How to choose the right cable for charging your smartphone
It is impossible to imagine a modern gadget without a cable, with which it is connected to a computer or a car’s multimedia system, and also charged from an external battery or mains. But few people know that you also need to know how to choose a cable for a smartphone.
Editorial Board PM
September 27, 2021 06:00
In most cases, no one even thinks that such a seemingly simple object as a piece of wire with connectors at its ends should be selected wisely. A low-quality cable may not only not work, but can also cause problems with your smartphone or even start a fire. You can avoid this if you follow a number of simple rules.
Select cable type
The most obvious, but, as experience shows, not for everyone and not always the point. Modern smartphones have a USB Type-C connector, Apple gadgets have a Lightning connector, but there are still countless gadgets, photo and video cameras, power banks, and so on with a microUSB connector. Taking into account the design features of your phone, you can already narrow down the circle of candidates for purchase.
Study current strength
I don’t plan to repeat a school physics course, but to find out the characteristics of a smartphone charger and the desired cable. If the wire is capable of transmitting less current than the charger produces, then the charging time will increase, or the battery may even fail.
Select braid material, wire configuration and length
Modern cables can be different both in their shape and in the braid material. The outer covering is made of plastic, silicone, fabric, leather and metal: the most unreliable are plastic, and the most durable and at the same time expensive are metal, while the golden mean can be called fabric.
Speaking about the configuration, it is worth remembering that the most common and familiar round cables should not be too rigid, otherwise they will quickly break. Flat cables are convenient because they are extremely difficult to tangle and are easy to fold compactly, while twisted cables will come in handy in a car, where the free part of the wire will not get in the way.
When choosing the length, it is worth keeping in mind the planned scenario for using the cable. If you need it to charge from an external battery or connect to a computer, then it is better to choose a 1-1.5 meter cable, and if you need to connect the phone and the charger in a distant outlet, then, logically, you will need a longer cable.
Rate the build quality
If you do not want to become a regular buyer of wires, then you should carefully study the quality of the cable when purchasing. The surface must be smooth, without damage, and other parts and connectors must be free of flash, protruding elements and other elements that are even untidy in appearance. It is desirable that at the junction of the cable and the plug - the most vulnerable to damage - there is a dense, rigid protective element that takes on excess loads.
Choose
From a security point of view, it is best to buy “original” cables from the smartphone manufacturer, and if this is not possible or desirable, then you should give preference to well-known accessory manufacturers. Such brands include Belkin, InterStep, Deppa and others.
By the way, for Apple gadgets you need to choose accessories marked MFi. The abbreviation means Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod and guarantees compliance with all quality standards of the American company - such cables will be suitable for Apple products without any problems, unlike uncertified wires that can cause errors in smartphones.
USB Type-C: what are the advantages?
The transition from micro-USB to USB Type-C is a new trend in the mobile electronics market! Manufacturers are actively mastering the technology and equipping their flagship models with improved connectors for charging and data transfer. USB Type-C has been waiting “in the shadows” for a long time: the connector was created back in 2013, but only in 2016 did market leaders pay attention to it.
USB Type-C looks like this:
What are the advantages of Type-C over the usual micro-USB ?
- High data transfer speed. Type-C throughput is 10 Gb/sec (!). But this is only throughput USB 3.1 - for example, Nexus 6P and 5X - can count on this speed . If the gadget uses the USB 3.0 , the speed will be around 5 Gb/sec; With USB 2.0, data transfer will be significantly slower.
- Fast charging. The duration of the smartphone charging procedure depends on the potential amount of watts supplied by the connector. USB 2.0 standard can supply only 2.5 W - that’s why charging takes hours. The USB Type-C connector provides 100 W – that is, 40 times (!) more. It is curious that current transmission can occur in both directions - both to the host and from it.
- Connector symmetry. micro-USB connector has a top and bottom, the Type-C is symmetrical. Which side you insert it into the connector does not matter. From this point of view, USB Type-C is similar to Lightning .
The advantage of Type-C is also the small size of the connector - only 8.4x2.6 millimeters. By this criterion, micro-USB and USB Type-C are similar.
