Fast Chargers 101: Answers to Common Questions

What is a fast charger?

As the name suggests, fast chargers are specialized accessories that are designed to power up your devices at a faster rate than most other chargers could.

How do fast chargers work?

There are multiple fast-charging standards that different brands and devices use. Each of these standards works slightly differently. The basic idea, however, is that fast chargers find ways to safely send higher amounts of electricity into a compatible device than your typical charger could, at least for part of the charging process. For example, this fast charger from AT&T sends as much as 30W of power, which allows it to charge a device about 70% faster than a standard wall charger.

Will fast chargers work with any phone?

No, in order for fast charging to work properly, the technology has to be aligned between the phone and the charger.

How much do fast chargers cost?

At the time that I am writing this article, the AT&T accessories store offers fast phone chargers with prices ranging from about $20 to about $50 (plus taxes), so that’s roughly what you can expect to pay.

Can fast chargers be wireless?

Yes, some fast phone chargers are also wireless, including this charger from AT&T.

Are fast chargers worth it?

I would personally say they are. There are few things in life more valuable than time, and faster charging means spending less time waiting for your phone to power up.

Additionally, a couple of popular smart phone brands have stopped including wall chargers with their devices. I view this as another reason to invest in a high-quality charger, since there’s a good chance you’ll have to buy a separate wall charger anyway.

Where do I find a fast charger for my new phone?

Once again, you’ll want to make sure that your device is compatible with a charger before you buy it. One way to go about doing this is to use the filter tools in the AT&T accessories store. You can filter for fast charging and also device compatibility. This will help you figure out if a fast charger works with your particular device.

Good luck and happy charging!

Hopefully, this post gave you a good overview of what fast chargers are and how you can pick one that meets your personal needs. Now, enjoy all of the time you’ll save waiting for your device to charge.

This article was written by Matt Johnsen, a TechBuzz contributor. The statements in this article are his own and don’t necessarily represent the positions, strategies, or opinions of AT&T.