The best USB car charger for most people and most devices is the AUKEY USB C. We reached this conclusion after testing more than 35 chargers since 2013, including seven new models this year. Packed into this tiny charger is the capability to simultaneously charge two full-size tablets at full speed. It’s also able to differentiate between different devices to deliver the proper charging current to each, something not every charger can do. Though not the absolute smallest or most powerful charger we tested, it has the right balance of all the important features and a good price.
If you have a phone that supports Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0 and want to take advantage of faster charging speeds, go with the Aukey CC-T8. It packs two ports, each of which supports Quick Charge 3.0 speeds—and is backward-compatible with 2.0, meaning there’s no “wrong” port to connect to.
Why you should trust me
I was the accessories editor at iLounge for a little more than three years. During my tenure, I reviewed more than 1,000 products, including numerous charging solutions. I’ve maintained this guide since late 2014, monitoring every noteworthy new charger that makes it to market.
I also consulted with Nathan K., a volunteer with the Top Contributor Programat Google. He’s an independent tester who has worked with Benson Leung, a famed (in these circles) Google engineer who first brought to light potential issues with USB-C accessories. Nathan tests with professional hardware and software, reporting his findings for free. He didn’t have final say on any of our picks, but he did provide useful general guidance on the topic. We also used his guide to suggested peripherals as a starting point in choosing some of the chargers we tested.
Should you upgrade?
Nearly everyone carries a smartphone, tablet, GPS unit, or other USB-powered device in the car, meaning that if you drive, it’s worth having a dedicated USB charger that plugs into your car’s 12-volt accessory outlet (the “cigarette lighter,” for older folks).
Even if your car is recent enough to include a USB port for integrating music playback and phone calls with your car stereo, spending $15 or so for a dedicated charger can be worth it. That’s because the built-in USB port(s) in most cars put out only 1 amp of current, which isn’t enough to charge a tablet or even newer iPhones at full speed: If you’re running an app like Waze or Google Maps, using your car’s USB port may not even charge your phone faster than it uses power, so you can end up at your destination with the same battery level as when you got in the car. Even if your car’s USB port does offer full-speed charging, most cars have only one USB charging port; a charger like our pick lets you charge two or more devices from a single accessory outlet—your family and friends will appreciate that.
Similarly, if you have a USB charger that you bought a couple years ago, it probably puts out only 1 amp—our pick puts out up to 2.4 amps, meaning that upgrading will provide you with faster charge times and the capability to charge tablets and other high-current devices. The same applies if your charger has only a single USB port: We’re living in an multi-device age, so it makes sense to have multiple USB charging ports.
However, if you recently bought a USB charger that provides at least 2 amps from each of its ports, there’s no reason to upgrade. Though you’ll be able to charge your iPad Air slightly faster with our top picks, the difference isn’t big enough to spend more money right now.
Of course, if you have devices that charge using USB-C, you’ll likely want a USB-C charger. All of the USB-A chargers we recommend can charge at up to 12 W, but USB-C phones support 15 W charging, and USB Power Delivery can deliver quite a bit more power over a USB-C port.
