Chargers and Power Banks...
Charging electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops should be a simple process of plugging in a cable and waiting for it to charge. However, the tech industry has complicated this process with a range of different plugs, formats, and requirements to charge devices faster. The author suspects that many people are looking for ways to charge their devices while on vacation and has created a glossary to help demystify the topic. Breaking down the jargon is the best way to make sense of the different elements involved in charging electronic devices.
With the exception of gaming laptops and super-cheap Windows laptops, most modern devices will use one of the following charging connectors:
USB-A: The large, rectangular connector that’s ubiquitous on older laptops (and, still, many new ones that aren’t made by Apple).
Micro-USB: Flat on one side and sloped on the other, found on older Android phones and a decent number of accessories. Cable typically has a large, rectangular USB-A connector on the other end.
USB-C: Reversible connector that’s flat on top and bottom with rounded sides, now the standard on Android phones, iPads, recent MacBooks, and many Windows laptops. Cables can either have USB-A on one end or USB-C on both.
Lightning: Apple’s proprietary connector for the iPhone, iPad, and AirPods. Can have USB-A or USB-C at the other end of the cable. The company seems to be gradually replacing Lightning with USB-C, for instance on the 10th-generation iPad and latest Apple TV remote.
Fast charge jargon
Fast charging is not officially defined by the industry, but Apple roughly describes it as the process of recharging 50% of the battery in about 30 minutes. To achieve this level of charging speed, you will need either a Lightning to USB-C cable for Apple devices or a USB-C to USB-C cable for Android devices. Additionally, in order to enable fast charging, you will require a charger or portable power bank that is compatible with your device. However, finding the right charging product can be confusing because of the various numbers and alphabet soup involved.
USB Power Delivery (USB-PD, or just PD): Industry standard for fast charging, supported by the iPhone and most notable Android phones. Requires a USB-C connection on the charger.
Quick Charge (or QC): Proprietary fast charging format from Qualcomm. Has some advantages over PD but is omitted by some phone makers (most notably Apple and Google) due to licensing costs.