The best charging stations you can get - Android

What to look for

• Is the brand trustworthy?  Choosing a reputable brand is important. A good device is more likely to last through countless charging cycles. We highly recommend Anker, and there a few charging stations from the company in the list below. However, there are tons of other great brands.
• What ports does it have? Most new third-party charging stations come with USB-C ports. You will likely get the fastest charging possible with these. Of course, it also depends on the charging cables you have. So, if you have a USB-A to USB-C/microUSB cable, you’ll want something with USB-A ports.
• How many ports do you need? Are you looking to top up multiple devices with a single charger? A charger with 10-ports sounds fantastic to cover all your needs but will take up a lot of room on your desk. Some options also come with both USB ports and built-in power outlets. Charging stations aren’t usually the most portable, but there are certainly some that you can toss in a travel bag.
• What kind of devices do you need to charge? You will likely want to charge more than just smartphones and tablets with a charging station. You’ll need to look into the specifications of your device and the charging station. A few options below will let you power external monitors, laptops, and PCs as well.
• How fast is it going to charge? Fast charging is a standard feature at this point, albeit with varying degrees of capability. A third-party charger is unlikely to offer the same speeds as proprietary charging tech like VOOC. You’ll have to know whether your phone supports standards like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge and USB-PD (Power Delivery) to find the right charger to make use of this feature.

A note about third-party accessories

Research is necessary before buying any mobile accessory. It’s especially important with charging accessories because a bad charger could damage your device. Before you buy an accessory from a brand you’re not familiar with, be sure to check for the following:

• Look through owner-submitted reviews on sites like Amazon. What are people saying? Do these quick reviews look legitimate? They may be paid or sponsored submissions if they are super vague and poorly written.
• Look for oddities. For example, if the product reviews aren’t actually for the product! This happens a lot with 3rd party charging accessories from obscure brands. A 5-star review of a protein powder is not what you want to see when trying to buy charging stations.
• Familiarize yourself with the return policy of the product. While many products have return periods, some might only have a replacement window, in which case a refund won’t be possible.
• We’re here to help! Android Authority has a guide for various charging accessories and more, including this one for charging stations.