You probably charge your phone twice a day. We’re not psychic; it’s a fact that most Americans will charge their phone a minimum of twice a day. That’s once too much in our opinion. Either your phone needs a serious upgrade, or your charger isn’t a winner. There are quite a few different types of chargers to choose from - even if you use one specific type, like a USB-C - you need to know the wattage power that comes with it. Currently, there are about two popular types of USB-C chargers, and one of them can harm your phone battery if you over-use it.
So, what are the different types of phone chargers - how often should you charge your phone, and which charger type reigns supreme? Apple and Samsung battery life can depend on how well you manage your charging options. Let’s dive into all that below!
TL:DR
We discuss 8 different types of phone chargers - which one is best for you?
Apple forced to move from lightning to USB-C chargers.
Magnetic charges as some of the best to use in cars, on bikes and motorcycles.
Fast charging is convenient, and how to use it wisely.
We’re obsessed with charging our phones, should we take it down a notch?
Rokform phone chargers and adapters as some of the best quality chargers on the market.
Types of Phone Chargers
USB
Type A (USB-A)
An older USB connector that you’ll find in ancient power adapters and more antique computer ports. They offer universal compatibility and can be found almost anywhere. But, the trade-off is you’re getting slower charging speeds than the more modern USB-C. Not to worry, these types of USB connectors are getting phased out - likely due to being a little too slow for our liking. However, some have slowly started to evolve to have fast charge capabilities, we don’t see that lasting too long though as USB-C takes the charging world by storm.
Type B (USB-B)
Not going to touch on USB-B much because they’re not really used in the world of smartphones. This type of USB charger is used in bigger electronics like printers, external hard drives, and scanners.
Type C (USB-C)
Now we’re talking. This type of cell phone charger is likely the one you’re using right now. But here’s the tricky part - there are several kinds of USB C cables. Yea, the unnecessary complexity here for smartphones has caused a lot of confusion over the years.
Ever notice one cable charging a heck of a lot faster and better than another? Or that one will transfer data fine, while the other not so much? *Sigh* Johnny Harris conveys our frustration better than we could:
So which one do you need - and why? And how can you make sure you get the right one? Well, let’s lay it out in a table to best explain this all:
The lesson here is, you can’t just pick up a USB-C cable and charge your phone. You have to make sure it’s the right USB-C charging cable. For example, a 100W charging speed will give your battery a quick boost when you’re short on time.
If you have a newer smartphone model, you’ll have an easier time picking up the right charger cord types. If you have an earlier model, you’ll make it out ok - just be very selective and read all the compatibility details you can get your eyes on before purchasing a phone charger.
Having covered the right USB-C mobile phone charging cords - let’s talk about the adapters. Many phone chargers will only come with one USB-C slot. Again, the privilege of having a newer smartphone model!
If you’re perusing Rokform - we got everyone covered. Our PowerTrip 65W 3-Port Power Adapter gives you options. Both USB-C and USB-A ports on one small 65W adapter - talk about power!
That covers USB-C types of charging ports and cables. Let’s jump to the next one in line.
Lightning Chargers
Well, well, well. Apple had to jump ship from lightning chargers - their proprietary phone charging line. And thank the phone charger heavens for that. It’s a lot easier to keep track of the different types of phone chargers without having to set a special chair down for Apple. If you’re still using lightning chargers, then you haven’t upgraded your smartphone past the iPhone 14.
We all know Apple didn’t really have a choice in the matter - they had to make the jump due to the European Union. In an effort to reduce electronic waste and limiting the amount of charging cables customers had to buy across all their devices, the European Union set a standard and forced all manufacturers to make the switch by fall 2024. Apple Explained goes into detail about the forced switch.
Wireless Chargers
The right wireless phone charger can make all the difference. There’s just something so magical about placing your phone down to charge instead of plugging it in. Oh, not to mention being tangle-free. Soon, the days of tangled cords will be but a fever dream.
So how does wireless charging work, anyway? It’s wireless to your phone but the charger itself still plugs in - obviously. Most, if not all, wireless chargers use Qi standard. There’s inductive and resonant charging.
Inductive: Your phone has to physically touch the cell phone charger. The charging base has a transmitter coil that generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field is detected by a receiver coil in your phone and causes electrons in it to flow - hence, creating the electricity that charges your battery. Ta da, like magic you’re back to scrolling with a full charge.
Resonant: Your phone has to be in proximity, not necessarily touching the phone charger. Works by the charging base and the device being tuned into the same electromagnetic frequency. The base generates an oscillating magnetic field that the device absorbs. That’s some sci-fi for you right there!
Unfortunately, resonant charging isn’t yet available everywhere or with all devices. It’s more of a futuristic crazy idea that we can look forward to!
For now, let’s get our head out of the clouds and focus on the best wireless phone chargers - they should be light, work with your case so you don’t have to de-case your phone, and come with a premium braided cable…like our Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand!
