Type
Among modern household chargers (for home and office) there are both classic
network models and wireless devices (in the form factor of
stands or
pads), as well as
pass-through sockets, docking stations for Android and Apple. Devices for cars, in turn, are divided into traditional wired
car chargers(including
cigarette lighter splitters — see “Cigarette Lighter Splitter” for them) and
wireless. Here is a more detailed description of these options:
— Network charger. Classic wired chargers plugged into sockets. Somewhat less convenient and functional than docking stations, but much more compact and for the most part quite suitable for travel, since they take up minimal space in luggage. And compared to wireless chargers, wired models are noticeably cheaper, compatible with more devices, and often also work much faster. In addition, it is easier to implement special powerful fast charging technologies in such devices. And in conjunction with the new GaN production technology, they can also be reduced in size.
—
GaN chargers. Chargers with GaN circuitry that can hold "multiple charges" in one compact housing. Instead of traditional silicon, their semiconductors use gallium nitride
...with increased voltage conductivity. GaN chargers “refuel” gadgets at an accelerated pace through all available ports. Another significant advantage over traditional chargers is the reduction in the size of the charging unit without loss of power.
— Car charger. Devices designed for wired charging of gadgets from car on-board network. Usually, they use a standard cigarette lighter socket and are designed for cars and other similar equipment with 12 V networks, however, there are also models that are compatible with 24-volt networks of heavy trucks, buses, etc.; these nuances should be clarified separately.
— Wireless charger. Devices for charging gadgets wirelessly — usually, using Qi technology. Of course, the charger itself must be connected to the outlet using a cable, but the energy is transferred to the device being charged without any plugs and cables. The effective range of such a transmission is small, so this type of charger is traditionally made in the form of platforms or stands, where you need to directly place the charged gadgets. However, the wireless way of working is as user-friendly as possible, besides, it does not wear out the connectors; and some compact gadgets (for example, smartwatches) generally charge only in this way. The main disadvantages of this format are the high cost of chargers and limited compatibility (a relatively small number of gadgets, mostly quite expensive ones, support wireless charging). In addition, wireless chargers are less efficient than wired chargers, which increases procedure time and device power consumption. Thus, some models are equipped with ports for wired charging.
As for the differences between platforms and stands, the first form factor is more versatile and, together with the device being charged, takes up less space — the gadget lies flat on the platform. A platform is a good option for a portable device. The stand, in turn, assumes an inclined, almost vertical arrangement of the gadget — this allows you to see the display even while charging. On the other hand, such charger devices are more bulky than platforms and are more likely to be designed for stationary use.
— Wireless car charger. A rather specific variety: wireless charging devices powered by the vehicle's on-board network. Most often they are designed for a standard cigarette lighter plug with a voltage of 12 V, although it is technically quite possible to provide compatibility with 24-volt networks of trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles. The features of wireless charging are described in detail above, but here we note that driving in a car is associated with various shocks and tremors; therefore, such devices are made in the form of holders, and not stands/platforms. Such a holder may provide fastening on the dashboard and the ability to use the phone directly in the charging process (for example, as a navigator).
— Only for smartwatches. Chargers designed to be used exclusively with smartwatches and other wearable gadgets (such as fitness trackers). To be more precise, we are talking about gadgets that support an exclusively wireless format of work. Accordingly, the capabilities of a charger from this category are limited to the smartwatch charging area (usually only one), and there are no wired charging connectors in the design. Also note that chargers of this type are most often produced for a specific model or line of wearable gadgets, and compatibility with third-party devices in such cases is not guaranteed.
— Pass-through socket. Chargers with one or more sockets. In addition, they provide USB ports or specialized connectors for charging gadgets, while maintaining the availability of an outlet for standard household use. Most often, through sockets are combined with network chargers or GaN type chargers (see the corresponding paragraphs).
— Android dock stations. Docking stations designed to charge gadgets running Android OS. The docking station itself can be described as a stand with a wired charging feature. The gadget with such a design is installed vertically or almost vertically, with the plug down; and on the stand itself there is a power plug, which not only charges the installed device, but also plays the role of a latch. This plug can be in microUSB or USB-C format — both of these connectors are used in modern Android gadgets. It is also worth noting that some "docks" from this category have a narrow specialization and are made for specific device models (or devices from one manufacturer). However, there are also universal solutions where compatibility is limited by the type of connector and the screen size (moreover, the diagonal limitation can be quite solid — for example, up to 10.1").
In general, the docks are designed for permanent installation in one place. They are noticeably inferior to classic chargers in terms of ease of transportation, but they simplify the storage of gadgets and can be useful in some cases of their practical use — for example, when watching a movie from a tablet.
— Apple Lightning Dock. Docking stations designed for charging Apple gadgets and equipped with a Lightning connector (used in Apple portable technology since 2012). For more information about docking stations in general, see above, all this is true in this case too — with the adjustment for the fact that in the case of Apple technology, dock compatibility is usually limited only to the size of the device.Charge current
The maximum current that the device is capable of delivering to the charging output. This is one of the key parameters for any charger, it directly determines its power and, accordingly, its efficiency with certain batteries. These points are described in detail in the “Power” paragraph below, but here we note that if several values are indicated in this paragraph, it means that the design provides for several connectors with different current specs (or several groups of connectors, each with its own amount of amperes per port) .
