It used to be that the new phones come with chargers in the box, but phone makers are now beginning to exclude the charger in the box. So we’ll begin to shop more for 3rd-party chargers.
Do you remember these different plugs for different chargers, not to mention different power ratings for each device?
I remember years ago when I was writing for the Straits Times Digital Life about what tech to pack when travelling, I’d lamented that the charger for different phones used proprietary chargers that were not interchangeable – in terms of the plugs and the power ratings.
This USB-C cable is all you need for most of your devices if they use the USB-C port (or a USB-C to USB-A cable if the charger uses a USB-A port).
Even within Nokia phones, you have different plug sizes and capacities.
So if you have six phones in the family, you’ll have to bring all six chargers for the family vacation.
I’d wished then for the day when chargers could be universal, or at least interchangeable, so I can pack just 2-3 chargers for all the phones in the family – one main charger plus 1-2 backup charger, and also to cater to parallel charging of 2-3 devices simultaneously.
So it’s great that most device chargers can now be used interchangeably, with some suitable for phones, tablets and laptops.
At home, I have a few chargers permanently plugged into the wall outlets in various rooms that family members can plug in their devices at their convenience, wherever they may be.
Now that phone makers are beginning to exclude chargers when you purchase new phones, buying our own chargers will actually become a thing – instead of just depending on the chargers that come in the box when we buy new phones.
Tags: accessories, chargers, trends
I can still remember the horrible mess! The youths today won’t even know what you’re describing … they belong to the USB generation!
Wow that’s a new term … the USB generation! ;-D