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The best USB car charger
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to USB car chargers. For a few bucks, a good USB car charger can charge your phone and other devices faster than the port that came in your car. After testing more than 60 models, we think the best car charger is the dual-port Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger. You can fast-charge phones, tablets, and laptops from its USB-C port, and simultaneously charge a second phone on its USB-A port. No other charger offers as much power for a better price. Compared with the familiar USB-A port, the smaller USB-C port can charge most modern phones faster (if you're using the right cable) and can even charge tablets and laptops. And the Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger provides the best of both worlds. When you're using a USB-C–to–Lightning cable, the charger's USB-C port can charge an iPhone about three times faster (at 18 watts) than the USB-A wall charger that comes in the box from Apple; your phone can charge from empty to roughly 50 percent in just half an hour while you're sitting in traffic, say, or running errands around town. This Nekteck charger's 45-watt output and included USB-C–to–C cable also support the maximum charge rate on Android phones (such as the Samsung Galaxy S10), the 2018 iPad Pro, and even many laptops. And you can use the 12-watt USB-A port at the same time to charge a second phone or other device with any USB cable you already have. Port one: 45 W USB-C Port two: 12 W USB-A With two USB-C ports, the Scosche PowerVolt Power Delivery Dual 18W USB-C Car Charger (CPDC8C8) is what you should get if you want to fast-charge two modern devices at the same time. Each of the PowerVolt's USB-C ports supports full 18-watt charging, so you can charge two modern phones at top speed; that means an iPhone's battery will go from 0 to around 50 percent charged in half an hour, compared with about 35 percent on a standard 12-watt USB-A charger. A dual–USB-C setup is rare—this is the only such model we've found from a company we trust. You can still use this charger with older phones, such as an iPhone 7 or earlier—they just won't charge any faster than on a USB-A charger. Port one: 18 W USB-C Port two: 18 W USB-C We think getting a faster USB-C charger is worth spending a little more, but if you simply want a good, inexpensive power source in the car, go with ZMI's PowerCruise C2 36-Watt Dual USB Car Charger with QC 3.0. All two-port, 24-watt chargers from reputable companies in this price range work just as well as any other, but unlike similar models we tested, this ZMI charger stands out because it supports Quick Charge 3.0 on both ports, offering slightly faster speeds to devices that support that standard. It's also made of metal instead of the cheaper-feeling plastic of almost every other charger. Port one: Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A Port two: Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A The RAVPower Quick Charge 3.0 54W 4-Port Car Adapter (RP-VC003) is especially useful when you're traveling with a car full of passengers, as it can charge up to four devices simultaneously without taking up much more space than competing two-port models. Each of its ports can put out 12 watts, and one supports Quick Charge 3.0, so you're not sacrificing charging speed for more devices. Port one: Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A Port two: 12 W USB-A Port three: 12 W USB-A Port four: 12 W USB-A
The best USB-C MacBook and laptop chargers
By Nick Guy This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full USB-C MacBook and laptop chargers guide here. If you need a new charger for your USB-C–powered MacBook or PC laptop, the safest bet is to get the same model that shipped with it. But if the stock charger is difficult to find or expensive, or if you want additional charging ports, we think Nekteck's 4-port 72W USB Wall Charger with Type-C 60W Power Delivery is the best option. We tested 19 USB-C chargers with seven computers and found that the Nekteck charger is powerful enough to charge almost every USB-C laptop at full speed, and it's USB-IF certified, which means it should be safe to use. It also has three USB-A ports for charging other devices at the same time, and it's affordable. The Nekteck charger is one of the least expensive replacement chargers available, yet it works as well as more expensive competitors. It's the same height and thickness as Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro charger and only about 0.7 inch longer, but it includes three 12-watt USB-A charging ports alongside its USB-C charging port. It also comes with a USB-C charging cable and a long power cord to help you reach far-away outlets. If you don't want the extra USB-A charging ports and would rather have the smallest possible charger for your computer, we recommend Anker's PowerPort Speed PD 60. This 60-watt charger is smaller than what Apple sells but just as powerful, and it's USB-IF certified. You have to provide your own USB-C cable—you can use the one that came with your charger, or buy a new one in whatever length you need. The 15-inch MacBook Pro requires a higher-power—and more expensive—charger. The best replacement is Insignia's Type-C Wall Charger, a 90-watt model that's perfect for the job. It's just a bit larger than Apple's own charger, but it includes a built-in USB-C charge cable for half the price of what a full replacement set would cost from Apple. Like all of our recommendations, it's USB-IF certified. Plus, it's readily available in Best Buy stores across the country, making it an easy pick if you need to grab something today. If you're okay with sacrificing some charging speed in exchange for saving some money, or if you need to charge one of Apple's 2018 iPad Pros (which maxes out at 45 watts), then the ZMI Turbo 45W Wall Charger is your best bet. It still charges at twice the speed of the 18-watt chargers Apple includes with its latest iPads, and it features a detachable (and replaceable) USB-C cable, which our cable testing equipment verified is safe.
