The market is saturated with different phone chargers, making it quite a challenge to choose the right charger for you.
If you’re looking for a charger for your phone and have a problem narrowing down your options, this blog post will sort you out. We’ve even thrown in a couple of tidbits to help you buy a charger that suits your needs.
Let’s get cracking!
Understanding the Different Types of Chargers
Wall Charger
Of all chargers, wall phone chargers are the most common.
A typical wall charger has a cable sprouting from an adapter that plugs into a wall socket. These chargers are pretty reliable. If you buy a new phone, the included charger is most likely a wall charger.
When looking for a wall charger, choose one with multiple USB ports compatible with phone types.
Desktop Charger
Desktop chargers sport a minimalist design and are an excellent alternative to their wall counterparts.
These chargers are ideal if you’re looking for the convenience that wall chargers don’t offer.
Desktop chargers, as the name suggests, can be installed on desktops, side tables, desktops and virtually any furniture with a flat surface.
Here’s an excellent desktop charger boasting up to 100W Power Delivery charging and a multiport charging station.
Car Charger
A car phone charger is designed to fit in the 12-volt cigarette lighter port in your vehicle’s dashboard.
And the beauty of it is that once you remove the charger from the lighter port, your phone stops charging, preserving your car’s battery.
Essentially, this means that you can charge your phone even when the engine isn’t running without draining your vehicle’s battery.
When choosing a car charger, pick one with multiple USB ports and a long cable that can extend to the back seat. That way, front seat and rear-seat passengers can charge their electronic devices simultaneously.
Wireless chargers are a little bit different.
You don’t have to plug the charger into a cable to charge your phone. All you need to do is place your phone face-up and let the charger do the work.
The charger features a built-in copper transmitter coil that generates an electromagnetic field once you place your phone on it. A copper receiver in your phone then transforms this current into electricity, thereby charging your phone.
It can take 3 to 4 hours to fully charge a phone using a wireless charger. That’s in sharp contrast with a wired charger that takes about 2.5 hours to charge a phone. So, when looking for a wireless charger, choose one that supports reasonably fast charging.
Tips for Portable Charger to Maximize Battery Lifespan
How Do You Extend the Battery Life of Portable Chargers?
- Use the battery within the optimized operating temperature (0℃ to 25℃).
- Do not use it close to a heat source.
- Do not store the portable charger in a hot or humid environment.
- Do not misuse the battery. Irregular use (including but not limited to overuse, using methods, environmental conditions, etc.) will easily lead to performance degradation of lithium batteries, shorten the run time, affect the lifespan, and may even lead to bulging, smoke, and fire.
- It is recommended to recharge the lithium battery periodically (once every 3 months).
Frequent Q&As About Lifespan and Temperature
Q1: What is the optimized operating temperature and storage temperature of portable chargers?
The optimized operating temperature is at 0°F to 77°F (0℃ to 25℃). If you’re storing the batteries for 1 month, a good rule of thumb is to keep them at 14°F to 113°F (-10°C to 45°C) and at 14°F to 95°F (-10°C to 35°C) if you’re storing them for 3 months.
Q2: How do you preserve the lifespan of portable chargers?
It is recommended to recharge the portable chargers at least once every 3 months.
Power Bank
A power bank is great for keeping your phone charged while on the go. They can also come to the rescue during emergencies, especially when you don’t have access to power.
Still, any power bank worth your attention should offer about 500 charging and discharging cycles. That’s approximately one and a half years of a solid performance.
Avoid cheap power banks – most struggle to hold charge for more than 2 months. High-end power banks, on the other hand, can hold charge for up to 6 months.
Solar Charger
Solar chargers derive their power from the sun. They come with a small solar panel and a rechargeable battery that in turn charges your phone.
Solar chargers are perfect for outdoor use. They can also come in handy when your car battery has drained. Moreover, if you’re a clean energy enthusiast, you may consider investing in a solar phone charger.
When looking for a solar charger, choose one that can soak in sunlight on cloudy days.
High-quality chargers take about 3 hours to charge your phone’ battery to full capacity compared to their cheap yet slow alternatives that require 10 to 12 hours for the same task.
You can opt for small, pocket-sized chargers if you’re after convenience.
The Bottom Line
You shouldn’t buy the first charger that comes your way without understanding what it has to offer and if it’s the right type for your phone. That said, you now know what to get with each charger type. So, go get the type of phone charger that meets your needs!