As for specific numbers, when charging from USB (used in most modern chargers), the maximum current up to
1 A is considered very limited,
1.5 A is low,
2 A,
2.1 A and
2.4 A are average values, and in the most powerful chargers, this figure can be
3 A,
3.4 A and even
5 A.Power (with 1 device)
The maximum power that the charger is capable of delivering to one rechargeable gadget (for models with 1 connector or with 1 wireless platform — the actual charging power). We emphasize that for wireless devices, it is the power in the wireless format that is indicated here (even if the design has a USB port with a higher power). Wired chargers usually list the USB power with the highest charging current or with support of the most powerful fast charging technology.
The smallest value of this metric nowadays is actually
5 W. Other popular options include
10W,
12W,
15W, and the most powerful models have
18W or more
to charge laptops(up to
100W).
Higher output power allows you to speed up the charging process; and in the case of wireless devices, a value of more than 10 watts already allows us to talk about the presence of fast charging. At the same time, a number of nuances are associated with this parameter. Firstly, not only the charger, but also the gadget being charged should support the appropriate power — otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the specs of the gadget. Secondly, in order to use the full capabilities of the charger, it may be necessary to support not only the appropriate charg
...ing power, but also a certain fast charging technology (see "Fast charging"). Thirdly, in a charger with several charging connectors, the maximum power per device can only be achieved if the other ports are not used.Power (for all ports)
The total power provided by the device while simultaneously charging the maximum possible number of gadgets. This parameter is indicated only for models that can work with several gadgets; for a 1-socket charger or a wireless platform, the operating power is given in the “Power per 1 device” paragraph.
When evaluating this parameter, two points should be taken into account. First, when the charger is fully loaded, the power of each individual port and/or wireless platform may be lower than the maximum possible value. For example, some models with 2 USB ports for 2 A and 1 A (10 W and 5 W), with simultaneous operation of both ports, can output only 5 W each, that is, only 10 W in total (this is the number and indicated in this paragraph). Secondly, the distribution of power over individual connectors can be different — depending on the current on each port and supported fast charging technologies; these nuances are best specified in the official documentation.
Fast charge
Fast charging technology supported by the device.
By itself, fast charging, as the name suggests, reduces the charging time compared to the standard procedure. For this, increased voltage and/or current power is used, as well as a special smart process control. But the possibilities and features of such charging may be different, depending on the specific technology used in the device. The same technology must be supported by the charger too — this is the only way to 100% guarantee correct operation. However some types of fast charging are mutually compatible — this point should be clarified separately, and compatibility is not always full.
Nowadays, the following technologies are most widely used: Quick Charge of different versions (
3.0,
4.0, 5.0),
Power Delivery (
version 3.0 and
3.1),
Pump Express,
Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging,
Huawei Fast Charge Protocol,
Huawei SuperCharge Protocol,
OPPO VOOC,
OnePlus Dash Charge. Here is a brief description of each of them:
— Quick Charge (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0). Technology created by Q
...ualcomm and used in gadgets with Qualcomm CPUs. The later the version, the more perfect the technology: for example, Quick Charge 2.0 has 3 fixed voltage options, and version 3.0 has a smooth adjustment in the range from 3.6 to 20 V. Most often, gadgets with a newer version of Quick Charge are compatible with more old charging devices, but for full use, an exact match in versions is desirable.
Also note that certain versions of Quick Charge have become the basis for some other technologies. However, the mutual compatibility of chargers and gadgets with support for these technologies needs to be clarified separately.
— Pump Express. Own development of MediaTek, used in portable devices with CPUs of this brand. Also available in several versions, with improvements and additions as it develops.
— Power delivery. Native fast charging technology for the USB-C connector. Used by many brands, found mainly in chargers and gadgets equipped with this type of connector. Presented in several versions.
— Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging. Samsung's proprietary fast charging technology. It has been used without any changes since 2015, so it looks rather modest compared to newer standards. Nevertheless, it is able to provide good speed, especially in the first 50% of the charge.
— Huawei FastCharge Protocol. One of Huawei's proprietary technologies. Formally similar to Quick Charge 2.0, but used with both Qualcomm and other brands of mobile CPUs, so compatibility is not guaranteed. In general, it is considered obsolete, gradually being replaced by more advanced standards like the SuperCharge Protocol.
— Huawei SuperCharge Protocol. Another proprietary technology from Huawei introduced in 2016; for 2021 is available in several versions. In some devices, the power of such charging exceeds 60 V — not a record, but a very solid indicator.
— Oppo VOOC. OPPO technology, used both in branded smartphones and in products from other brands. Available in several versions; The latest (for 2021) version of SuperVOOC is for 2-cell batteries and is sometimes listed as a separate technology called Oppo SuperVOOC Flash Charge.
— OnePlus Dash Charge. A relatively old proprietary standard from OnePlus. An interesting feature is that in some gadgets, the effectiveness of Dash Charge is practically independent of the use of the screen: when the display is on, the battery charges at almost the same rate as when it is off. Technically a licensed version of OPPO's VOOC, however, these technologies are not compatible. Since 2018, Dash Charge has been phased out by Warp Charge, but this newer technology is rarely used in separately sold chargers.
In addition, on the market you can find chargers that support rarer and more specific formats of work; the features of these formats can be clarified by special sources. 
