One constant remains in the increasingly complex sea of fast-charging standards: the USB port. At some point in the chain, every phone ends up plugged into a USB charger, even when using a wireless charger. But not every car has a free USB port, and those that do probably lack advanced charging standards like Quick Charge and PPS technology, which even many entry-level and mid-range phones support.
Of course, there’s no shortage of USB car chargers, but that wealth of products is a double-edged sword. You’ll spend a long time wading through the thousands of off-brand chargers at many online retailers, looking for the most advanced and dependable. Instead, consider this roundup of our favorite ones, including straightforward options for standard-speed charging, high-powered models for fast charging and laptops, and a couple of great wireless car chargers (including an Android-compatible MagSafe option). Also, make sure you have a compatible USB-C cable if the charger you choose doesn’t include one.
A 45-watt output on the upper USB port delivers enough juice to charge many of today’s great Chromebooks and even Windows laptops, in addition to every smartphone with a Type-C connection. That includes Samsung Super Fast Charging (like the Galaxy S23+ and Ultra support) since this charger supports PPS technology. Despite its high capacity and wide-ranging compatibility, it’s not actually very expensive. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to ensure all your cables are of the double-ended USB-C variety, due to no Type-A port.
Offering USB Power Delivery at up to 45 watts, the Nekteck PD45W can accommodate a huge range of devices, including many popular laptops from Apple and Dell. Aside from the USB-C port, there’s a USB-A output that offers the typical 12 watts and is perfect for standard-speed charging. For what it’s worth, you are able to use both ports simultaneously without seeing a power drop in either one. Other than the fact that it doesn’t support PPS (and therefore doesn’t support Samsung’s 45-watt Super Fast Charging), there aren’t any major drawbacks, especially at the low cost of $20.
For those who often need to charge far more than a phone, the Baseus CCZX-160CX boasts a remarkable 160-watt combined peak output spread over three ports. The top one supports up to 100 watts, which can charge some of the beefiest laptops at full speed as long as they offer USB-C charging. The charger also utilizes PPS and QC 5.0 fast charging technology, ensuring compatibility with the most advanced power protocols. Baseus also makes a variety of additional power accessories, including some of our favorite power banks.
Baseus CCZX-160CX 160W USB-C
Compared to its predecessor (the non-plus version), the Anker PowerDrive+ III Duo sees an upgrade to the upper USB-C port from 20 to 30 watts. That’s not a huge difference, but it will let you take advantage of the 25-watt fast charging on many of today’s great cell phones. Anker’s proprietary PowerIQ dynamic charging technology lets it tailor output voltage to exactly what your device needs, and helps improve charging speed for a wide range of manufacturers’ products. It’s even powerful enough to charge some notebooks (although probably not quite at full speed). Lastly, it’s backed by Anker’s great reputation and standard 18-month warranty against defects.
Anker PowerDrive+ III Duo
The Belkin CCB004 lets you rest easy with the assurance that comes with one of the world’s leaders in networking and connectivity. Its 25-watt single-port peak with PD 3.0 and PPS support means that all but the most high-end smartphones can hit their maximum charging speed. In addition, its soft-touch exterior and rock-solid construction make it well worth the moderate price, and its compact size makes it a great choice for those who want to avoid having overly bulky electronics intruding on their cabin.
Belkin BOOSTCHARGE Dual Car Charger with PPS 37W
The iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 makes it especially easy to keep your battery level up, with easily adjusted arms that secure your phone on top of a Qi wireless charging pad. Simply squeeze the arms to open them, put your phone against the trigger button in the middle of the charger, and watch as the One Touch 2 holds on tight. As long as your device supports wireless charging, you’ll be able to refuel it at up to 10 watts (or 7.5 watts if you’re using an iPhone). It comes with separate air vent and CD slot hardware, but there’s also a dashboard and windshield version available. And just so it’s clear, the actual charger and cable do come included in the box.
iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2
If you want to top off your battery while on the road but don’t want to add any clutter to your car’s interior, get the Aukey CC-A3. It’s as compact and well-priced as anything else on the market, and allows for 12 or 18 watts of juice from the Type-A and C ports, respectively. It’s so diminutive, in fact, that there’s a fold-down ring affixed to the top that you’ll need to use when removing it from the car’s DC outlet. Plus, its durable aluminum body provides it with a premium feel and effective heat dissipation.
AUKEY 30W CC-A3 Dual-Port
The ESR HaloLock is a little different from the rest. It’s essentially a MagSafe wireless charging pad that you attach to your air vent. As a result, you’ll absolutely need two things to use it: a smartphone that supports MagSafe charging (like a recent Pixel or Galaxy S) and a MagSafe-compatible case with a magnetic ring in it. A stick-on magnetic ring probably won’t be sufficient, as it likely won’t be strong enough to transmit the charge through your case. But if you fulfill both those requirements, this is the most convenient way to hold your phone in place while driving. The only drawback is that it doesn’t support common fast charge standards, as all require a wired connection.
A bit different from most of the similarly priced competition, the Scosche PowerVolt PD60 stands out due to a peak charge rate of 30 watts through each Type-C port simultaneously. That’s enough to charge a pair of Galaxy S23+ smartphones at full speed at the same time, which also hinges on the charger’s support for dynamic Programmable Power Supply charging, which adjust voltage in real time for the most efficient and effective power transfer. The combination of a well-known manufacturer and above-average three-year warranty make it one of the most reliable out there.
Keep your devices topped up while on the go
A handful of brands stand out among phone chargers available today. For example, the Anker PowerDrive+ III Duo comes from one of our favorite companies for portable power solutions, and it can accommodate nearly every high-end phone at its fastest charging speed. Baseus is another popular group — we’ve highlighted its CCZX-160CX charger that delivers a whopping 100 watts at once, leading the category by a wide margin.
If you’re looking for a great value, the Nekteck PD45W offers high performance at a slightly lower cost than most, and the only thing it lacks is PPS support. Then there’s the Spigen PC2200, which receives our Editor’s Choice award due to its versatile 45-watt peak and a plethora of compatible fast-charging protocols.
On wireless car charging
We’ve also added a couple of wireless chargers of two different varieties. The iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 uses a pair of easily opened arms to hold your phone in place on a wireless charging pad. Of course, your phone will need to support wireless charging to use it.
The ESR HaloLock, on the other hand, works only with the new-to-Android MagSafe charging and mounting standard. One very important note: you’ll definitely need a MagSafe-supporting phone to use the ESR. Since the required MagSafe hardware isn’t yet fully built into the few phones that support the standard, you’ll also need a good MagSafe case. In theory, you may be able to get by with a stick-on magnetic ring, but in practice, you really should go with a case instead. In our experience, the inconsistency and questionable long-term reliability of stick-on magnets leave much to be desired as far as the MagSafe experience goes.
