If you spend a lot of time on the road then adding a USB car charger to your arsenal will surely be one of the best moves you make. I did and it has helped keep my phone charged and connected on long cross country drives.
Installing a USB car charger will let you charge multiple devices at the same time and the best part is they are removable. So, if you’re going for a drive in someone else's car and they don’t have a USB car charger, simply pop out the one from your car and use it in the new car hassle free.
Now, I found hundreds of different USB car chargers on AliExpress under $15 and they came in different shapes and sizes. Some were equipped with Bluetooth, whereas others had a built-in radio and there were even a handful of them that use wireless Qi charging technology.
The following USB car chargers are some of my favorites. They are cheap, user friendly and all of them offer fast charging capabilities. I will review each product and highlight the pros and cons, so you have a better idea of what to go for and whether car chargers are actually safe to use.
Check it out!
- Baseus 30W Fast Charging USB Car Charger
- USLION 4-Port 48W USB Car Charger
- DCAE Automatic 15W Qi Wireless USB Car Charger
- Quick Charge 3.0 Dual USB Car Charger
- ATOP Dual USB Car Charger with Bluetooth 5.0
- SeaMetal 66W Cigarette USB Car Charger
USB Car Chargers from China on Aliexpress
There are many different styles of USB car chargers available, so it is important to find one that best suits your needs. Some of the most popular include cigarette lighter chargers, magnetic phone holders, and dash mounts.
When choosing a USB car charger, make sure to read the reviews first to see what other consumers had to say about this particular product.
Additionally, consider how easy it is to use. Does it come with instructions? Is there an indicator light that tells you when your battery is fully charged? And lastly, does the price feel justified for all of these features?
It’s good to remember that there’s no right or wrong answer to selecting a USB car charger since everybody has their own unique requirements. Ultimately, in order for the USB car charger to be considered the best one there is, it should provide you with features that you’re looking for and should fall within the budget you have set aside for one.
Are Chinese USB Car Chargers Safe to Use?
While not everything from China is entirely safe to use, their USB car chargers are. However, choosing the right charger for your needs depends on what devices you want to charge and how fast you want to charge them.
If there’s an electrical issue with your car then there may be fluctuations in the supply of current to the charger that can damage your phone or tablet.
To prevent this from happening, it’s a good idea to buy a USB car charger that comes with built-in power and surge protection that can protect your phone's battery and motherboard from getting fried.
Baseus 30W Fast Charging USB Car Charger
Baseus just so happens to be one of the top selling electronics brands on AliExpress and I was more than happy to buy one of their USB car chargers.
The one I selected has a USB-C quick charging output with a max power output of 30W, which basically means that you can charge your smartphone from 0-100% in under 30 minutes.
What I truly loved about this USB car charger is that Baseus has put in a lot of effort to develop a truly reliable car charger.
It uses intelligent chips that protect your device's battery, thus providing a safe quick charge.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Fast charging capabilities
- Cigarette lighter design
- Cheap and affordable
- Durable and stays in place even on rough roads
Cons
- No Bluetooth functionality
Rating: 4.9/5
USLION 4-Port 48W USB Car Charger
Though not as popular as the Baseus, this 4-port 48W USB car charger from Uslion is truly a treat. It’s equipped with 4 USB ports where only one delivers QC3.0 fast charging capabilities, whereas the remaining 3 are rated at 2.1A.
I personally loved the design and the fact that all 4 ports light up when they’re in use making it easier to locate the charger in the dark.
There were no issues with the charger nor did we face any loose connection while driving, in fact I would recommend this charger if you have a bunch of devices you carry on a regular basis, like a tablet or multiple phones, as it’s a great way to get them all charged at the same time.
Another benefit to owning this USB car charger is that it’s powered by an Ai smart chip that prevents your devices from overheating or from power surges.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- 4 USB ports, ideal for all phones
- Cigarette lighter design
- Cheap and affordable
- Durable build with smart AI chip
Cons
- Comes equipped with only one QC 3.0 port
- Does not support Bluetooth
Rating: 4.9/5
DCAE Automatic 15W Qi Wireless USB Car Charger
Think of it as an additional attachment to your old-school USB car charger and because of its wireless charging capabilities, you will have to shell out $14.47 for this unit.
Now I own the Galaxy S20+ that supports Qi charging and picked up this wireless charger to see if it does a good job.
To my surprise, it did a fantastic job and not only did it charge the phone quickly, but it also held the device in place on rough roads without damaging the body of the phone.
