Comparison Belkin 3-in-1 Apple MagSafe Wireless Charger Pad vs Borofone BA68A Glacier

Among modern household chargers (for home and office) there are both classic network models and wireless devices (in the form factor of stands or pads), as well as pass-through sockets, docking stations for Android and Apple. Devices for cars, in turn, are divided into traditional wired car chargers(including cigarette lighter splitters — see “Cigarette Lighter Splitter” for them) and wireless. Here is a more detailed description of these options:

— Network charger. Classic wired chargers plugged into sockets. Somewhat less convenient and functional than docking stations, but much more compact and for the most part quite suitable for travel, since they take up minimal space in luggage. And compared to wireless chargers, wired models are noticeably cheaper, compatible with more devices, and often also work much faster. In addition, it is easier to implement special powerful fast charging technologies in such devices. And in conjunction with the new GaN production technology, they can also be reduced in size.

— GaN chargers. Chargers with GaN circuitry that can hold "multiple charges" in one compact housing. Instead of traditional silicon, their semiconductors use gallium nitride with increased voltage...conductivity. GaN chargers “refuel” gadgets at an accelerated pace through all available ports. Another significant advantage over traditional chargers is the reduction in the size of the charging unit without loss of power.

— Car charger. Devices designed for wired charging of gadgets from car on-board network. Usually, they use a standard cigarette lighter socket and are designed for cars and other similar equipment with 12 V networks, however, there are also models that are compatible with 24-volt networks of heavy trucks, buses, etc.; these nuances should be clarified separately.

— Wireless charger. Devices for charging gadgets wirelessly — usually, using Qi technology. Of course, the charger itself must be connected to the outlet using a cable, but the energy is transferred to the device being charged without any plugs and cables. The effective range of such a transmission is small, so this type of charger is traditionally made in the form of platforms or stands, where you need to directly place the charged gadgets. However, the wireless way of working is as user-friendly as possible, besides, it does not wear out the connectors; and some compact gadgets (for example, smartwatches) generally charge only in this way. The main disadvantages of this format are the high cost of chargers and limited compatibility (a relatively small number of gadgets, mostly quite expensive ones, support wireless charging). In addition, wireless chargers are less efficient than wired chargers, which increases procedure time and device power consumption. Thus, some models are equipped with ports for wired charging.
As for the differences between platforms and stands, the first form factor is more versatile and, together with the device being charged, takes up less space — the gadget lies flat on the platform. A platform is a good option for a portable device. The stand, in turn, assumes an inclined, almost vertical arrangement of the gadget — this allows you to see the display even while charging. On the other hand, such charger devices are more bulky than platforms and are more likely to be designed for stationary use.

— Wireless car charger. A rather specific variety: wireless charging devices powered by the vehicle's on-board network. Most often they are designed for a standard cigarette lighter plug with a voltage of 12 V, although it is technically quite possible to provide compatibility with 24-volt networks of trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles. The features of wireless charging are described in detail above, but here we note that driving in a car is associated with various shocks and tremors; therefore, such devices are made in the form of holders, and not stands/platforms. Such a holder may provide fastening on the dashboard and the ability to use the phone directly in the charging process (for example, as a navigator).

— Only for smartwatches. Chargers designed to be used exclusively with smartwatches and other wearable gadgets (such as fitness trackers). To be more precise, we are talking about gadgets that support an exclusively wireless format of work. Accordingly, the capabilities of a charger from this category are limited to the smartwatch charging area (usually only one), and there are no wired charging connectors in the design. Also note that chargers of this type are most often produced for a specific model or line of wearable gadgets, and compatibility with third-party devices in such cases is not guaranteed.

— Pass-through socket. Chargers with one or more sockets. In addition, they provide USB ports or specialized connectors for charging gadgets, while maintaining the availability of an outlet for standard household use. Most often, through sockets are combined with network chargers or GaN type chargers (see the corresponding paragraphs).

— Android dock stations. Docking stations designed to charge gadgets running Android OS. The docking station itself can be described as a stand with a wired charging feature. The gadget with such a design is installed vertically or almost vertically, with the plug down; and on the stand itself there is a power plug, which not only charges the installed device, but also plays the role of a latch. This plug can be in microUSB or USB-C format — both of these connectors are used in modern Android gadgets. It is also worth noting that some "docks" from this category have a narrow specialization and are made for specific device models (or devices from one manufacturer). However, there are also universal solutions where compatibility is limited by the type of connector and the screen size (moreover, the diagonal limitation can be quite solid — for example, up to 10.1").
In general, the docks are designed for permanent installation in one place. They are noticeably inferior to classic chargers in terms of ease of transportation, but they simplify the storage of gadgets and can be useful in some cases of their practical use — for example, when watching a movie from a tablet.

— Apple Lightning Dock. Docking stations designed for charging Apple gadgets and equipped with a Lightning connector (used in Apple portable technology since 2012). For more information about docking stations in general, see above, all this is true in this case too — with the adjustment for the fact that in the case of Apple technology, dock compatibility is usually limited only to the size of the device.

