Best USB phone chargers 2023

Many gadgets these days come without a charger in the box, and that makes choosing the right one more important than ever.

With the right charger, your phone, laptop, cameras, and other miscellaneous gadgets can get back to full battery in a very quick way. These picks often also feature multiple USB ports, allowing you to share power and charge multiple devices at the same time.

However, before you get too excited about the prospect of this brave new world, there is actually a little to understand.

We’ve detailed some key considerations in the section below our picks, but in short, it’s easy to see what charging speeds your phone, tablet, smartwatch, headphones, or laptop actually supports before you dive in. If you plan on using the adapter with a wireless charging base, the output levels can get a little complicated, so be sure to do your research.

Otherwise, you risk overspending on a charger that you can’t take advantage of.

As you’d expect, plugs with an electrical output are more powerful—with some on this list packing enough to handle several large appliances at once. However, some are designed more specifically for just your phone, and will typically have power around 12W, 15W, or 18W. This may not sound like much when compared to bulky chargers, but it’s actually more than enough to blow the 5W adapter out of the box right out of the water.

Whatever output you need, and no matter what budget you’re on, we’ve tested and ranked some of the best phone chargers out there.

Our top pick: the best USB charger

If you’re looking for something a little more fun, look no further than this awesome Charger. It is modeled after an old Apple Mac and is incredibly detailed, complete with an old beige finish.

To make things even more exciting, the screen lights up while charging, and the different colors correspond to your charging speed. It even comes with a selection of stickers, so you can choose what your mini PC displays.

It’s not just about looks, its compact body and foldable design make it one of the more portable options on our list. And while 35W may not be enough for a laptop, it will charge most phones at full speed.

We also recommend USB chargers

Our current recommendation is the best universal charging plug we’ve tested, but it’s also very expensive and likely overkill for some users. That’s why we also recommend the other adapters below.

If you want the best of the best, then you need look no further than Ugreen’s monstrous Nexode desktop charger. It’s capable of outputting 100 watts on two channels simultaneously—that’s enough to charge two MacBook Pros at full speed and still have four spare ports for all your other devices.

It’s an expensive option, but the convenience it offers is in itself. A perfect choice for anyone who has a lot of devices to charge and wants to get it done as quickly as possible.

It’s on the heavier side, sure, but compared to carrying several laptop power bricks plus extra USB wall adapters, the small form factor makes it fun to travel with. If you can afford the price, Ugreen Nexode won’t disappoint.

With the GaN technology that powers the Ugreen 100W USB-C Wall Charger, you’ll get a powerful charger that won’t overheat or struggle to power through the day — no matter if you’re powering a laptop, phone, and tablet simultaneously.

It’s ideal for users who lack wall outlets, but, really, anyone who needs multiple USB-C to USB-C connections in the same place can take advantage, with a fourth port also available for USB-A devices.

It’s much cheaper than our top option, and it still provides a ton of power for multiple devices. However, if you just need something just for your phone, there are much cheaper (and more compact) options elsewhere on this list.

Another solid option is available from Aukey with this 65W charger, which is impressively sleek despite its power and two ports.

It has a pretty mottled design and is great for slipping into a backpack when you’re on the go, with its prongs folded away for easy portability. In addition, you will get super fast charging speeds as supported by your device.

We’ve found this to be best for business trips, when we need to charge our laptop and phone simultaneously, or for placing around the house in an area where you need double the power. It’s a pity that there’s only one USB-C port, but that’s by no means the end of the world.

Anker has managed to shrink a powerful charger into a tiny, aptly named Nano-shaped package that’s a great pick for most people.

You get a single USB-C cable wall charger, one that doesn’t get in the way at all. We found it perfect for travel, as it helped us maintain strong charging speeds for our phone — great for when you need a quick boost before stepping away from a wall outlet.

It’s not really enough power for a larger device, as it can only manage 20W, but that’s more than enough for fast charging on just about every smartphone.

Ugreen has done a great job of keeping its charger as small as possible here, and an equally impressive job of making sure it doesn’t cost too much.

You can get it at an affordable price and charge over USB-C without breaking the bank. The output it offers isn’t quite as great as others, which means it’s more suitable for phones than larger devices, but it’s still more than enough for most uses.

It’s not the only power adapter on this list that offers this feature, but the compact shape really does make it ideal for driving on the road. We’ve put this plug in backpacks, suitcases, the glove compartment of the car, and of course, the wall itself. It doesn’t take up enough space to be a burden, which is a huge advantage when it can still deliver that level of power.

The Charging Kit from Anker is another massive 100W charger to consider. It offers four ports — two USB-C and two USB-A — which is ideal if you have devices that still use both standards.

The cable can be a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on your needs. It adds a lot of bulk, which is a little annoying if you want to travel with it.

However, it did help us out on more than one occasion when we needed to squeeze in a difficult outlet. Mostly, we’d still only recommend this for home use, but it has huge potential on the road, too.

The Charging Kit from Anker is another massive 100W charger to consider. It offers four ports — two USB-C and two USB-A — which is ideal if you have devices that still use both standards.

The cable can be a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on your needs. It adds a lot of bulk, which is a little annoying if you want to travel with it.

However, it did help us out on more than one occasion when we needed to squeeze in a difficult outlet. Mostly, we’d still only recommend this for home use, but it has huge potential on the road, too.

How to choose a USB charger

Chargers are not what they used to be. This was the case where you used the charger that came with your device and that was the end of it. However, since most devices now use the USB-C standard, there has been a significant rise in third-party USB-C products on offer.

You also have a range of different chargers to choose from, some of which offer more than one port and a varying degree of charging power. This means that your device can potentially charge much faster from the charger that came with your device.

So, what should you be looking for?

Why should you buy a USB charger?

As mentioned earlier, since most phones don’t actually come with a charging brick, you may not have one on hand. So, this is the perfect reason to consider getting a third party USB charger. And since name brand chargers are often quite expensive, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere, especially because they often offer more for your money.

What can you use a USB wall charger for?

A lot of devices now use the USB-C standard. Most phones use it, even if that doesn’t include Apple (for now). Funnily enough, Apple’s MacBook models use it, as well as most other laptops too. Basically, any new device that supports fast charging will have a USB-C port, as the Micro USB standard cannot compare in terms of charging speed.

What should a USB charging adapter look like?

Charger design can be hit or miss. It’s something most of us would rather fade into the background. It should work fine and not be noticed. Some designs can protrude slightly from the wall, which restricts where you can use it, and others use cable from the wall, which can be a good thing or a bit bulky.

If you are likely to be traveling with several devices, it is worth considering the size. Although if it is going to stay in one place, you can forego the sleek design for more power output.

What are the main things to consider?

There are two major differences when looking at USB charging blocks. The first is the number of ports the charger has, and the second is the charging power. There are many chargers that only have one port, and some even feature four, though this comes at a price. You’ll be hard pressed to find chargers with more than three USB-C chargers, as the fourth usually takes up the USB-A port.

After that, charge the energy. The lowest offered is 5 watts, and can be extended to 100 watts and more. It’s worth noting that not many devices can harness the full 100 watts if you sift through for more powerful options. However, you usually have more than one port on these chargers, so they can be great if you need to charge several devices at once.