How to Buy the Right USB Car Charger
We all bring our phones with us in our cars. What’s the best way to charge them along the way?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you bought a new car in the last few years, chances are your vehicle can charge your phone for you, either through a wireless charging pad or a USB port. But for anyone with a car that’s 15 years old or older, finding a way to plug your phone in can be frustrating.
Enter the USB car charger. This little car accessory can be a lifesaver for anyone from truckers and traveling salespeople to road-trippers wanting to stay reachable and connected while on the highway. Many Americans already have one plugged into what was once a cigarette lighter.
Like most consumer goods, not all USB car chargers are equal. Capability and price vary, and some devices need more power than others. Choosing the wrong charger can fry your battery and even
start a fire
. But a few bits of advice can get you the right one at the right price.How to match a USB charger to your device
Walk into your local electronics retailer and you’ll find a wide variety of phone chargers. Compatibility with devices changes from device make, age, and wattage. Chargers for your car are no different.
Picking the right one can be tricky when you’re bombarded with all the options, but if you keep a few details in mind, walking out of the store with the right charger is easy.
First off, you need to make sure your phone’s cord matches the charger’s connection. Most chargers offer USB-A ports, and you can find a cord with USB-A on one end and Lightning (for iPhones), USB-C, or Micro USB (for other devices) on the other.
USB-C ports are newer and less widely available, but they charge faster than USB-A, offering 18 watts compared to USB-A’s 5-10 watts. But before you choose, make sure to check reviews online.
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Great options for USB car chargers
There are a lot of companies selling accessories for phones and cars. Some are more reliable than others. Thankfully, the
New York Times
did a little market research and landed on three models to recommend.If you have an older phone, you’ll need to rely on USB-A connection which doesn’t charge as fast as USB-C. The Times says the best option for that is ZMI’s PowerCruise C2 36-Watt Dual USB Car Charger with QC 3.0. It maximizes USB-A’s capability in a sleek, metal package.
Those with newer devices can take advantage of USB-C technology, and the Scosche PowerVolt PD40 offers two USB-C ports. Just make sure you have the right cable.
But of all the chargers the Times tested, the one that offered the fast charge and the most capability was Nekteck’s PD 45W Type-C Car Charger. It has a USB-A and a USB-C port, so families with a variety of devices will be able to access the tech that matches their models.
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