How to Choose the Right Backup Charger for Your Smartphone
Contents
– Car chargers
– Solar chargers
– Hand crank chargers
– External batteries
– Tips for charging your smartphone as quickly as possible
Whether you’re at work, on holiday, at the beach, in the desert, in Mongolia or deep in the jungle, you should always have something to charge your mobile phone with you. Because if the battery dies, you could find yourself cut off from the world. And unable to take a picture of that magnificent sunset on the summit of Kilimanjaro. A shame, isn’t it?
Fortunately, there are alternatives to traditional electric chargers that you can use at any time and in any situation.
Car chargers
Practical if you’re frequently on the move, the car charger plugs directly into the cigarette lighter and takes advantage of the journey to charge any smartphone.
These chargers, which start at around $5, are efficient and easy to use. If they are not made directly by the brand (Samsung, HTC, BlackBerry, etc.), you must ensure that they are compatible with your smartphone. For example, not all car chargers work with the iPhone.
The operation is even more straightforward and does not require a charger if the car already has a USB socket.
Solar chargers
There are also environmentally friendly ways to charge your mobile phone anywhere, starting with solar-powered chargers. This solution requires no plugs, just sunlight.
The WakaWaka Power charger, for example, has recently appeared on the market, thanks to the participatory financing of internet users via Kickstarter.
Crank chargers
Those looking for an eco-friendly charger that can be used in any weather, with or without sunlight, can turn to crank chargers. Although they require a little effort to recharge the batteries, they guarantee safety in all circumstances. An example is the Eton dynamo charger.
External batteries
There is a multitude of batteries, generally equipped with several USB ports. They have great autonomy and can replace the original battery when connected to a smartphone.
On the other hand, you must carry them around and accept the constraint of a box connected to your mobile when using it. The battery must, of course, be recharged regularly. A brand like Anker offers models for $30. In removable batteries, it is also possible to carry a light, ready-to-use, pre-charged spare.
Sometimes you forget to charge your mobile phone, and when you go out, the charge is not high enough for you to leave without worrying. Before buying a spare battery, think first about optimizing charging time by adopting the right behaviour.
Please do not use your smartphone while it is charging. These little machines work logically – the more you use it, the more energy it needs. The charging time will be longer if you don’t stop while it is plugged in. Some applications are more power-hungry than others (Facebook, games) and downloading large files is not the way to go. A little patience will reward you.
Turn off the connections! While you’re not using it, your smartphone is still alive and kicking. Consider cutting off all connections to avoid this leakage as much as possible. Turn off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi first if you don’t need them. (This also works when the phone is not charging, so you save battery power).
The radical solution: switch to aeroplane mode. If you don’t need your smartphone at all during this time or are in a real hurry to get a full battery back, opt for aeroplane mode. With all communications cut off, your battery will recharge much faster.
Use a wall socket rather than a USB port
USB ports on computers are much less powerful than the transformers that come with smartphones. Using the wall socket instead of the USB port will save you a lot of time.
Another option: use a tablet transformer
This is also a convenient power option. For example, an iPad charger has 12 watts and an iPhone charger only 5 watts. This power gain will make a big difference.
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