5 Best Car Chargers of 2023

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With a pair of USB-C ports and ultra-fast charging, this portable car charger is a winner. Read More

AmazonBasics Dual Port USB Car Charger isn't the quickest charger we've tested, but it does the trick. Read More

The Anker doesn't support Quick Charge, but it's got enough juice to recharge a pair of iPads at the same time. Read More

This charger is very lightweight, durable, and resists scratches, so you can safely keep it in your travel bag. Read More

This charger allows you to charge two devices at the same time and easily travel with it due to its compact size. Read More

Updated April 13, 2023

Many modern vehicles now have everything you need to charge smartphones, tablets, and laptops, built right into them—even base model vehicles include charging USB ports that can juice up multiple devices simultaneously. However, if you need a few additional port chargers to use on a road trip, or have an older vehicle, you'll need to invest in a charger that can be plugged into a 12-volt port or, if your ride's of a certain age, a cigarette lighter.

Out of many plug-in, 12-volt car chargers and wireless charging docks, the Anker PowerDrive III Duo (available at Amazon) is one of the best car chargers you can buy. It charges reliably, is well-built, and its quick-charge port allows it to live up to its fast-charging standards for your phone's battery.

The Anker PowerDrive III Duo is a fast, reliable 12-volt charger for modern USB-C devices.

Anker's PowerDrive III Duo charger is sleek in design and well built. It's designed with modern phones in mind. Featuring dual USB C car ports, its charging capability allows you to juice up two devices simultaneously. To charge phones that aren't equipped with USB-C, such as an iPhone, you’ll need to buy a USB-C to Lightning cable.

The Anker PowerDrive's speed proved to be the second-fastest charger we tested, topping up my smartphone to 99% in just an hour and 17 minutes. This is thanks, in part, to the fact that one of the PowerDrive III Duo's two USB-C ports is equipped with Anker's proprietary PowerIQ Fast Charging technology, which intelligently identifies the device that's plugged in to deliver the fastest charge possible for it.

Like the other chargers in this guide, the PowerDrive III Duo has overload protection. It also has tech baked into it to keep the charger from overheating while in use, prolonging the life of the charger.

The only thing we didn't like is that the PowerDrive III Duo has the largest faceplate of all the ones tested for this guide—an odd design decision, when you consider the small size of USB-C ports compared to older charging standards. This could be annoying if your vehicle's 12V port is in close proximity to any other ports or controls in your dashboard.

USB-C ports versus USB-A

Fast charging

Large faceplate could get in the way

The AmazonBasics Dual Port USB Car Charger features two USB-A ports and is small enough to easily blend into your vehicle's dash or center console. Unfortunately, it was the slowest charger we tested for this guide. That said, the charge times of all of the hardware we tested were separated by mere minutes.

It charged our iPhone XR in just under an hour-and-half. However, when it came to charging the iPhone to 100%, it clocked in at just over two hours.

Very small and compact

Has two charging ports

Affordable price

Did not charge as quickly as some of the others

No quick charge technology

In addition to a great low price, this car charger packs a serious punch in a small package. This device is tiny. Lots of third-party car chargers with multiple ports tend to take up a lot of room, which can make your car feel cluttered and get in the way.

You also won't have to worry about having the right charger if you and your friends use different smart phones. Anker makes fantastic USB cables with any adapters you need, and any length—and they're super affordable, starting at $5. Lightning? Micro USB? USB-C? All come in lengths ranging from 3 to 10 feet so you can share power with anyone in your car from the passenger to the back seats.

PowerIQ and VoltageBoost tech

Small yet powerful

No Quick Charge support

This highly rated car charger is the definition of simple yet effective. It's ideal for those who spend many days on the road and want to keep their phone fully charged. What makes this car charger especially great for travel is its compact size. It's also very lightweight, durable, and resists scratches, so you can safely keep it in your travel bag. This charger can also handle two devices at once, at a decent speed. Reviewers say it doesn't necessarily fit flush as the brand claims.

Very compact

Lightweight

Affordable

Doesn't fit flush

More than one review of this car charger praises its durability. Some basically have zero complaints, while a few other users say the charging speed is not as fast as they’d hoped. What's great about this car charger is how it stops charging your phone automatically when the battery is full, which saves energy and prevents overheating. In addition, you can charge two devices at the same time and easily travel with it due to its compact size.

Multiple color options

Compact size

Durable

Can be slow to charge

There are lots of things to consider when buying a car charger to use with your smartphone, tablet or another USB-powered device. Some, for example, come with built-in cables with a male adapter on the end for charging a specific device, whether it be a USB-C charger for an Android phone or a multitude of other devices or, Apple's Lightning charging standard. This can be handy if you’re charging a compatible device, however, you’ll need to pack an extra cable if you want to charge anything that doesn't use the adapter that the charger is equipped with.

Other car chargers come with multiple ports. One or more female USB-A or USB-C ports and allow you to plug in whatever cable you wish. These 12V chargers are far more versatile, you’ll need to remember to bring the charging cables you need with you or leave some in the car.

In some instances, a 12-volt car charger will feature a ‘fast charger’ port which, as the name suggests, offers compatible devices faster charging than a regular USB or wireless charger connection can. The reliability of such claims depends heavily upon the quality of the charger and which fast charging technology it employs.

Samantha Gordon

Former Managing Editor - Ecommerce

Samantha is an avid writer, editor, and consumer with an oddly deep love for finding amazing deals on amazing products, especially stuff that makes life easier. Her personal passions include smart home tech, 3D printing, crafting, cocktails, and cats.

Christine Persaud

Contributor

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Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a Staff Writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

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