Looking for the best iPhone car
chargers? Most probably, yes! Car chargers for the iPhone that feature the
lightning cable are going to be compatible with iPhone.
Having a good car charger can help you keep your iPhone charged up
and ready no matter where you go. This is even more helpful if you’re someone
who spends a lot of time in commute. Here’s a list of best iPhone car chargers to
pick from:
How to Choose the Best iPhone Portable Charger
Portable
power banks are a lifesaver & are one of the best phone accessories in which you can invest. If you’re a
traveler and have had your phone battery die amidst a great adventure, you know
the struggle. After a few hours of emailing, picture taking, and navigating,
your phone’s battery plummets into single digit territory with no outlet in
sight. Luckily, you can now power your phone from your pocket. In this guide,
we’ll help you pick the perfect portable charger that’s right for you.
Key Features
Here are some key features to consider:
- Physical Size: Portable chargers come in all shapes,
dimensions, and weight. Physical size and battery capacity go hand in
hand. If you are looking for an ultra portable charger, you will have to
sacrifice battery size.
- Battery
Capacity: You’ll
want to determine how much power you need and how often you’ll want to
charge your power bank. If you’re just looking for a power bank to keep
your bag in case of emergencies, a power bank under 5,000 mAh will
suffice. If you want to be able to use your power bank multiple times
before having to recharge it, aim for one with more than 10,00 mAh.
- USB Ports: The more ports the power bank has, the
more devices you can charge. Many chargers come with 2 ports: one 1A port
and one 2.1A port.
- Charging Output: Most portable chargers will come with
either a 1A or 2.1A output port or both. These numbers denote the maximum
rate of charging in amps. So the higher the amperage, the faster the
device will charge assuming it’s compatible. A 1A output port is suitable
for most smartphones whereas older phones (such as feature phones and
flip phones) require a 0.5A port. Tablets, iPads require a 2.1A outport
for optimal charging. Power banks capable of charging laptops will likely
come with a 3A port.
- Casing and
Material: If
you plan on using your external battery pack outdoors, you’ll want to
choose one made of durable materials like aluminum or silicone.
Recommendations
Below are some recommendations based on different needs and lifestyles.
Size Matters
If you’re used to
carrying around your keys, wallet, and phone in your pockets, you probably
don’t want to add a bulky power bank to the mix. However, if you could
literally fit it in your wallet, you just might be onboard. At 0.17 inches thin
and weighing in at only 2 ounces, the Slimger ultra portable charger for mobile
devices is perfect for those concerned about bulk. It features a built-in cable
and a 1,400 mAh battery. Keep it tucked away in your purse or wallet until a
phone emergency arises.
Lots of Power for
Multiple Devices
If you’re headed into
the wilderness with all your electronic devices in tow, you’re going to need a
beast of a power bank. You’re also going to want the external battery to support
charging multiple devices at once and be compatible with most laptops (a
feature not standard for most portable power banks). The Maxoak Ultra High Capacity external battery packs 50,000 milliamp hours of power. But
with great power comes great size (still smaller than most laptops). This would
make a great option for those traveling internationally who don’t want to deal
with power converters.
Rugged & Durable
If you’re looking for an
outdoor companion to tote along at the beach or when you’re hitting the trails,
you’re going to want something rugged that can withstand shock, dust, and
water. This Kodiac 6000 by
Outdoor Tech features a silicone exterior to protect against unexpected drops
and water. For something a little more portable, consider the EasyAcc®
Power Bank PB9000TP which is equipped with a carabiner–just clip to
your backpack and go.
Additional Functionality
Depending on your travel
habits, these portable chargers with multiple features or functions may be just
for you:
- Bluetooth
enabled power bank: Braven
BRV-Bank
- Portable charger
with built-in cable: Tylt
Energi
- Portable charger
with flashlight: Winbest
BK11904
- Portable power
bank with car jumper: Junopower
Junojumper
- Portable charger
and compact mirror: Pearl
3000 mAh Compact Mirror
Built-in Cases
You’ll never worry about
leaving your portable charger at home if it is directly built into your phone
case. These cases are ideal for power users who can drain a phone battery
before it’s even lunchtime. Mophie’s
Juice Packs can double
your phone’s battery life depending on which model you choose.
Solar Power
Want to completely ditch
the outlet altogether? Now you can, with solar-powered power banks (try saying
that five times fast). These would make a great addition for travelers who
spend a lot of time outdoors–just clip it to your day pack and start converting
sunlight into valuable battery time. Those interested in solar battery chargers
can find them on Poweradd and several other online retailers.
Just Plain Fun
Are you one of those
people who uses their desk to showcase their awesome collection of figurines or
desk toys? Or, maybe you appreciate gadgetry that doesn’t sacrifice quirkiness.
There are plenty of portable battery chargers that offer both power and novelty.
Are you a Star Wars fan? May the force be with you and your phone with this Darth Vader Lightsaber charger.
Show your love for all things Marvel with these Avengers power banks. Charge your phone in true neo-Victorian
fashion with this Steampunk
portable charger.
Indicated charger type
A
device being charged can detect what type of charger is being used through specific
voltages on the USB data pins. Because of this, some devices only work
with their own special chargers. For instance, an "incorrect" charger
may be rejected by an iPhone 3GS or later with the message "Charging is
not supported with this accessory".
There
are many different charger types, but only a few are used in the chargers I
examined. A USB charger that follows the standard is known as a "dedicated
USB charger". However, some manufacturers (such as Apple, Sony, and HP)
don't follow the USB standard but implement their own proprietary charger
types. Apple has separate charger types for 1 amp (iPhone) and 2 amp (iPad)
chargers. HP has a special type for the HP TouchPad.
The
point is that USB chargers are not interchangeable, and devices may not work if
the charger type doesn't match what the device expects. The table below shows
the type of charger, the current that the label claims the charger provides,
the current it actually provides, and the charger type it indicates to the
device.
The
types of the counterfeit chargers are a mess, as they advertise one power
level, actually supply a different power level, and have the charger type for a
third level. For example, the counterfeit iPhone charger is advertised as
supplying 1 amp, but has the 2A charger type, so an iPad will expect 2 amps but
not obtain enough power. On the other hand, the counterfeit iPad charger claims
to supply 2 amps, but really only supplies 1 amp and has a 1A type.
Efficiency
People
often wonder how much power their charger is wasting while it's idle, and if
they should unplug their charger when not in use. I measured this
"vampire" power usage and found the chargers varied by more than a
factor of 20 in their idle power usage. The Samsung oblong charger came in best,
using just 19 mW; this was so low compared to the other chargers that I
measured it again a different way to make sure I hadn't made an error. On the
other extreme, the fake iPhone charger used 375 mW. The Apple iPhone charger
performed surprisingly badly at 195 mW. If plugged in for a year, this would
cost you about 21 cents in electricity, so it's probably not worth worrying
about. In the following table, I use the
official charger Star Rating System (yes, there actually is such a thing).
I
also measured efficiency of the chargers under load.One
of the benefits of switching power supplies over simpler linear supplies is
they are much more efficient at converting the input power to output. The
chargers I measured all did pretty well, with 63% to 80% efficiency. The HP
charger was the winner here.