USB Type-C has disadvantages, one of which is more than significant. Due to the unregulated operation of the connector, charging can easily “fry” the mobile device. This probability is not purely theoretical - fires have occurred in practice. It is for this reason that the distribution of non-original, “makeshift” USB Type-C is prohibited.
The USB Type-C connector is already installed on the following mobile devices: Microsoft Lumia 950XL , LG G5 SE , HTC 10 Lifestyle , Huawei Honor 8, Asus Zenfone 3 .
Which connector for charging Huawei and Honor phones
What is the charging connector for Honor 4c/5a/6a/7a/7c/8x/9/10/10 Lite and Huawei Y3/P8 Lite/Nova 3/P20/P20 Lite/P30 and how to fill the battery - you need an answer to these questions smartphone owners. A gadget is not only a way of communication, but also a means for working and doing business, and collecting information. It's easy to charge your phone using a cable or contactless technology.
What are the names of the charging connectors on Honor and Huawei phones?
Before purchasing a product for a gadget, it is important to know the name of the connector for charging Honor and Huawei phones. Technically, devices are divided into:
- wired - micro USB, USB-C, Type-C;
- wireless.
Visually, the difference is in size. When choosing a cable for your model, use this cheat sheet:
- micro - 8x, y3, 10 light, 7c, 7a, 6a, 5a, 4c;
- type C - Nova 3, p20 lite, p20, p30, p8 lite, 10, 9.
The micro USB format is considered standard, as it is used in devices of 11 brands of mobile devices. Features of the format include:
- dimensions;
- use in the manufacture of materials that help to use plugs without damage;
- high information transfer speed, up to 480 Mbit;
- support for OTG mode.
Regardless of the connector, a cable is used to restore battery functionality. It is supplied as a standard set when purchasing the device, and can also be purchased separately.
What types of USB cables are there for smartphones?
The manufacturer of USB cables for gadgets is constantly surprised by new technical solutions and practicality. To make it easier to choose, we present the classification of wires.
- Multitool - suitable for owners of technology, there are several plugs that work simultaneously.
- Stretch is a compact device that looks like a toy. The cable is hidden inside; when used, it is unwound and then hidden.
- OTG - indispensable when connecting a smartphone to a printer, hard drive and other devices.
- Type-C - Quick Charge (fast method) and information transfer at good speed.
At points of implementation there are these types. The main thing is to choose the required format that is suitable for the device.
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What is the OTG standard?
Surely many have seen such a cable and wondered what it is for:
OTG cable ; at one end there is a micro-USB , at the other there is a USB 2.0 , “female”. Using such a cable, you can connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone or tablet, but only if the mobile device itself supports the OTG .
OTG (short for On-The-Go ) is a function designed to quickly connect 2 USB devices to each other, without the mediation of a computer. connect not only a flash drive OTG You can even connect your smartphone to a printer or MFP to print out a photo taken with the gadget’s camera.
OTG cables for the iPhone have also already appeared, but only photos and videos can be loaded onto an Apple device (without jailbreak) from an external storage device – and then only when the root folders on the flash drive and the photos themselves have the “correct” names.
complete list of smartphones that support the OTG - simply because almost all modern gadgets can boast of having this standard and the list would be huge. However, a buyer who intends to connect a mouse or flash drive to a device should inquire from a store consultant about OTG before handing over money - “just in case.”
What is the name of. Garbage, where is the telephone cord inserted and is it possible to change it??
I dare to assume that this is either a socket for a telephone plug, if we are talking about MGTS, for example, or a connector for a charger and headphones or a headset. In any case, the answer is: YES. Of course you can change it. If this is a telephone set of a city network installed at home, then call a telephone technician to your home; if we are still talking about a mobile phone, then take it to a cell phone repair shop. Good luck.
USB, charging or headphone input. . everything changes
it's called a socket and you can re-solder the memory
garbage is this where it is on the computer or on the phone? on the computer there is a usb port on the phone the connector seems to be but you can change everything if necessary
What is the charging connector for iPhone 3, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6S, 6 PLUS, 6S PLUS, SE, 7, 7 PLUS
As you know, issues with charging have always been popular with Apple, and this time it’s time to talk about the charging connector for all iPhones.
Although not often, they changed. Some people don't know what exactly awaits them when purchasing a new gadget from Apple. Let's figure it out.
