Charging mount
The method of fixing, provided by the design of the wireless car charger (see "Type").
The main methods of such fixation are
suction cup,
car air vent grill and
adhesive surface. Some devices combine several options at once — for example, a suction cup and air vent clip. At the same time, in some models, different types of fasteners are initially included in the kit, in others, the method of fixation depends on the modification; these nuances should be clarified when choosing. As for the features of each of the individual types of mounts, they are as follows:
— Suction cup. The suction cup allows you to mount the device on a dashboard, windscreen or any other relatively flat surface. At the same time, unlike a sticker, such a mount is reusable. On the other hand, suction cups are generally less reliable, and on rough and textured surfaces they stick poorly, if not at all. Thus, such mounts are often provided as an addition to mounting on an air vent grill (or as one of the alternative options for a complete mount, along with a clothespin).
— Car air vent grill. The most popular method of mounting wireless car chargers is widely used both individually and in combination with other options. This is because those pins are simple and, at the same time, very reliable; moreover, they can be used an unlimited number of times; air vents are on almost any
...dashboard, and they are usually located conveniently enough for using wireless car chargers.
— Adhesive surface. Fastening with a special adhesive pad is similar to installation on double-sided tape (only in this case, the “adhesive tape” is initially attached to the device body, and before installation, it is enough to remove the protective film on the adhesive surface). This type of attachment is suitable for both completely smooth and embossed surfaces, it is stronger than suction cups, but it is disposable — it is not easy to remove the installed device, and the fastener itself usually does not require reuse. Therefore, such clamps are rarely used in their pure form — most often they are provided as a spare (or alternative) option for mounting on the grill.Smartphone mount
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.Charger connection port
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.
Cable length
The length of the cable supplied with or included with the charger. For wireless models, the length of the power cable of the charger itself is indicated here, for wired models, the length of the cord for charging gadgets
Anyway, a longer cable gives more freedom of movement, but it creates inconvenience for short distances. Also note that charging is supposed to be used in the immediate vicinity of sockets, so wires longer than 2 m are practically not found among such devices. A length of
more than 1.5 m is considered significant, from 1 to 1.5 m — medium, from 0.5 to 1 m — small, and in some models there are wires shorter than 0.5 m.