Portable Phone Chargers
You’re out and about when your phone gives you that dreadful 15% warning - you know the one. Power banks are a great way to charge your phone on the go. Out of all the different types of charges, you can count on this one to get you out of a bind. The way it works is pretty straight forward - it acts like it sounds - a battery. You charge the portable phone bank, it keeps that charge handy, you tap into it when needed.
Depending on the capacity of your power bank, you may be able to charge your phone several times. Here’s a table covering the different types of charging banks available on the market:
The Rokform Magnetic Power Bank provides wireless magnetic charging so you can easily attach it to your phone. We wanted to make your power-up as convenient as possible with easy charging on the go!
Magnetic Chargers
We gotta say - this type of charger is a favorite of ours. You probably would have guessed that with all the magnetic charger options we’ve released. Apple kind of started it with the release of MagSafe tech (what is MagSafe?). Having started as the magnets that held your MacBook charger in place, it soon became the universal name by the release of the iPhone 12.
Since then, it’s been off to the races, with magnetic chargers on your nightstand, in cars, on bikes, motorcycles, and more. The idea that you can snap your phone onto any charging puck without tangling cables is appealing. They use the same process as wireless charging with an added twist of magnetic attraction, and are some of the most popular types of phone chargers.
Solar Chargers
Awesome concept, but not yet where it needs to be to become mainstream. The idea that we could charge our phones, efficiently, from solar energy is a nice one. But not if we have to leave our phone plugged in for hours on end. So as much as this is an eco-conscious step we want to take, we’ll have to wait for the tech to advance enough that it’s as efficient as it is good for the planet.
For those camping out with limited access to electricity for long periods of time, these types of chargers could still prove really useful!
Types of Phone Chargers Wrap-Up
The Dark Side of Fast Charging
We all love fast charging - I would go as far to say that I can’t live without it. As convenient as it is, is it completely safe for our smartphones? The unfortunate dark side of fast chargers is that they can put strain on our phone’s battery life. It doesn’t happen overnight, maybe not even in the first year of your phone’s life. It’s an eventual process that likely starts at about the time you need a device upgrade anyway. Plus, the positives that come from fast charging far outweigh the long-term possibility of battery degradation.
What is it about fast charging that causes this anyway? It’s the higher voltages. The lithium-ion batteries in our phones can experience degradation because of the exposure to higher temperatures in the power transfer.
Our recommendation is to use fast chargers when you need them, but not as your go-to. If you charge your phone while you sleep, use lower wattage and use your fast charger when you’re on the go.
Thermal Management Challenges
When it comes to your smartphone - heat is the mortal enemy. So aside from not over-using your fast charger, here are some common mistakes people make with their phones:
Covering their phone while charging - we’ve all heard about the unfortunate incident of a phone exploding this way.
Using their phone while charging - this generates extra heat which we know our phones hate.
Leaving a phone in a hot car - again with the heat!
Ignoring overheating warnings - if your phone tells you it needs a break, give it a break.
Using non-certified chargers - know your source!
Keep these points in mind - they can save your phone and possibly your life!
The Psychology of Charging Behavior
So we mentioned that Americans (and likely everyone else) are charging their phones minimum twice per day - or probably at the very least, leaving our phones on charge throughout the entire night. We also talked about how fast charging has some long-term negative effects on our phone’s battery.
Now, let’s talk about charging anxiety. Us and our phones - we’re attached at the hip, almost literally. This might sound crazy - but we got the receipts - we check our phones an average of 58 times a day. We spend an average of 1 day per week on our phones. I mean sure, it might be a habit, but considering we can email, text, call, play, work, order just about anything, get the news, schedule appointments, and do so much more on our phones - is it really that surprising?
Because we rely on our phones for pretty much everything, we may have become a little charge obsessed.
Charge Anxiety and User Experience
You’ve heard of FOMO - this is FO- running out of battery power, or FOROOBP. Ok we made that up, it’s called ‘charge anxiety’ or ‘ low battery anxiety’. We’ve all felt it, it was only a matter of time before someone coined the term.
When you get anxious about your battery life, you could be overcharging your phone. Overcharging your phone could lead to a worn out battery that then requires more charging because it depletes sooner that it should. Battery degradation is real but smartphones are getting better at avoiding this risk. Learn about battery optimization to get the most out of your battery life.
Learnings Recap
There you have it - you’re now armed with everything you need to know to choose a phone charger that’s best for your phone. You also know to use fast-chargers sparingly and that although Android charger types haven’t steered away from USB-C much, Apple chargers recently jumped to USB-C involuntarily.
Wireless charging efficiency has come a long way - and it’s super convenient. No more fishing for your cable in the dark! Recently, fast charging has played a big role in keeping our phones in ready mode - giving us full power in as little as 30 minutes! Use it sparingly though, if you want to keep your phone battery in good shape.
At Rokform, we recently introduced some of the fastest and most durable chargers and cables - ranging from 65W to 100W. Check out our phone chargers and adapters to see how we’re making charging your phone from anywhere a lot easier! We hope this blog gave you a few pointers on Apple and Samsung battery life, and we’re taking questions (and comments) below!
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