Earlier, it was easy to pick the right accessories for smartphones since everything came bundled together. But now that smartphones don’t include any, it has become a pesky task for users to find the right chargers for their devices.
Most modern-day smartphones support fast charging, however, if you end up with the wrong charger, you won’t be able to leverage the fast-charging capabilities on your phone. Moreover, not all chargers ensure the safety of your device either. So, how do we find which charger to pick for fast and safe charging?
Well, this is one of the most common questions that concern many smartphone users today. But if you find yourself stuck in the same place and cannot decide which charger to grab, we might be of help. In this article, we will guide you on how to identify which charger is fast and safe for your device.
Additionally, we will also look at some of the top-notch applications that allow you to monitor charging information and ensure a longer battery health.
Which Charger is the Best Fast and Safes for your Phone?
Fast chargers have brought a revolution in the electronics industry with their capability to charge machines in less time and with more efficiency. Generally, any charger supplying 10W – 65W is considered a fast charger.
However, since most smartphones carry a specific build, they are not an ideal suit for all types of chargers. So, while picking up the right one for your phone, there are certain requirements to be met.
Understanding Power Capabilities
When it comes to chargers, power plays the most significant role in deciding the correct choice for your phone. The latest smartphones come with different power ranges varying from 10W to 100W and more.
Parallelly also offers a variety of voltage profiles, starting from 5V, 9V, 10V, 12V, 15V, and up to 20V. Although it provides diverse options, it also confuses the users about which combination to go with.
Fortunately, most smartphones today feature the power capabilities required to charge the device at its optimum speed. This information is generally mentioned under the device specifications. So, let’s say your phone comes with the ability to fast charge up to 50% at 30 min with a 33W wired charger.
Now, if you use a 20W charger, you will witness slow charging. On the other hand, if you try using a 44W or 60W charger, it will still charge the device at its optimum levels, i.e., 33W. This is because it is the maximum input capacity of your phone. So, even if you supply extra power, modern devices are smart enough to adjust according to their specifications.
However, in certain cases, some smartphones still come with their own charging brick in the box. These chargers are particularly designed and tested with the respective devices. Hence, if you try to use a third-party charger on such devices, you may be unable to leverage its fast charging potential.
So, if your brand launches specific charging adapters and cables for your smartphone model, it is recommended to use the original chargers for maximum efficiency.
Different Charging Protocols
Many smartphone giants such as Samsung, Motorola, Google, etc., have a standard power charging protocol. In simple words, protocols refer to the power management ICs that are responsible for establishing communication between the input and output. Once your phone is plugged into the charger, both ICs communicate to establish a suitable connection by adjusting the voltage and current at both ends and starting the charging.
PD Charging
In this case, the majorly used standard protocol is known as “Power Delivery (PD)”. This standard somewhat makes it easier for users to identify a proper charger for their phones. Suppose you are using any device with 20W – 25W charging capability, then you can go for any 25W or more PD-certified charger.
Even if you use a 100W PD charger, we should be good to charge your smartphone at its optimum speed. Similarly, if your device supports higher-power charging, you can pick your charger accordingly. Just make sure to choose a branded one to ensure the safety of your device.
OEM-Specific Charging
This charging standard is mostly used in higher-power chargers to maximize the charging speed. They are generally faster than USB PD charging but are limited to the brand’s charging accessories. HUAWEI’s Superfast Charger, Xiaomi HyperCharge, and OnePlus Wrap Charge are some common examples.
You can hardly find third-party adaptors or cables with OEM-specific charging support due to their extremely particular configurations. So, if you own a smartphone with OEM-specific support, make sure to opt for the original company products to leverage its full capabilities.
Best Battery Monitoring Apps For Android
Now that you have some idea about how to find a fast and safe charger, it is essential to monitor the overall performance of your battery. From the general Setting, it is quite tough to spot all the parameters of your battery performance. So, here are the best applications that will help you keep check on your device’s battery health and functionality.
1. Battery Guru
Battery Guru is one of the top-notch battery monitoring solutions. It allows you to keep comprehensive checks on your battery usage, health, charging speed, voltage, supplied current, and other essential insights. You can further view the battery history which tells you the time and stats of previous charging and usage. Battery Guru also breaks down the battery consumption by each application and provides micro details to get a complete idea of its performance. Besides, it also provides battery care tips that help to maintain a long-term battery life.
2. AccuBattery
AccuBattery is another popular name in this sector known for its precise monitoring and real-time data delivery. The app is filled with all essential features that help you monitor your battery health and performance. It provides users with accurate battery usage, temperature, functionality, estimated time, etc. Moreover, you can also set battery level alarms and remainder to prevent overcharging. AccuBattery also supports the Wakelock feature that helps identify the applications responsible for heavy battery drainage, and much more.
4. System Monitor’s Tools Lab – Battery Monitor
The Battery Monitor application is a useful tool that gives you comprehensive insights into all your battery-related data. Interestingly, it features an easy-to-navigate user interface that makes it look more appealing. It allows you to keep a check on the real-time battery stats including battery status, battery level, health, temperature, voltage, and so on. Furthermore, Battery Monitor also provides an easy-to-use widget that enables you to monitor real-time stats right on your home screen.
Conclusion
If you have a general knowledge of power and voltage, you can easily pick a suitable charger for your phone. However, considering the latest technologies and the diverse options, it may always get a bit confusing. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to identify a fast and safe charger for your phone.
In case your device supports PD charging, just make sure to use a high-power charger to achieve the optimum speed. But if you own a smartphone with OEM-specific charging support, then your best pick would be to go with the company-manufactured accessories.