Power Cables, Chargers and Accessories

The most common types of chargers are wall chargers (or portable chargers), wireless chargers and power banks. 

Wall chargers plug into your wall power sockets then connect to your device via a charging cable. These chargers can charge multiple devices simultaneously and are available in different levels of wattage - the higher the wattage the faster the charge. 

Wireless chargers also connect to your wall power sockets then wirelessly charge your device when it’s placed on top via electromagnetic energy. To use a wireless charger your phone needs to have wireless charging capability.

Lastly, power banks are portable charging devices you take with you when leaving home and connect to your device via a charging cable. These need to be charged with a wall charger and have limited charging capacity.

The most common types of features to consider with wall chargers is how fast it can charge your device (wattage), the number of ports, and the types of ports that connect to a charging cable into your device. 

Wall chargers have a minimum of one port to connect a charging cable to a device however there are chargers than have multiple ports to charge multiple devices simultaneously. 

Most devices these days have fast charging capability so a charger with lots of power will get your battery charged quickly. Power is measured by wattage so the higher the wattage the faster the charge.

Finally, be sure the charger suits the charging cable you intend to use. For example, if you have a Lightning to USB-C cable to charge your iPhone you need a wall charger with a USB-C port.

Firstly, find out the type of port you have on both your device and the phone charger you intend to use. 

As a general rule Samsung, Google and Android phones use either USB-A or USB-C cables and iPhones use Lightning cables. Cables come in different lengths and materials. It’s recommended to have a cable made from durable materials and to choose reputable brands that are commonly available to avoid potential damage to your device.

Wireless chargers are available in lots of different sizes and formats. The most basic is a single wireless charger which will charge a single device. 

Then there are dual wireless chargers that can charge two devices simultaneously, such as two phones, a phone and Air Pods or a phone and smart watch. 

There are also tri-chargers that can charge three products. 

When choosing a wireless charger:

• Make sure the charger is compatible with your phone's wireless charging standard (such as Qi)
• Check the charger's wattage output for faster charging (at least 10W is recommended)
• Choose a design and size that fits your needs and preferences
• Stick to reputable brands and high-quality chargers to avoid potential damage to your phone
• Consider additional features such as LED lights
• Choose a charger that fits your budget while still meeting your needs for compatibility, charging speed, design, and quality.

When choosing a power bank you need to consider the battery capacity, maximum wattage output and ports. In basic terms the higher the capacity and wattage the more charges and speed of charge you will get. 

Battery capacity is the milliamp hour (referred to as mAh), meaning the maximum amount of power it can deliver to your device. The higher the capacity the more times it can charge your device. These usually begin at around 5,000 mAh and go as high as 27,000 mAh. 

For reference, the Sprout Alloy Powerbank 10,000 mAh will charge an iPhone 14 Pro about 3 times 

Maximum wattage output is the speed at which the power is distributed from your power bank to your device. The higher the wattage the faster the charge. 

Number of ports refer to the type of cable connections on your power bank. Consider how many ports the power bank has. If you need to charge multiple devices at once, choose a power bank with multiple ports.

As always, stick to reputable brands that have a track record of producing high-quality power banks.