Number of wireless zones in the charging design.

The basic option is 1 zone, allowing you to charge one device at a time. To charge several gadgets overnight, models are available for 2 zones, 3 zones and even ≥4 zones. At the same time, at least one zone is made large - it is intended for a smartphone. Other zones can be made in the same caliber as the main one or have smaller sizes, and in some cases they are suspended structures for wrist gadgets (see “Watch charging zone”). Auxiliary zones are usually used to charge another smartphone, a case with headphones, smart watches and other portable devices.

Area for wireless charging of smart watches or other wrist gadgets. In this context, it can mean either a regular flat platform or a specialized structure (usually in the form of a kind of “hanger”). Such “suspensions” are often more convenient than platforms, and some smart watches can only be charged in this way. On the other hand, such additional equipment is not always necessary , so most wireless chargers are produced without a separate zone for smart watches.

Way of mounting a smartphone on a charger.

It's the car chargers that are mainly equipped with smartphone mounts. Many of them also play the role of a holder that allows you to fix the gadget on the dashboard. However, there are also home chargers with this feature. In automotive models, the main methods of fastening are manual clamp, proximity sensor(touch clamp), magnetic retainer and gravity mechanism. And in household models there is also a special kind of magnetic latches — MagSafe. Here is a description of each of these options:

— Clamp. The simplest mechanical lock: two spring-loaded jaws that compress the device from the sides. The compatibility of "mechanics" with a specific phone is limited only by the size of the case; at the same time, the design of the spring jaws itself allows you to adjust the width within certain limits, and in some models, additional adjustment in width is also provided. Thus, the clips are compatible with numerous gadgets, while they are very simple and inexpensive. The disadvantages of this option include a somewhat lower reliability than, for example, in gravitational devices: the apparatus located in a conventional clamp, usually, is not supported by anything from below.

— Gravity clamp. A latch of this type covers the smartphone on the sides and...bottom, while the bottom support works as a trigger sensor: when it goes down under the weight of the gadget, the side jaws converge and compress the device from the sides. Accordingly, to remove the smartphone, you need to slightly lift it. Compatibility in such clamps is also limited only by the size of the device; at the same time, they are noticeably more reliable than conventional clamps, and they are somewhat easier to use, which is why they are more common.

— Magnet. Holder in the form of a strong permanent magnet. Such clamps are very easy to use, they are reliable and durable (there are no moving parts in the design); in addition, they have no restrictions on the size of the rechargeable gadget. On the other hand, two other restrictions are relevant for magnets — by weight (it should not be too big) and by materials (not every case, even a metal one, can be effectively magnetized). And although these points are taken into account in many devices with wireless charging, however, the possibility of using it with a specific smartphone (and especially a massive tablet) should be specified separately.

— Proximity sensor (touch clamp). Automatic latch with an electronic sensor that recognizes the proximity of the gadget or the user's hand. “On the way”, the jaws of the latch diverge by themselves, and when the device is installed, they are compressed; when the smartphone is removed, respectively, the clip reacts to the user's hand and disables the fixation. Such holders are very convenient, but relatively complex and expensive; In addition, the mechanism needs power to operate.

— Magnetic MagSafe. The latch used in chargers for the latest versions of the Apple iPhone. It is a magnetic disk that is attached to the back of the smartphone. The original proprietary charger with MagSafe has a very simple design — a disk with a cable connected to it. However, even this design provides additional convenience: by turning the disk, you can place the wire on the side of the device where it will not interfere when held in your hands. This allows you to conveniently use your smartphone (for example, play games) while charging. There are other varieties of MagSafe chargers available, including third-party brands; there are still relatively few such devices, but in the near future we can expect a change in the situation.

The number of USB connectors in the design of the device. We emphasize that here we are talking only about classic, full-size connectors — the so-called USB A; the number of USB-C ports, if any, is specified separately (see below).

The number of USB ports (of any type) corresponds to the number of gadgets that can be simultaneously connected to the charger using adapter cables or plugs for the appropriate connector. Note that not all chargers are capable of delivering full power to all charging outputs at once; see "Charge current" for details. As for the specific number of ports (USB A and/or USB-C), nowadays, relatively simple chargers for 1 port or 2 ports are the most popular. This is due to the fact that separate chargers are usually purchased for one or two specific gadgets, and a larger number of charging outputs is required relatively rarely. However, on the market you can easily find models with 3 ports or 4 ports ; and the most “multi-charged” modern devices have 5 or 6 USB ports or even more.

The maximum current that the device is capable of delivering to the charging output. This is one of the key parameters for any charger, it directly determines its power and, accordingly, its efficiency with certain batteries. These points are described in detail in the “Power” paragraph below, but here we note that if several values are indicated in this paragraph, it means that the design provides for several connectors with different current specs (or several groups of connectors, each with its own amount of amperes per port) .

