Choosing the right charger for your phone doesn’t have to be hard. That said, we’ll walk you through what you should look for in a charger in this post.

We’ll discuss the following things and why they’re crucial to helping you pick the best phone charger:

• Charging port 
• Power output
• Fast charging protocols
• Charging for multiple devices 
• Brand

Simply put, this is the ultimate phone charger buying guide. Let’s dive right into it.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Phone Charger

What follows is a rundown of what you should keep in mind when choosing a phone charger. 

1. Charging Port 

Buy a charger whose port corresponds with your phone’s port. And, that shouldn’t be a problem.

The latest Android phones have USB-C ports, while older models have a micro USB port. Apple phones, on the other hand, feature the Lightning port. You can also charge Apple devices using adapters like the USB-C to Lightning adapter/cable.

Regarding charging ports, it all boils down to the type of cable the port can support.

Put differently, a charger with multiple ports supporting different types of cables always allows you to charge different devices.

 

2. Smartphone Output (W)

To understand power output, we need to look at two things first:

VOLTAGE (V)

The best charger should offer a voltage that matches your smartphone’s. 

While 5V has been the standard for a long time, there are new technologies like Qualcomm that can deliver 9 to 12V. Most chargers that support 9/12V can automatically detect a non-Qualcomm smartphone and adjust to 5V. Essentially, this means that you can use a 9/12V charger with older smartphones rated at 5V.

AMPERAGE (A)

The more amperage a charger has, the faster it charges your device. Even so, some smartphones cap the amount of current the device can allow even using a high amperage charger. When looking for a phone charger, make sure it has a voltage rating of at least 2A. 

With that out of the way, let’s now talk about power output (W). 

For starters, to get the power output, you’ll need to multiply the voltage by amperage. In essence, this implies that the more voltage and amperage a charger has, the higher is its power output. 

For instance, a charger rated at 5V/2A can deliver a 10W total power output while 9V/2A rating translates to an 18W total output. And given that the latest smartphones often support an output of 18W to 65W, you should go for a charger that matches the same.

 

QUICK CHARGING 

Of course, you’re better off with a charger that supports fast charging. Still, you need to make sure that your smartphone can handle fast charging as well. So, before in invest in a fast charger, make sure:

1. Your smartphone is compatible with fast chargers.
2. You know your phone’s fast charging protocol.
3. Your cable can support fast charging.

Let’s expound on the second point:

3. Fast Charging Protocols

 

As the name suggests, fast charging protocol is a technology that facilitates fast charging.

Most smartphones use either Power Delivery or Quick Charger protocols. There are other brand-specific protocols, though. A brand like OnePlus, for instance, uses Warp Charge.

When choosing a phone charger, make sure it offers the same fast charging protocol as your smartphone. 

Samsung devices support two fast-charging protocols; Adaptive Fast Charging, a modified version of Quick Charge, and Super-Fast Charging, a modified version of Power Delivery. Still, a charger that offers standard Quick Charge and Power Delivery protocols will work just fine with Samsung smartphones.

If you own an iPhone 8 and above, pick a charger that offers Power Delivery because these phones support extra fast charging. These devices can handle up to 18W output, capable of charging your battery to 50% after 30 minutes.

 

4. Charging for Multiple Devices 

The best charge should offer multiple outputs. That way, you can charge several devices at the same time. Even so, you make sure such a charger supports high power to achieve simultaneous fast charging. 

Speaking of which, here’s an excellent Gan Faster Charger with 3 USB-C and 1 USB-A charging port to support multiple device charging. It offers a remarkable 100W power output.

 

5. Brand

Brand matters when looking for a new phone charger. Ideally, you want a charger made by a reputable 3rd party charger manufacturer.

Why is this important? Creditable brands manufacture high-quality chargers that have undergone rigorous testing for performance and reliability. On top of that, reputable brands make chargers that comply with international certifications like CE, RoHS, etc.

While these chargers are available at a premium price, they’re the original smartphone chargers. Also, make sure that you read a brand’s reviews by customers. You’ll want to buy from a brand with positive reviews and high ratings from happy users. 

The Bottom Line 

When you know what to look for in a charger, picking one that meets your requirement becomes pretty straightforward. Irrespective of your budget and smartphone’s charging specifications, sticking to the points outlined here will ensure that you get value for your money. Remember, a cheap charger can damage your phone’s battery, costing you more in the long run.