A cell phone charger is a device used to recharge the battery in a mobile phone unit. Often, a basic charger comes with the cell phone when it is purchased. In some cases, additional chargers may be purchased that have added features.
There are many different types of cell phone chargers to choose from. Among the most popular are wall chargers, car chargers, travel chargers, rapid chargers and instant chargers. Many mobile phone owners may own one or more of these other types of chargers, depending on situations they may find themselves in.
The wall charger is the most common type of cell phone charger. It has a standard plug designed to fit the outlets in the country in which it was sold. In some cases, this cell phone charger may come with some added features, such as a docking station for the phone. However, this may actually decrease the phone’s functionality, as it cannot be used while charging. The travel charger is usually very similar to the wall charger but is usually less bulky and may include prongs that fold down for easier travel. In some cases, the travel charger has replaced the wall charger as the standard one included with the phone.
The car charger is another very popular option. This charger has an adapter that allows it to be plugged into a vehicle’s DC port, commonly known as a cigarette lighter. It is especially useful for those who do a substantial amount of traveling and need constant access to their mobile phones.
A rapid charger looks very much like a wall charger, but is a more powerful cell phone charger, able to charge phones in just a fraction of the time it would normally take. For most models, charging a phone takes two to three hours. Rapid chargers advertise the ability to charge the phone in less than an hour, in many cases. However, consumers should be aware that some rapid chargers can shorten the effective life of the battery.
Instant chargers are really one-time, non-replaceable batteries. They usually do not replace the installed battery, but rather connect to the phone just like a normal charger would. These are useful in emergency situations when a cell phone battery is low or dead. The job of this type of charger is simply to transfer current from one battery to the next.
When buying a cell phone charger, it is important to understand that just because it works with your brand of phone, it may not work with your model. Be sure to cross reference the model number on the packaging to your own phone. In many packages, the connecting portion of the charger to the phone is outside the rest of the packaging, giving the consumer a chance to test the connection, if they have their cell phone with them. This is the most foolproof way of making sure you have the right connection.