{"id":22355,"date":"2022-12-09T19:35:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T19:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/09\/are-gas-station-phone-chargers-worth-buying-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-12-09T19:35:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T19:35:48","slug":"are-gas-station-phone-chargers-worth-buying-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/09\/are-gas-station-phone-chargers-worth-buying-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Gas Station Phone Chargers Worth Buying? \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ultra-cheap power adapters and charging cables aren’t worth the money. They break too quickly, charge too slowly, and may damage your phone.<\/p>\n

Nobody wants to spend $20 on a phone charger. But manufacturers are constantly upgrading to new charging standards, and some brands no longer include power bricks or cables with their phones. To get around this problem, you might be tempted to buy cheap charging accessories from the gas station. But you shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Gas Station Chargers Are Cheap Because They Suck<\/h2>\n
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You can\u2019t use a phone without charging it first. But power adapters and cables wear down over time, and\u00a0new standards like USB-C are forcing customers to upgrade at a high price. It\u2019s an awkward situation that pushes people toward cheap charging accessories, which is completely understandable.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, smartphone chargers and cables are more than just a mess of wire. They often contain chips and other components<\/a> that prevent overcharging, overheating, and other potentially dangerous problems. These components aren\u2019t cheap\u2014if a manufacturer wants to sell low-priced USB and Lightning accessories, it needs to cut corners.<\/p>\n

So, cheap charging accessories are often held together by hot glue and thin wire. Not only does this lead to a fragile design, but it severely limits charging speed.\u00a0Cheap charging accessories tend to operate\u00a0at about 5 watts, while modern phones often have a maximum charging speed between 20 and 50 watts. (Don\u2019t even get me started on those wacky 12-foot-long charging cables. Long and thin wire contributes to in-line resistance, meaning that these cheap 12-foot cables are\u00a0extremely<\/em> slow.)<\/p>\n

Gas station charging accessories also tend to fall short of USB and Lightning guidelines<\/a>, which dictate things like voltage regulation, EMF shielding, and the size of a charging cable\u2019s tip. If a cheap charging accessory doesn\u2019t die under the pain of physical stress, it will usually burn itself out due to unregulated voltage, a short circuit, or electrical arching within your phone\u2019s charging port.<\/p>\n

A gas station charger might last a long time. But they usually die after just a few months, forcing you to buy another crappy power brick or cable. That\u2019s why large retailers don\u2019t always carry these super-cheap accessories; they don\u2019t want to deal with returns and complaints.<\/p>\n

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Will Gas Station Chargers Damage Your Phone?<\/h2>\n
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You don\u2019t mind replacing your charger every few months\u2014that\u2019s fine. But should you put your phone, your car, or your home at risk? Cheap charging accessories often fall below USB or Lightning specifications, and if you\u2019re unlucky, they can cause some damage.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned earlier, cheap power adapters often burn themselves out. This is usually due to a short circuit or a design that lacks proper voltage regulation. Both of these problems are accompanied by overheating, which may blow the fuse in your car\u2019s cigarette lighter or set an outlet on fire (if you\u2019re super-duper unlucky).<\/p>\n

Your phone is also vulnerable to fluctuations in voltage, which can reduce the battery\u2019s lifespan<\/a>. And if the end of a charging cable overheats inside of your phone, it may destroy the charging port or leave behind a residue of plastic and ash. This kind of gunk\u00a0will reduce a phone\u2019s ability to charge<\/a>, and it may contribute to electrical arching (which will damage future charging cables).<\/p>\n

And this isn\u2019t just an electrical thing. Cheap cables can\u00a0physically<\/em> harm your phone\u2019s charging port. The end of a cable might break off into your phone, for example. And because these cheap cables aren\u2019t always plated, they\u2019re often vulnerable to corrosion, which can scratch or strain the inside of your phone.<\/p>\n

To be clear, these problems are somewhat<\/em> rare. Cheap charging accessories will usually burn themselves out before they cause any damage, and smartphone charging ports are more durable than they were a few years ago.<\/p>\n

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Some Phones Refuse to Work with Cheap Chargers<\/h2>\n
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Most smartphones use algorithms to prevent overcharging and overheating. These algorithms may kick in when using a cheap gas station charger, saving your device from any potential damage. The downside, of course, is that your cheap charger becomes a total waste of money (unless you charge your phone in short spurts, which sounds like a nightmare).<\/p>\n

But Apple takes things a step further. If an iPhone or iPad detects that a cable isn\u2019t MFi certified<\/a>, it may refuse to accept a charge. This is usually accompanied by a message like \u201cyour charging accessory isn\u2019t supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

This \u201cfeature\u201d increases user safety and helps Apple avoid bad press. It also generates some cash for Apple, as manufacturers need to pay for MFi certification. (That said, money generated through the MFi program is probably a drop in the bucket for Apple. We\u2019re talking about a company that made around $400<\/a> billion in 2022.)<\/p>\n

If you own an iPhone, I suggest that you only buy MFi-certified charging accessories. These products are guaranteed to meet certain standards, and more importantly, you can rest assured knowing that they\u2019ll work with your phone.<\/p>\n

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Buy Some Decent Charging Accessories<\/h2>\n
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When possible, you should avoid the cheap charging accessories sold at gas stations, drugstores, and corner stores. They may seem like a bargain, but they will break very quickly and\u00a0could<\/em> damage your phone, car, or home (but only if you\u2019re very unlucky).<\/p>\n

You\u2019re better off buying a decent charging cable, which will last a long time and safely power your device at high speeds. If you\u2019re on a budget, I suggest buying AmazonBasics<\/a> or Walmart Onn<\/a> charging accessories. These brands aren\u2019t\u00a0amazing<\/em>, but they\u2019re a massive upgrade from the stuff you buy at the gas station.<\/p>\n

Now, in a pinch, you may have no choice but to buy a crappy charging cable or power adapter. But I strongly suggest buying something of a higher quality. Otherwise, you\u2019ll be caught in a cycle of replacing your cheap charger every few months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n