What is the name of the iPhone charging connector?
Apple has always kept up with the times, so their gadgets have only the latest connectors, including the charging connector.
- The first type of connector is called Apple 30pin
, which was very successful, but did not last very long. It could transmit several analog signals and was inserted strictly on one side. - Next came Lightning
, which is already an 8-pin connector, more compact and can only transmit a digital signal. It can also be inserted on either side, which is its main advantage.
We found out what connectors exist and now I propose to figure out which devices can be attributed to each of them. Let's start.
Charging connector for iPhone 3, 3GS, 4, 4S
This entire list belongs to the 30 pin connector or Apple 30 pin. The iPhone charged quite quickly and there were no problems with it.
But, we all like to do things quickly and very often we had to look at the cable to understand which side the cable should be inserted. It was a little annoying, but everyone got used to it and everything was fine.
Another problem appeared when the transition to the next type began. After all, if you forgot your cable, you simply could not charge your phone.
Charging connector for iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6S, 6 PLUS, 6S PLUS, SE, 7, 7 PLUS
As you can see, the list here is much longer and, naturally, they are all charged using a Lightning connector. Everyone loved him as soon as he appeared.
Inserting the cable either way into your iPhone is pure bliss. After all, it doesn’t take much time and you don’t need to check anything.
Today, this connector has one more function - now it is also a headphone jack. Starting with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 PLUS, the 3.5 Jack simply does not exist anymore.
conclusions
I think all Apple devices will have a Lightning connector for quite some time. After all, it was made to last quite a long time and so far, it is used in a fairly large number of iPhones.
Technologies are developing and perhaps very soon there will be no cables or connectors at all. Everything will happen wirelessly and it will be damn convenient. We will monitor the development.
Other interesting articles
Mobile device connector
This is the first thing you should find out before selecting a cable - the type of connector on your gadget. There aren't many options here:
- Apple devices released before 2012 use the 30-pin Apple connector.
Since 2012, Apple devices have been equipped with an 8-pin Lightning connector.
Most devices from other manufacturers use different versions of the USB connector:
- micro-USB and mini-USB were used on devices released before 2015. However, even after the advent of Type C, some manufacturers still use these connectors.
USB Type-C - appeared in 2014, began to be actively used in 2017-2018.
Externally, they differ quite a lot and you can identify “your” connector at first glance.
Owners of Apple equipment may be confused by the abbreviation MFI in the name of the connector or the cable itself.
Fundamentally, a cable with an MFI prefix is no different from a “regular” one - it is the same 8-pin Lightning. MFi (Manufactured For iPhone/iPad/iPod) - the certification program in the product name means that it is licensed by Apple and is fully compatible with the original. Does this mean that the “MFI” inscription guarantees the quality of the cable? Not always.
Many unscrupulous manufacturers simply insert “MFI” into the name of their product, without bothering themselves with its certification and purchasing a license. The expectation is that few people will check the list of authorized MFi manufacturers before purchasing.
The list of authorized manufacturers is small - as of January 2021, there are only 78 companies. And it is inconvenient to use; it lists manufacturers, not brands. And determining which manufacturer produces a cable of a particular brand is sometimes very difficult.
Therefore, it remains, as before, to rely on the brand, the characteristics of the cable and its price. Apple charges $4 for each third-party “MFi” cable, and it simply cannot cost less than 400 rubles.
What is the correct name for the cable from the charging unit to the Android tablet or smartphone?
The smartphone itself will determine how much power to let in. If the battery is less than 2000mAh, the charger needs 1Amp, but if it is more than 2000mAh, 1.5 or 2Am is needed. You don’t have to worry about the cable, but it’s better, of course, to take a better one (softer), most Androids now have microUSB cords
Ohms measure resistance, not power. There are no such parameters in the cable. There is a brand and workmanship. ALL.
It is measured not in Ohms, but in Amperes. Your “original” is 2 Amperes. Any cable will do, unless the manufacturer has inserted resistors into theirs to determine whether the cable is “original” or just a “left one” is being used. In this case, the smartphone can “consume” current in different modes (normal in compatibility mode or accelerated “proprietary”)
The power is not 2 ohms, but 2 amps.
