The best wall chargers - A buyer’s guide - Android

What should you look for?

• Is the brand trustworthy? A reputable brand is more likely to last through countless charging cycles. We highly recommend Anker, but there are tons of other great brands. We ensure every option on this list balances price, quality, and reputation.
• What ports does it have? Most new third-party chargers come with USB-C ports, and you will likely get the fastest charging possible with these. However, you’ll have a charging cable already. So if you have a USB-A to USB-C/microUSB cable, you’ll need a charger with a USB-A port.
• How many ports do you need? Are you looking to top up multiple devices with a single charger? The more ports the charger has, the heavier and less portable it becomes. A multi-port charger is great on a desk, but smaller single- or two-port chargers are the better travel companions.
• 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 charging. 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 which can make use of this feature.
• What size do you need? You will also have to consider the size. Do you want something that can easily slip inside your pocket or backpack? Or do you want the most charging power encased in a big brick? Are you looking for something that sits on a desk? How long should the charging and plug cables be?

A note about buying third-party accessories

You should do your research on every mobile accessory you buy. It’s important to be especially careful with charging accessories because a bad charger could cause a lot of damage to your device. Before you buy an accessory from a brand you’re not familiar with, just 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? It’s possible they are 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 a multi-port wall charger.
• Familiarize yourself with the return policy of the product. While a lot of 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 literally hundreds of guides to help you navigate through the convoluted world of phone and other device charging accessories. From multi-port wall chargers to numerous power bank categories, we have it all.