When you plug your phone into your car's USB port, you might assume it's charging efficiently, but you would be so wrong.
Here’s why:
Car chargers don’t have enough power to charge your phone
It's best to avoid cheap, unreliable chargers, especially those that plug into your car's cigarette lighter.
These chargers often don't deliver the advertised power, and if they have multiple ports, the power is divided between them, further reducing their strength.
Many car USB ports only provide 0.5 amps of power. To truly charge your phone while using it, you need at least two amps of power.
This means your phone's battery would be undercharging or overcharging.
Many car USB ports only provide enough power to slow down the battery drain, not to actively charge your phone.
This is like running in one spot—you're not moving forward. While newer cars are starting to offer higher-powered USB ports, they're still relatively rare.
ALSO READ: You've been charging your phone the wrong way your whole life — here's how to do it
Car chargers spoil your phone's battery
Generic car chargers chargers may not be able to regulate voltage properly, which can lead to overheating and damage to your phone's battery.
This problem is worsened by power surges, such as when you turn on the air conditioning in an older vehicle.
ALSO READ: Here’s why you should stop charging your phone overnight
How should you charge your phone in a car?
- For safe and efficient charging, consider buying a manufacturer-approved 12-volt adapter with a USB port that provides at least two amps of power.
- Connect it only when your car is running, and unplug it when you're not using it.
- As an alternative, a portable battery pack or power bank that can provide a reliable and independent charging solution.