chinese manufacturers. The most efficient option is charging at 50W, where the battery level can be increased to 40 percent in ten minutes. USB-C Power Delivery technology is available in smartphones and laptops. It allows charging with a power output of 15 to 40 watts.
See also: How to properly charge your phone battery
Types of phone chargers
Chargers will differ from each other depending on the technology they operate with.
- Mains charger is the most popular model, one might venture to say it's present in every Viking's home. Equipped with a plug, you can connect it to an electrical outlet at home, while the cable itself is enough to charge your phone on public transport or via a USB port on a computer. Mains chargers are usually supplied as part of the smartphone package.
- Car charger allows you to maintain connectivity with the world while traveling by car. While driving, you can plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and, with an internet package from Mobile Vikings, use driver apps. Simple, right?
- Wireless charger is the youngest in this group. Charging your phone is done using a special pad, based on the Qi Wireless Charging standard, on which you place the device. You lift it, and charging stops. No need for any plugs or knowledge of connector types. A very convenient solution, however, the transmitted power is lower than wired fast charging (it's 5-15W). Unfortunately, not every smartphone is equipped with the ability to receive power wirelessly.
In stores, you'll find a wide selection of chargers that support fast charging. Both mains models, wireless chargers, and car chargers operate with this technology. However, this doesn't mean that every one of them will be compatible with your device. First, it's worth checking in the specifications which technology your smartphone supports and then make your choice. Additionally, if you use an Apple device, you should pay attention to whether non-original accessories have MFi certification (Apple compatibility test). Using uncertified cables can be costly in the future and lead to device damage. Cables that have received MFi certification have been tested for durability, materials used, and safety. This also means that their manufacturers pay royalties to Apple for the right to have the "Made for iPhone" stamp on their packaging.
When you buy a smartphone or other electronic device, the charger is usually included by the manufacturer. Problems arise when it gets damaged or you forget it in a hotel in an exotic country on the other side of the globe. Then you quickly need to get a replacement. Now you know that it shouldn't be a USB cable from a discount store for a few bucks, but a tested set that meets rather stringent standards.
