You may still find the odd phone, tablet, or USB battery packs and game controllers, however, most have moved onto USB-C. The latest addition to PD is Extended Power Range (EPR), which allows USB-C cables to carry up to 240 watts (they used to be limited to 100W). This was the standard for various devices a while back but was quickly replaced by the micro-USB connector mentioned in the next section. Even cables that appear identical may perform differently when you plug them into your phone or laptop. PPS allows for real-time adjustments to maximize efficiency and charge phones like Samsung's Galaxy S22 range at up to 45W instead of the usual 18W.

Just be careful where you use them, because the magnetic tips are tough to remove once inserted into a device. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business, science to design. If there’s no W listed, you can calculate it by multiplying the voltage (V) and the current (A), assuming they are listed.

You’ll find many different versions of the connector, but they mainly differ in terms of size and speed. of Transfer Companion - so check for updates if you have previously downloaded Transfer Companion to your Android device.With various standards and charging technologies at work, it is much harder than it should be to work out what a cable can do. Lightning connector is compatible with iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPod Nano 7, iPod Touch 5, iPad4, iPad5, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini Retina.

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4. If your Android device says “Device nearby is sharing”: Select Turn on to make your device detectable and continue to step 2.WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. It's also a nice way for any MacBook owners to get the MagSafe-style charger from the old days, especially if you don't want to upgrade to the new MacBooks that brought it back. When I measured it against my digital USB tester, it appeared accurate, though it rounds up to the nearest whole watt.

You might find you are better off with a 3-in-1 cable to save money, and space in a bag and cut down on the number of wall sockets at home used. There are USB-C to Lightning and USB-C to USB-C versions, and both are Made for iPhone-certified (MFi), so they'll work perfectly with your iPhone or iPad. We know it can be a daunting task to know which is the best option for your use case and remember GP Batteries have you covered when it comes to portable power options. as real users, posing a threat to a site’s security, so the site sometimes runs random security checks. Before purchasing the cable, ensure that your Android device is compatible with this type of connector.If you have a smartphone, tablet, or camera, you'll likely need a cable with a male micro-USB connector so that you can plug it into your device.