How to choose the best charger and cable for your smartphone or tablet. Charge your device safely and quickly. Have you noticed that your smartphone takes more or less time to charge depending on the cable or power source used? For those who need agility in this task, we have prepared some tips and recommendations for you to find out how to choose the best charger – and the best cable – for your smartphone.
Technology has evolved fast and today we carry in our pockets and backpacks small but full of functions and possibilities. Today’s smartphones are far superior to the computers available for the Apollo mission, which took man to the moon in 1969. The problem is that the batteries that power these gadgets have not kept up with this evolution, becoming a problem for industry, with no available solution. As a result, we are obliged to repeat the ritual (several times a day) of plugging our laptops into the nearest outlet, sacrificing mobility.
So we will see in the paragraphs below what it takes to spend as little time as possible in the socket. Let’s see how to choose the best charger for your mobile device:
1) How to choose the best charger:
This one is simpler. Every charger comes with a label or inscription stating ampere current (A or mAh) and voltage in volts (V). So, to choose the best charger for your smartphone, you should keep an eye on these values. The voltage should always be 5V and the current should be at least 2A or 2000mAh. Below these values will generally be low for any current handset. The maximum is usually 3A or 4A.
In times of generic wire chargers it is good to test what you buy. To confirm that the information displayed on the charger label is true, plug the charger into a power outlet and smartphone and test the Charging Report app.
2) Choice of cable (USB, MicroUSB, etc)
It doesn’t seem like it, but this task is as important as choosing the charger. And it’s usually a lot more complicated than it looks. First, because the difference between a quality cable and an inefficient cable is not always “visible”. Second, store vendors (virtually everyone) can’t tell which cable is best, so they end up making brand recommendations or assumptions.
But what problem is this?
I will explain: Manufacturers, in an attempt to increase profit, often save on the amount of copper used to make the wires that make up the cable, resulting in substandard products. As with a thin hose that restricts water flow, a very thin or poor quality copper wire restricts the flow of electric current. Result: It is no use having the best or the most expensive charger. In other words, you can use cheap cell phone chargers. The amount of current flowing into the device will always be less than it should be.
So, it’s no use. The way is to take the test on time. No matter the make or appearance of the cable. I’ve seen very good cheap cables, as well as very expensive and bad ones.
But how is the test done?
This is simple. Just follow the steps below:
– With the device itself, download Charging Report;
– Connect the cable to the smartphone;
– Connect the cable to a charger with a minimum of 2 Amps (2A or 2000mAh – mean the same thing);
– Plug the charger into a power outlet.
– Start the app. Immediately, the app will tell you what is the actual current value that reaches it. The closer to the value written on the charger label, the better the cable.
Remember that this guide is for smartphones, tablets, cameras and any other gadget that relies on rechargeable batteries, ok? Like our tips on choosing the best charger for your smartphone?