We updated this article on 02/26/2024 – USB-C chargers are one of the essential accessories for recharging your smartphones and other electronic devices. If you want a selection of the best chargers and advice on choosing well, you’ve come to the right place. Our experts have tested and selected the crème de la crème of available devices to guide you in your choice. We will also soon test a new round of chargers to see if the latest innovations have their place in this ranking. For advice and the key criteria to consider to make the best choice, do not hesitate to go to the “How to choose well” section at the bottom of the page.
The Top 3 of the best USB-C chargers
1. Anker 735: the best value for money USB-C charger
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2. Anker 511: the best USB-C charger at a low price
3. Belkin 20 W USB-C Mains Charger: the best alternative to the Anker 511
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How we test USB-C chargers
Behind its basic appearance, the USB-C charger hides several specific features that we need to analyze to best advise you.
We first check its marking to ensure that it meets safety standards. Then we observe its manufacturing quality and its solidity, a guarantee of resistance to wear caused by often daily handling.
We then plug the USB-C charger into several places to judge its ease of use and the accessibility of its charging ports. Its size is also important to assess its portability.
Finally, we of course measure its charging power from 0 to 100% on a given device while monitoring its heating at the same time.
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Why trust us
Tech journalist since 2009 and now independent, Fabien Pionneau is above all a technology enthusiast. He likes to delve into the workings of products to reveal both their qualities and their faults. An activity that he was able to practice for many years at Les Numériques as head of several sections. Test protocols, range and market analyzes no longer hold any secrets for him. Fabien evaluates the products to recommend the best to you as he would for his loved ones.
The whole selection of the best USB-C chargers
Anker 735: the best value for money USB-C charger
This charger has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. The shape of the device and the location of the ports make it suitable for use on a power strip rather than behind a piece of furniture. Despite everything, it remains more compact than a computer charger. What appealed to us the most during the tests was its charging capacity: with a power of 65 W and its PowerIQ 4.0 technology, it is efficient enough to recharge a PC or smartphone quickly.
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Benefits
- Efficient
- Multiple ports
- Compact
- Electrical protection
Disadvantages
Anker 511: the best USB-C charger at a low price
We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of this mini charger during our tests! It only has one USB-C port, but coupled with a suitable cable, it charges a smartphone very quickly. However, its performance is more limited when compared to a PC. Discreet and compact, it is perfect for travel. Finally, it also benefits from PowerIQ technology which allows it not to overheat and to adjust the output power to the connected device.
Benefits
- Very affordable price
- Mini format
- Discreet
- Electrical protection
- Available in 4 colors
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Disadvantages
Belkin 20 W USB-C Mains Charger: the best alternative to the Anker 511
This mini charger is well designed to place it behind furniture or at the end of a power strip. Easy to transport, it is quite efficient: with its 20 W, it supports the USB-PD protocol (fast charging of compatible devices) and the PPS protocol (optimization of the charging voltage). During our tests, however, we noticed a significant slowdown in charging speed during the last 5%. But for its price, it is a very convincing product!
Benefits
- Compact
- Efficient
- Very affordable price
Disadvantages
- Number of ports
- Slowdown in charging speed at the end of charging
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How to choose your USB-C charger? The key criteria to know
To choose a USB-C charger well suited to the devices you wish to charge, you must take into account several criteria. Behind its simple appearance, the charger is full of technology and must be of good quality so as not to damage the devices that plug into it. From the simple charger for less than €10 to the multi-port, high-power charger for almost €100, there is something for all uses and budgets, each time with key points that make the difference.
Security
Often neglected, security is nevertheless essential. A charger that does not meet standards can be dangerous and create electric shocks or even fires.
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The NF EN 62368-1 standard is the most recent (NF EN 60950-1 previously) and ensures that the device meets specifications guaranteeing a certain safety. On a charger, the CE marking is a minimum to indicate that the product complies with current standards, but it is only declarative and cannot therefore guarantee the quality of the material.
A charger must also have on its shell the voltages and frequencies at which it can operate, the input and output currents and voltages, the name of the manufacturer, the model number, as well as various symbols (crossed-out trash can for recycling , house for indoor use, small square in large square for the indication of double insulation of class 2 equipment). So many indications which must be explained in the instructions supplied with the charger.
Clutter
Often compact, the USB-C charger can also be imposing if it is very powerful and equipped with several charging ports. A point to take into account if you plan to take it with you or even plug it into a hard-to-reach socket or a power strip, for example.
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Number of ports
More and more chargers come with multiple charging ports. Several USB-C ports, of course, but also USB-A ports, for example. Be careful however, the total power is most often distributed between the different ports when they are used simultaneously.
Power
Expressed in watts (W), the power is decisive for the charging speed. Charging a laptop requires greater power if you don’t want to spend hours on it (30 W for an ultraportable, 2 to 3 times more for a pro or gaming laptop). Likewise, the fast charging of the latest generation smartphones benefits from greater power. The higher the power, the more expensive the charger, which must use better quality components.
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The power is often not the same on all the charger ports and some manufacturers indicate a cumulative power of the different ports of their chargers. Check how much power a single port can provide if you want true fast charging.
Who can do more can do less, a powerful charger can charge smartphones with a lower maximum charging power without damage. The current delivered by the charger automatically corresponds.
Charging speed
The higher the charging power, the faster the recharge. However, it does not only depend on the charger, the device to be charged must also support high power to charge quickly. The latest high-end smartphones can offer charging powers of several tens of watts. You can recharge their battery from 0 to 50% in less than 30 minutes.
Technologies
- USB Power Delivery: the USB-PD standard is supported by large companies such as Apple and Intel; it offers wide compatibility.
- Quick charge: created by telecommunications and mobile chip specialist Qualcomm, the Quick Charge standard is compatible with many smartphones and tablets.
- Intelligent charging: this consists of automatically adapting the current supplied to the device and stopping charging when it is complete.
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How to use your USB-C charger correctly
Although using a USB-C charger is particularly simple, since you simply plug it into a power outlet and connect your products to it with a USB-C cable, some precautions are necessary.
- Avoid charging overnight: although it is common and practical to charge your smartphone overnight, it is better to avoid leaving your device charging for several hours to avoid damaging its battery.
- Don’t leave it plugged in all the time: even if well-designed chargers consume almost no energy when they stay plugged in, not all of them react as well and their consumption, however low, is always too much. Above all, they remain under tension and therefore react to possible variations in the network. For safety’s sake, unplug them.
- Use a suitable USB-C cable: Not all USB-C cables are compatible with fast charging. There are certified “Power Delivery” cables, the maximum supported power of which is normally indicated by the manufacturer.
- Ensure good ventilation: charging any device generates heat. Even more with high-power fast charging. It’s better to make sure that nothing is obstructing the charger and not to leave your smartphone charging under a cloth or blanket, for example.
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The best value for money USB-C charger
The best USB-C charger at a low price
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The best alternative to the Anker 511
Read also :
⋙ Falling iPhone prices, universal charger… what to remember from Apple’s Keynote
⋙ Good news: iPhones will benefit from universal chargers
⋙ Risk of electrocution: a phone charger distributed at Intermarché, Leclerc and Bricorama recalled
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A connoisseur of the digital marketplace and a master of the written word, this 30-year-old English expert brings to the table a wealth of knowledge rooted in the sale of digital products and a passion for blogging that resonates with an audience seeking expertise and insight in the online realm.
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