USB Chargers: Reviews

Updated August 2011

With all the gadgets we carry around every day, it's increasingly difficult to keep everything charged. USB chargers can come to the rescue by charging up several gadgets at once -- or providing power on the go. ConsumerSearch editors critiqued 17 expert and user review sources, including hundreds of owner-written reviews, to find the most reliable USB chargers at a range of price points.

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Best desktop USB charger

Idapt Universal Charger i3

*Est. $50 Compare Prices

If you want to cut cord clutter, experts say the Idapt Universal Charger i3 is the best solution. This small, sleek, rectangular dock plugs into the wall and has slots to charge three USB devices, with several… expandinterchangeable charging tips to fit micro USB, mini USB, Apple gadgets and more (you can also buy different tip packs or additional tips for $10 each). Idapt offers other versions with either two or four charging spots. The charging tips aren't reversible, so your gadgets might wind up facing backwards, sideways or upside down on the dock. But overall, experts say the Idapt is a much simpler -- and cheaper -- solution than charging mats, which often cost more than $100. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: Jeff Bakalar tests the Idapt i3 with a few different gadgets and finds it an efficient, mostly convenient way to charge several USB devices at once.

The-Gadgeteer.com: Andy Chen likes the way the Idapt i3 cuts charging clutter, and the interchangeable tips let you switch the types of devices you can charge.

TrustedReviews.com: The Idapt i4 wins TrustedReviews.com's Recommended award.

CNET (U.K.): Compared to the other wireless chargers in this test, the Idapt dock is simple and less expensive -- but also ugly, Flora Graham says.

SlashGear.com: The Idapt charging dock comes with six different tips -- one for iPhone, one mini USB, etc.

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Amazon

for $49.99

Best portable USB charger

Technocel PowerPak XT

*Est. $50 Learn More

The Technocel PowerPak XT does two jobs: It's a USB wall charger that's also a portable power pack, with a built-in battery that can charge any USB-powered device on the go. The PowerPak XT comes with an array of charging… expandtips to fit various phones and gadgets, or you can just use the USB charging cable that came with your device. Conveniently, the PowerPak XT can charge your device while it's charging itself. But unlike the Powermat 2X Portable Mat and Powercube (*Est. $130) and desktop Idapt Universal Charger i3 (*Est. $50), the PowerPak XT can only charge one device at a time. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The-Gadgeteer.com: The Technocel PowerPak XT "will definitely find a place in our gear bags," Mark Adkins says after a full test.

The New York Times: John Biggs uses the Technocel PowerPak XT to keep his own cell phone topped up.

GottaBeMobile.com: At the trade show where the Technocel PowerPak XT was unveiled, it comes to writer Josh Smith's rescue at the end of a busy day, powering his MiFi mobile hotspot for an hour and a half.

About.com: Jason Hidalgo, About.com's guide to portable electronics, recommends the original Technocel PowerPak (similar to the PowerPak XT, but with a smaller battery capacity) on his list of the five best portable chargers.

MacObserver.com: This reviewer tests the original PowerPak.

Budget portable USB charger

Duracell Instant Charger

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

The Duracell Instant Charger is a great portable USB charger for the money, reviews say. It's tiny and feather-light, extremely simple to use, and it holds enough power to boost an iPhone's battery 50 or 60 percent in… expandtests. It comes with just two ports -- USB and mini USB -- and a short USB/mini USB cord. Duracell says it's compatible with most devices with a mini USB charging port, but not all. The more expensive Technocel PowerPak XT (*Est. $50) comes with a slew of charging tips to match more devices, and it has 40 percent more battery capacity than the Duracell charger. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Gizmodo.com: Mark Wilson calls the Duracell Instant Charger a "perfectly executed little gadget." It's small, sleek and simple, and it stores enough power to charge an iPhone "about halfway," or power just about any other USB gadget.

The-Gadgeteer.com: Alisa Clark recommends the Duracell Instant Charger as an easy-to-use portable power source.

Anything But iPod: This reviewer likes the Duracell Instant Charger's tiny size, low price and solid build.

PCMag.com: PCMag.com recommends the Duracell Instant Charger in this best-for-travel list.

Amazon.com: With more than 60 reviews posted, the Duracell Instant Charger rates an average of 4.1 stars out of 5.

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Buy from Amazon for $24.97
Shoplet.com for $30.38	drugstore.c- om for $29.99	BatteryFly.- com for $8.99

Best wireless charging mat

Powermat 2X Portable Mat and Powercube

*Est. $130 Compare Prices

Wireless charging mats have been around for a few years, but reviews say it still feels a little futuristic to simply place a gadget onto a pad to charge it. The Powermat 2X Portable Mat and Powercube can charge two… expanddevices at a time, has an AC-rechargeable battery with enough juice for four cell phones, folds up for travel, and it charges even faster than regular USB or AC chargers in tests. One catch: You have to buy a special case or battery door for your device to draw the power from the mat, and those cost about $30 each and aren't available for some devices. You can charge other gadgets by plugging them into the included universal Powercube, but users say that defeats the purpose of a wireless charging mat. Cheaper portable options include the Technocel PowerPak XT (*Est. $50) and Duracell Instant Charger (*Est. $25); for desktop use, the Idapt Universal Charger i3 (*Est. $50) can charge three gadgets at a time. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Laptop Magazine: The Powermat 2X Portable Mat charges devices much faster than the Duracell myGrid charging pad and "is definitely worth the splurge," Brian Oliver Bennett concludes after testing both charging mats.

CNET: CNET gives the Powermat Portable Mat a lukewarm review.

CNET (U.K.): All four of the wireless chargers in this test work as advertised.

BigBruin.com: The Powermat Portable Mat has its drawbacks: It's expensive, and you have to make sure you center your device exactly on the charging pad.

TrustedReviews.com: "If you own a phone with a removable battery cover you'll wonder how you ever lived without induction charging," Gordon Kelly says in this Powermat review.

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for $53.99