How to pick a USB-C charger

Most phones, tablets and laptops now charge over USB-C, which means one good charger can replace a drawer full of old ones. Here is what to look for.

How many watts you need

• Phones: 20 to 30W gets most phones to their top charging speed.
• Tablets: 30 to 45W.
• Small laptops: 45 to 65W.
• Larger laptops: 65 to 100W or more. Check the wattage of the charger that came with your laptop and match or beat it.

A charger with more wattage than your device needs is safe. The device only draws what it can handle.

What GaN means

GaN (gallium nitride) chargers are smaller and run cooler than older silicon chargers at the same wattage. A 65W GaN charger is often about the size of an old 20W phone brick. Most good chargers today are GaN.

Multi-port chargers split their power

A charger labeled 100W with three ports does not give 100W to each port. That number is the total. Plug in a laptop and a phone, and the laptop might get 65W and the phone 30W. The listing or the label on the charger usually shows how power is split.

The cable matters too

A USB-C cable rated for 60W will cap your laptop at 60W even on a 100W charger. For laptops, get a cable rated for 100W or 240W.

Safety

Stick to known brands like Anker, UGREEN, Belkin, Apple and Samsung. Very cheap no-name chargers can skip safety parts, and that is not worth saving a few dollars on something plugged in next to your bed.

See today's USB-C charger deals and cable deals.