As for specific numbers, when charging from USB (used in most modern chargers), the maximum current up to 1 A is considered very limited, 1.5 A is low, 2 A, 2.1 A and 2.4 A are average values, and in the most powerful chargers, this figure can be 3 A, 3.4 A and even 5 A.

The maximum power that the charger is capable of delivering to one rechargeable gadget (for models with 1 connector or with 1 wireless platform — the actual charging power). We emphasize that for wireless devices, it is the power in the wireless format that is indicated here (even if the design has a USB port with a higher power). Wired chargers usually list the USB power with the highest charging current or with support of the most powerful fast charging technology.

The smallest value of this metric nowadays is actually 5 W. Other popular options include 10W, 12W, 15W, and the most powerful models have 18W or more to charge laptops(up to 100W).

Higher output power allows you to speed up the charging process; and in the case of wireless devices, a value of more than 10 watts already allows us to talk about the presence of fast charging. At the same time, a number of nuances are associated with this parameter. Firstly, not only the charger, but also the gadget being charged should support the appropriate power — otherwise the speed of the process will be limited by the specs of the gadget. Secondly, in order to use the full capabilities of the charger, it may be necessary to support not only the appropriate charging power, but also a...certain fast charging technology (see "Fast charging"). Thirdly, in a charger with several charging connectors, the maximum power per device can only be achieved if the other ports are not used.

— Operation indicator. In some models it also provides additional information about operating modes, malfunctions, etc. Most often, such a light indicator is in the form of a separate light or a clearly visible backlight system. And additional information can be provided by changing the colour of the backlight, by blinking, etc. However, even without these features, the operation indicator provides additional convenience in use. In particular, it allows you to determine whether the charger is receiving power and working normally — this can be useful when diagnosing various problems. It is also possible to use non-standard backlighting — for example, as a night light that makes it easier to navigate in an unlit room (especially since gadgets are often put on charge just at night).

— Display. Own display on the charger case. This is usually the simplest screen with a few characters, but it is enough to display various additional information that makes life easier for the user: current voltage and current values, fast charging status, error codes, etc. On the other hand, this complicates the design, but in fact such information is required less often; Therefore, very few chargers with displays are produced.

— Detachable charger power cable. Cable for connecting the charger to the power source, which has a removable design. By itself, connecting to a power outlet using a separate wire (both re...movable and non-removable) is rarely used in charger devices — mainly in devices for which the “plug on the case” type design is not suitable (this is primarily wireless models, as well as wired charger devices with an abundance of connectors and corresponding dimensions). Specifically, the removable design is convenient in two ways: firstly, the wire can be removed and compactly folded for storage and transportation, and secondly, if the cable is damaged, it can simply be replaced, no need to bother with repairs. The disadvantages include an increased probability of losing the cable, as well as a slightly lower reliability than with a non-removable design (the latter, however, becomes noticeable only with frequent connections/disconnections that wear out the connector).

— Non-detachable charger power cable. Cable for connecting the charger to the power source, rigidly fixed to the device and not intended to be disconnected. It occurs much less frequently than the removable one described above, since it is less convenient if necessary to compactly fold the device; and if the wire is damaged, most likely, you will have to carry the charger to a service centre. On the other hand, you can lose such a wire only together with the charger itself.

Port used to connect the power cable to the charger. This parameter is indicated mainly for wireless models, including car models (see "Type"), but it can also be relevant for other varieties — in particular, individual docking stations.

In general, when choosing, this parameter does not play a decisive role: a power adapter with the appropriate plug must be supplied in the kit. However, information about the power plug can be useful when looking for a spare or replacement power source. The options here might be:

— USB-C. One of the miniature varieties of the USB connector; microUSB differs from similar in many respects primarily in its two-sided design (which allows you to connect the plug to either side), as well as in smaller sizes. Is a universal standard; in fact, this means that, if necessary, you can also power the charger from a “non-native” adapter with a USB-C cable – the main thing is that this adapter can provide enough power.

— microUSB. Another smaller version of the USB connector, earlier than the USB-C described above. It is considered less perfect, and therefore noticeably less often used as a power connector for wireless charger; one of the key differences is the one-way connector design, which is less convenient to connect. MicroUSB is also a common standard and allows the use of third-party power supplies.

— Lightning. Proprietary 8-pin connector used in Apple technology. However, among the chargers there are...also third-party devices with such a power connector. The meaning of this design is that, if necessary, the charger can be powered through a proprietary Apple cable, and the Apple device can be charged wirelessly.

— Original. This category includes all connectors that are not related to those described above. These can be both proprietary interfaces of a particular company, or common, but at the same time rare standards. One of the most popular types of such a plug is cylindrical, similar to the DC power connector (although not necessarily identical in size and design). However, anyway, this connection method does not allow the use of third-party power adapters, and therefore is not particularly popular.