In today's fast-paced world, we all rely on our phones to get through the day. Charging your phone or tablet is now a necessity; however, it can also be a pain. This is especially true if you're not sure what kind of charger you should use for your device. If you're not tech-savvy, don't worry! We've got all the info you need to know about different types of USB chargers and how to know and pick the best one for your needs.
What is USB?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It has been around since 1996 and was originally designed for connecting peripherals like keyboards and pointing devices to personal computers. Since then, it has developed to encompass a wide variety of devices and become the standard for charging.
In today's generation, we commonly use USB as a connector for our smartphones and tablets. Once connected, the USB be used to charge your phone, transfer data between devices (like your computer), or both at once!
6 Different Types of Phone Chargers
Pretty excited to know what are the different types of chargers? Let's look in-depth at the top 6 phone charger types available in the market today!
- USB-Type A Charger
A USB-A charger is one of the old phone charger types. It's most generally used with computers or power outlets. You can attach the USB-A side to the USB plug of a laptop when charging. Remember that USB-A wires will just go one way into the port. You can normally know which way up they must be by the USB symbol that can be seen on the top.
USB-A types of chargers can only accommodate USB-A ports, which are now starting to be phased out in modern host devices.
- USB- Type B Charger
USB-B ports are less common than the various other phone charger cable types. It's a four-pin USB port that can be found on many devices, including printers, scanners, external hard disks and more. The port has two rows of pins that are used to connect the device to your computer. The USB-B port can also be used for charging devices like smartphones or tablets, but it cannot send data back and forth from your device to a computer.
- Mini-USB Charger
The mini-USB connector was once commonly found on phones, cameras, and similar small devices for connecting those devices to computers and other devices. The mini-USB connector has since been phased out in favor of different phone chargers, the micro-USB connector.
- Micro-USB Charger
The Micro-USB port is one of the most popular types of charging cords. It's found on many mobile devices, as well as many other electronic devices like cameras and keyboards. This type of USB allows data to be read without needing a computer (i.e., flash drives & memory sticks). However, like USB-A cables, these types of phone charger ends only go into a port if it matches its shape, so be careful so you won't damage anything.
- USB- Type C Charger
USB-C cables are the latest technology for charging your laptop, tablet, or phone. It's different from the old micro-USB and mini-USB adapters because it's a reversible connector—that means you don't have to worry anymore about which side goes in first! USB-C charging adapters are also a more efficient Android charger type (among others), so they can charge your device faster than ever. The fun part? It's not only limited to Android because it's available in
USB-C to Lightning cable for your iOS devices!{{ component: "product", handle: "a8843", sku: "A8843011"}}
- Lightning Charger
The Lightning charger (one of the cell phone charger types) is an Apple-designed connector that replaces the old 30-pin dock connector used on the original iPhone 4 and iPhone 3. The Lightning charger now has 8 pin lightning connector on one end and a USB Type-C connector on the other end. These chargers are designed to work with all of the major Apple products, including iPhones, iPads, and iPods, to host external monitors, computers, USB battery chargers, cameras, and other peripherals. USB-A to Lightning cable is also available on the market, so your devices with USB-A ports won't be left behind.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! A detailed look at the various types of chargers for phones available on the market. Remember that when it comes to charging your phone, there's a lot more than just plugging it in. There are different phone chargers and cables you can use to make sure your device gets the most out of its battery life. We hope that this compilation guide helped you find the best one for your needs!
FAQ
Here are the top commonly asked questions about the different phone charger types.
What is the difference between USB-A and USB-C?
USB-A and USB-C are two types of cables that allow you to transfer data between your computer and external devices. USB-A is the most common USB cable type, and it's what you'll find on the end of your computer's charger or in a flash drive case. It's rectangular, with a flat top and bottom.
USB-C is newer than USB-A and has a different shape: it's rounded at both ends, with one side wider than the other. Moreover, unlike USB-A, it has a reversible connector, which means you can plug in the connector either way. It also supports faster data transfer speeds, which means that if you have a device that supports USB 3.1 or even Thunderbolt 3 (which runs on top of USB), then you'll want to use a USB-C cable to connect it.
What is the difference between Lightning and USB-C?
The main difference between Lightning and USB-C is that Lightning is Apple's proprietary connection to charge your iPhone. In contrast, USB-C is a standard connection that many different kinds of devices can use. Not to mention that USB-C is what does an Android charger look like for most now.
Does Lightning charge faster than USB-C?
No. USB-C is a newer standard that offers higher power delivery rates and faster charging under the same voltage. USB-C carries 3A with up to 5A support, while Lightning just supports a maximum current of 2.4A. This means that USB-C supports the USB Power Delivery fast-charging standard, making it much better for fast charging than Lightning.
