Buying a phone charger used to be simple, phones came with one in the box. Today, most brands like Apple and Samsung sell them separately, which means you have to figure out which charger works best for your device.
The wrong choice can be frustrating, your phone may charge painfully slowly or, in the worst case, the wrong charger could damage your battery. The good news is that picking the right charger isn’t complicated once you know what really matters.
The first thing to focus on is charging speed. Every smartphone has a maximum speed it can handle, measured in watts. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra supports up to 45 watts, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max tops out at 30 watts.
To get the fastest charging time, you need a charger that matches or exceeds your phone’s top speed. Using a weaker charger won’t harm your phone, but it will take much longer to fill the battery.
A stronger charger is usually fine, too, because the phone only pulls what it can handle, and it also helps make up for small inefficiencies.
The most widely used is USB Power Delivery (USB-PD). This technology lets the charger and the phone “talk” to each other to deliver the right amount of power, which keeps the battery safe and prevents overheating.
Nearly every modern charger supports USB-PD, so you don’t need to spend a fortune to get this feature. Some newer Android phones also benefit from a related standard called Programmable Power Supply (PPS), which fine-tunes charging to avoid excess heat.
There are also other fast-charging systems you might encounter. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge is common on many Android phones, and some brands like Oppo and OnePlus have their own ultra-fast charging methods, which can pump out 80 watts or more.
If your phone uses one of these, you’ll get the best results by sticking with the charger designed for that system.
Once you’ve covered speed and safety, you can think about extras that make life easier. One popular feature is having multiple ports on a single charger. This means you can top up your phone, tablet, and headphones all at once.
Keep in mind, though, that a charger splits its total power across all connected devices. Some will prioritize whichever gadget needs the most juice, while others spread it evenly. Always check the product description to see how the power is shared.
Another modern upgrade worth considering is gallium nitride, or GaN, technology. Traditional chargers use silicon, which works fine but tends to make them larger and less efficient.
GaN chargers, by contrast, are smaller, lighter, and better at handling high power without overheating. That means you can carry one powerful charger that fits in your pocket and still charges your devices at top speed.
One detail people often overlook is the cable. Even the fastest charger can only work as well as the cable it’s paired with. If you buy a low-quality cable that isn’t designed to handle high wattage, your phone will charge slowly no matter how powerful the charger is.
To avoid this, make sure the cable is rated for your device’s top charging speed. In short, when buying a phone charger, pay attention first to wattage and charging standards like USB-PD or PPS to guarantee speed and safety.
After that, you can choose conveniences like multiple ports or GaN technology to make charging more practical and portable. And don’t forget to pair it with the right cable.
With these simple tips, you won’t have to stress over confusing specifications or marketing buzzwords. Instead, you’ll know exactly what to look for and can pick a charger that not only powers your phone quickly but also keeps it safe and ready for use whenever you need it.
