Car Chargers: The Upgrade Every Car Needs
Although many modern cars now come with USB charging ports built-in, these usually only offer weak 1-amp charging, which can barely charge modern smartphones and tablets, and certainly not any larger gadgets. A good USB car charger is the solution to so many of the everyday issues we face while traveling. Let‘s take a look at some of the most useful ways of using a USB car charger.
Keeping Phones and Tablets Charged
This is the obvious one, but also the most important. People today rely on smartphones more than ever, and keeping them powered on throughout the day is a perennial struggle. Should you suffer a breakdown or encounter an issue on the road, it‘s essential that your phone is available for use, and a handily-placed onboard USB port is the ideal solution. This is particularly true if you use your smartphone as sat-nav tool. Phones don‘t last long with the screen continually on and GPS active, so a car charger is basically essential for all but the shortest trips when navigating.
One of the great things about car chargers is that they‘re so small and portable. You can take it with you when you go on holiday and use it in the hire car, making sure you always have proper navigation while on unfamiliar roads. AUKEY offers several car chargers that support fast charging, including USB PD and Quick Charge 3.0. This means that no mater how depleted your battery was, you‘ll be sure to arrive fully charged.
Powering Dash Cams
Dash cams are gaining in popularity all the time, and for good reason. They can protect you against all manner of crime and misfortune, and all while reducing your insurance premiums. However, unless you want to go down the complicated route of hardwiring your dash cam, you‘re going to need a car charger. Here it‘s a good idea to go with a multiport car charger. That way you can keep the camera running, while also giving yourself one or more charging ports.
Charging a Laptop
It may seem surprising to some, but a dinky little car charger is actually capable of charging laptops such as MacBooks. The key feature to look for is USB Power Delivery (PD). AUKEY‘s Expedition Duo PD 39W charger is able to output 27W to compact laptops such as the latest MacBook Air. There‘s even an extra port for charging your phone without reducing the power allocated to the laptop.
Powering Wireless-Charging Phone Holders
A neat solution for keeping your phone charged is a phone holder that supports wireless charging. This removes the need to connect and disconnect a cable each time you get in and out, and also keeps the phone at the perfect height for navigation. Models like this one include an electromagnetic sensor that automatically clamps shut on your phone, but won‘t be triggered by your hand or other objects.
Obviously, the wireless charging coils still need a power supply, and this is where a fast-charging car charger comes in. In order to receive 10W wireless charging, you need to connect the wireless phone mount to a charger that supports Quick Charge technology, otherwise it wouldn‘t have enough of a kick. This rules out basic USB ports, and is another reason for getting something with a bit more power (and ideally more than one port, so you can charge other devices in addition to the one in the mount).
Charging Nintendo Switch
There‘s no doubt the Nintendo Switch is one of the best gaming options for long car journeys. It brings the convenient handheld experience of the classic Gameboy, but with modern graphics and a great library of games. The trouble is, that level of graphical performance in a handheld console burns through the battery in no time. Luckily, AUKEY has a number of car chargers that support USB PD, the standard that the Switch uses. Both 18W and 27W PD car chargers will be able to recharge the Switch in handheld mode, or you could simply keep it connected the whole time so you never need to worry about the battery.
Powering Fans, Mini Fridges and More
Nowadays there‘s no limit to the number of gadgets powered by USB, many of which are ideal for bringing extra comfort to a long drive. Mini fans are a great way to keep hot kids cool in a stuffy car, and busy commuters can keep their electric shavers fully charged. As for gadgets that require a bit more power, there a plenty of USB-powered mini fridges and drinks coolers available on the market. What could be better than enjoying ice-cold refreshments on a hot day when far from civilization!
A Versatile Upgrade For Any Vehicle
As you can see, a well-powered car charger is a versatile tool that can improve any vehicle. Phone batteries remain charged, dash cams are powered, gaming is not curtailed by battery life, and all manner of handy gadgets can be plugged in to make journeys more comfortable and convenient.
AUKEY‘s range of car chargers can be viewed here, and also on our Amazon car charger page.
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