Chargers, cables, and power banks: A cheat sheet

Jared Newman

December 10, 2024

In this guide:

Connection basics
Know your wattages
Choosing a charger (and cable to match)
Picking a power bank
Putting it all together

While I often link to various charger and portable battery deals in my Advisorator newsletters, it’s easy to get lost in all the jargon around charging speeds, data transfer rates, and battery levels.

What’s the difference, for instance, between a 20W charger and one that advertises 60W? What size power bank do you need to charge your laptop and phone on a long flight? And does it matter what kind of USB cable you use to plug everything in?

Hold up!

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