Which Charger Is Safe for My Phone?
None of the 41 phones in our library includes a charger in the box, so every owner ends up choosing one. This guide gives you a short checklist built from what standards bodies, phone makers and safety testers say, and it points to the pages that hold the numbers.
How do I tell whether a charger is safe?
Buy from a trusted source and look for certification logos on the packaging or the product. That is the advice of the USB-IF, which reminds consumers to purchase compliant USB products from trusted sources that display USB-IF certified logos on packaging, in product briefs or on the cable or device itself.
| Check | What to look for | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Wired certification | USB-IF certified logos; for USB Power Delivery, products that passed compliance testing and appear on the USB-IF Integrators List | USB-IF |
| Wireless certification | The Qi or Qi2 logo, which only Qi Certified products may display; the WPC keeps a searchable database | Wireless Power Consortium |
| Safety lab marks | UL and ETL marks, which Consumer Reports calls the most important | Consumer Reports |
| Brand identity | A manufacturer name you can find; Consumer Reports says counterfeiters do not want anyone to come looking for them | Consumer Reports |
| Price | A suspiciously low price | Consumer Reports |
| Spelling and printing | Typos or odd printing on the label | Consumer Reports |
Treat each row as a clue, not a guarantee. Our cable buying safety guide applies the same checks to cables.
Can a safety mark be faked?
Yes, and the evidence is stark. The president of Underwriters Laboratories told the US Senate Finance Committee that in a 2016 controlled test with Apple, UL engineers tested 400 counterfeit adapters bearing UL marks and the overall failure rate exceeded 99 percent. He said all but three adapters presented fire and shock hazards, and twelve were so poorly made that they posed a risk of electrocution.
That was a test of counterfeit iPhone adapters, not of every unbranded charger, but it shows why a logo alone is not enough. Pair the mark with a seller you trust, and with a brand name you can look up.
What wattage should I match?
Match the standard and wattage your phone maker publishes; a higher-rated charger is fine, a lower one only charges more slowly. Samsung says “your device will automatically choose the best supported charging speed when plugged into a higher rated charger.” The USB Power Delivery ceiling is 240W, according to the USB-IF, and phones use only a slice of that range.
| Maker | What the maker publishes | Source on our pages |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | No wired wattage; fast-charge claims that name 20W, 40W or 60W-capable adapters, and MagSafe up to 25W with a 30W or greater adapter rated 15V/2.0A or higher | Apple hub |
| Samsung | Wired figures from 25W to 60W for 10 of 13 phones; a 25W or 45W Samsung-approved adapter for Super Fast Charging | Samsung hub |
| Fast-charge claims that name a 30W or 45W USB-C PPS charger | Google hub | |
| Motorola | Wired figures from 30W to 68W for all six phones | Motorola hub |
Sixteen of the 41 phones in our library publish a wired figure, from 25W to 68W; the other 25 publish a fast-charge claim or nothing we could verify, and we do not guess. The wattage guide collects the numbers, USB Power Delivery explains how phone and charger agree on power, and PPS covers the feature Google’s claims name.
Does my phone maker restrict which adapters I can use?
Both Apple and Samsung steer owners to their own or approved accessories. Apple says you might not be able to charge an iOS device using USB-C power adapters that are not made by Apple, and that it takes no responsibility for third-party products. Samsung says to use only Samsung-approved charging devices, and that other accessories may invalidate your warranty and cause damage.
For Lightning accessories Apple adds that an iOS device could be damaged by counterfeit or uncertified accessories, and it points to the MFi badge on packaging. Apple’s page on that topic covers Lightning connector accessories, not USB power adapters. Check your maker’s own support page for its current wording before you buy.
Are wireless chargers safe?
A wireless charger is safe to the extent it is certified: the Wireless Power Consortium says only Qi Certified products can display the Qi or Qi2 logo, and it says independent test labs are at the heart of its certification. Apple says to place a MagSafe Charger face up on a flat surface, clear of any metal objects or other foreign material, then put the iPhone on top.
In our library 35 of 41 phones list wireless charging; 16 list MagSafe and 19 list Qi2. Read Qi, Qi2, MagSafe and the wireless charger page for the details.
What should I know about power banks?
Power banks are lithium-ion batteries, and the FAA says all lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and undergoing thermal runaway. On flights, the FAA says spare lithium-ion batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. It also says passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if a battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning. See power banks and battery replacement.
Related
Chargers hub, accessories, wireless chargers, cable buying safety, USB-C, all guides.