How to Choose the Right Charger for Your Phone — 5 Factors to Consider

Do you assume that any charger that fits your phone is good enough? Think again! Using the wrong charger can damage your phone and even void its warranty. Even proprietary chargers can become unreliable after a few months of use,resulting in slow charging and wear and tear. In this article,we’ll look at five factors that contribute to your charger’s degradation,and provide tips on how to choose the right charger for your phone.

1. Power Rating

When you look at your charger, you’ll notice a tiny label that contains input levels. This rating ensures that your charger will not blow up if your country has a normal household voltage between 100 and 240 volts. However, using a charger rated only at 110v in a socket rated at 220v will cause the circuit breaker to trip. You’ll also need to check the output amperage. If your phone requires 1A and your charger only supplies 500mA, you’ll experience slow charging, overheating, or total device breakdown.

2. USB Specifications

Currently, there are three USB specifications: USB 1.0, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0, each carrying its own power specification. USB 2.0 has a power output of 500mA, while USB 3.0 can go up to 1500mA. If you’re using a USB charger, the cable’s specification and the source of the charging will influence how fast your phone charges. Charging using your laptop’s USB port will take longer than using a wall charger.

3. Charger Quality

Cheap chargers often lack worldwide certifications that ensure they are safe and in good working condition. Certified chargers usually have smart circuitry to regulate how your phone charges at different times and your device’s battery percentage. They also have overcharge and discharge protection. A charger with a smart circuitry will know when your phone is fully charged and automatically stop outputting power.

4. Charger Build

Breaking cables, fraying collars, and bent tips are common defects we have to endure with charging cables. The constant tug and pull, twisting, and every other abuse will degrade the quality of your cable over time. A charger expected to last one year with regular use may become damaged after a few months. Using a charger with a better collar build and stronger cable material will prevent this.

5. Your Habits

If you won’t leave your phone alone to charge, how do you expect it to charge effectively? Playing games, watching videos, browsing the net, or using multiple apps while charging does not help your situation. Leave your phone alone for thirty minutes to take in as much juice as it can. Put it on airplane mode or switch it off completely for even faster charging and better battery health.

Now that you know the factors that contribute to your charger’s degradation,how do you choose the right charger for your phone? 

Power Rating: Before you purchase any charger, check its power rating to ensure it satisfies the specification of electrical appliances in your country. Look at the bottom of the charger to find all the information you need (input and output voltage, and current rating).

Latest USB Specification: Most reliable charger manufacturers will use USB 2.0, USB 3.0, or USB 3.1. Some manufacturers go further to use the USB-C connector type. Depending on your device’s power requirement, you can use any of these USB specifications.

Certified Charger: Buying a certified charger provides more confidence when using your charger as the manufacturers have instructed. If any damage should occur, you can claim your warranty on such a charger.

Charger Build: When it comes to cable builds, it’s not hard to tell the difference between a high quality one and a poorly-made one. A charger with superior collar build and stronger cable material is a clear indication of a charger that will last longer and perform better. The volta charger cable for example is manufactured using military-grade materials with PBV braiding, which means it can withstand heavy usage without breaking down. It’s special strain relief collar design, coupled with Neodymium magnets, ensures that the charger lasts up to 10 times longer than a regular charger, even when its subjected to constant tugging and pulling.

YOU

No matter how good your charger is, it won't last forever if you don’t take care of it. So it's crucial to keep your chargers in a safe place when you are not using them. If you have the Volta Spark magnetic type c cable  or Volta  2.0 cable ,clean the tips regularly   to prevent dirt from interfering the current-flow. By doing these simple things you can help prolong the life of your cable and save yourself the hassle of having to replace it frequently.

If you have any questions about choosing the right charger or taking good care of it, feel free to share them in the comments section below. We'll be happy to provide you with all the information you need.