An added benefit to buying this charger is that it has a built-in replaceable magnetic USB slot that you can use to charge your Android or iPhone simply by swapping out the charging port and using the body of the wireless charger as a form of support to hold your device in the right position.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Supports Android and iOS phones
- Fast charging 15W
- Premium durable build
- Can be rotated and positioned horizontally
Cons
- Requires a power source, so that’s an additional cost
- Slightly pricey
Rating: 4.6/5
Quick Charge 3.0 Dual USB Car Charger
The Autopart Factory store is one of my favorite destinations for everything car related. They have some pretty impressive gadgets and accessories that can really enhance your driving experience.
Another popular USB car charger I liked was their QC 3.0 dual USB charger. It has a rugged design and comes with 2 quick charging ports that support up to 3.5-6.5V/3A. You can not only use it in your car, but it’s quite popular among members of yacht clubs and motorcycle clubs as the charger is waterproof and shockproof.
Unlike the other cigarette lighter USB car chargers, this one requires manual wiring to your car's battery. Luckily, the kit comes with a robust instructions manual that can help you get the job done in under 15 minutes.
Based on the tests I conducted, both ports were able to charge my Galaxy S20+ to roughly 80% in under 30 minutes and the touch sensor for the power button is so sensitive that you wouldn’t need to actually press it inward for the charger to turn on.
Pros
- Dual 3.0 fast charging
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Compatible with a wide range of vehicles, on road and on the sea
- Has overload protection, over voltage protection and overheat protection
- Wiring includes a replaceable 10A fuse
Cons
- Not easy to install, requires some level of expertise
- Water protection flap can break
Rating: 4.4/5
ATOP Dual USB Car Charger with Bluetooth 5.0
The ATOP dual USB charger with Bluetooth 5.0 happens to be one of the most affordable car chargers with built-in Bluetooth as well as FM transmitter. You get two USB ports at the top of the face plate, one for QC 3.0 and the other for your USB drive to play music wirelessly to your car radio frequency.
The built-in display that shows the radio frequency and voltage is bright and easy to read. Moreover, there are buttons on this charger that let you pick up or disconnect Bluetooth calls, enable the music mode and also fast forward/rewind any music you’re listening to.
I found it to be a rather interesting device, considering it’s priced at well under $1and you can only buy a single unit at a time. However, the Bluetooth 5.0 chip was the best feature of the charger and it really helped with handling hands free calls in a seamless way.
Pros
- Built-in Bluetooth receiver
- FM transmitter
- Easy to install
- Compatible with different cars and a wide variety of mobile devices
- Supports TF and USB disks
Cons
- Lacks durability
- Single USB 3.0 fast charging port
- Limited to one charger per person
Rating: 4.2/5
SeaMetal 66W Cigarette USB Car Charger
Probably one of the sleekest looking USB car chargers, the SeaMeta 66W cigarette USB car charger is a budget-friendly option for those looking to charge multiple devices simultaneously. It resembles the USLION charger in terms of design, but has one major upgrade which is the LCD display situated at the center of the device.
I found that the digital display monitors the car battery voltage and its value shows up on the screen, which is a good thing in my opinion as fluctuations can actually damage your mobile phone.
Three ports are USB-A where two of them deliver 2.4A of power while the third handles the QC3.0 quick charge. The fourth port is USB-C with 66W fast charging that can get your phone from 0-100% in roughly 45 minutes.
I would recommend this charger to those who are on a budget and if you have a large family or kids with their own phones or tablets. I found it better to have a USB charger that can hold multiple devices over one that supports a single phone or tablet.
Pros
- 4-port quick charging including one PD charging port
- Built-in display to highlight battery voltage
- Easy to install and efficient to use
- 66W max power with QC3.0
Cons
- No Bluetooth
Rating: 4.8/5
Is it safe to use a Chinese USB car charger?
There is no definitive answer to this question as the safety of using a Chinese usb car charger varies depending on the brand and model. However, most experts recommend that you use a certified USB cable if possible to avoid any potential compatibility issues or electrical shock. Additionally, always be sure to read the product warranty before making your purchase.
What power rating should I get?
A standard USB car charger typically provides 1amp of charging power. However, some chargers are capable of much more and can provide over 2 amps of charge. This is enough power to quickly recharge your phone or other electronic devices in a short amount of time. So if you're in a rush and need to charge multiple devices at once, opt for a USB car charger with over 2A of power.
How to install a cigarette lighter shaped USB car charger?
There are a few different ways to install a cigarette lighter usb car charger. The most common way is to use an existing electrical outlet in your car. You will need to remove the cover of the outlet and insert the usb car charger in it. Make sure you hear the ‘click’ as you push the adapter in place. Run your original USB cable from the adapter to your phone or tablet to recharge the device.
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