~ Auto Buzz ~: Best USB Type-C chargers for the LG G5

With the first batch of 2016’s flagship devices from the major smartphone manufacturers finally getting into the hands of buyers, there are good odds that many of them will be looking for some accessories. A common item many people invest in is an additional charger for their device to keep in their car or at the office or to tuck away in their computer bag for unexpected low charge situations. If you recently invested in the LG G5, even with the swappable battery, you may find yourself in the market for a new charger since LG switched to USB Type-C for their USB/charging port on the device rendering standard microUSB cables a thing of the past.

Despite some controversy about the combination and whether it is legitimate, LG also included Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology in the G5 for some super fast charging action. Some have suggested that the combination of Quick Charge 3.0 and USB Type-C may be a bit of a threat to a device since this moves things out of the open source realm where others can study it to make sure it won’t fry your device. They have suggested sticking with OEM chargers and cables if you must. For their part, Qualcomm says their certification process is effective and the combination is safe. If the complaints don’t faze you, check out some of these USB Type-C chargers that also support Quick Charge 3.0 technology to go with an LG G5.

Note that I have not tested these devices myself and for many of them you may still need to purchase a separate cable.

Tronsmart 30W Dual USB Wall Charger

The first charger comes from Tronsmart and provides a 30W solution that is Qualcomm Certified to support the Quick Charge 3.0 technology included in the LG G5. Tronsmart includes a technology called VoltIQ in their solutions that is intended to identify the correct current to use for charging a device.

The charger comes with two ports – a Type-C port and a Type-A port, so two devices can be charged at once. Besides supporting Quick Charge 3.0, the wall charger is backwards compatible with QC 2.0, 1.0 and conventional charging technologies via the Type-A port. Tronsmart does note that using a Type-A to Type-C cable on the traditional port may not work correctly with QC 3.0.

Retail price: $39.99

[Amazon]

AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 USB Wall Charger

Next up is a device from another manufacturer that is popular in the aftermarket power solution segment, Aukey. Like Tronsmart, Aukey is quick to market with a wall charger that is Qualcomm Certified to support the new QC 3.0 technology and according to Aukey, will work safely with USB Type-C connections. However, unlike other units Aukey does not include a dedicated Type-C port, so a Type-A to Type-C cable will be needed.

Aukey has their own technology to detect and manage the current being delivered to mobile devices called INOV. That stands for Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage, which Aukey says not only works to keep things safe, but will help to keep heat generation down when a device is being charged. Aukey says the charger is safe to use with older Quick Charge versions and technologies as well as USB cables ranging from types A to C.

Besides the charger, buyers will get a 3.3-foot microUSB cable with their purchase.

Retail price: $39.99

[Amazon]

JDB Quick Charge 3.0 18W USB Wall Charger

JDB may not be quite as recognizable to buyers as some of the other solutions we found, but their new wall charger is getting a lot of good feedback. Although JDB has not yet rolled out branding for their charging technology, they claim to provide many of the same benefits as other manufacturers. This includes the device being able to detect the appropriate charge to deliver to a connected device and managing delivery to prevent overheating or overcharging.

The JDB charger is backwards compatible with older Quick Charge technologies as well as standard charging technology to go with support for the new QC 3.0 standard. JDB also says the charger will support a variety of USB connections from A to C. JDB now includes a 6-foot microUSB cable in the box.

Retail price: $49.99

[Amazon] [NewEgg]

Anker Quick Charge 3.0 24W USB Type-C Wall Charger

The final wall charger you may want to check out is the latest unit from Anker which now supports QC 3.0 technology. This wall charger includes two ports, one being a traditional Type-A port and the other being a Type-C port. On the Type-A port Anker markets the device as having PowerPort+ technology combined with PowerIQ technology which is their way of branding the technology intended to keep things safe and under control when charging devices.

The Anker charger is backwards compatible with older Quick Charge technologies and non-QC options, so it should work with virtually any device that needs to charge via USB. Anker includes a Type-C to Type-C cable in the package.

Retail price: $51.99

[Amazon]

AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Car Charger

Turning from wall chargers, the next device is intended to help you keep things charged up while on the road. The same manufacturers that produce some of the top wall chargers for your USB charging needs are also big in the mobile charging market. First up we have a unit from Aukey that includes three ports to handle several devices at once.

When moving over into their mobile charging solutions, Aukey shifts gears and brands their technology for managing charges as AiPower which is an “adaptive” charging technology. According to Aukey, the AiPower adaptations are an additional layer on top of their INOV power management capabilities. The two Type-A ports in this car charger get this option.

Like the wall charger options, Aukey’s car charger is backwards compatible with a variety of Quick Charge and standard charging technologies.

Although I have not tested this particular unit, I do have an Aukey QC 2.0 two-port charger that I use in my daily driver and it has easily been the best car charger I ever bought. So much so that I will actually move it from car to car if I anticipate needing to keep something charged on a long trip in someone else’s vehicle.

Retail price: $36.99

[Amazon]

Axgio Qualcomm Certified Quick Charge 3.0 18W Vehicle Charger

If you want something really small to keep in your vehicle and do not have a need to charge multiple devices, this single port charger from Axgio may be just the ticket for you. With a low profile that sits almost flush with the power outlet, it is also an effective solution for those outlets that car manufacturers squeeze in to tight places that would not be able to accommodate a larger unit.

The Axgio car charger has a single USB Type-A port, but it is capable of supporting Type-A to Type-C cables along with other USB cables. As indicated, the charger is capable of delivering QC 3.0 charging speeds. Axgio says their charger includes “Automatic Recognition Techology” to help prevent overcharging and overheating of devices.

Axgio includes a 3.3-foot microUSB cable in the package.

Retail price: $10.99

[Amazon]

Tronsmart 33W Dual USB Car Charger

The final charger to check out is a unit from Tronsmart. Like the wall charger covered earlier, the Tronsmart car charger is a dual outlet unit with both a dedicated USB Type-C port and a more typical Type-A port. Unlike the Aukey car charger, the Tronsmart Type-A port will support QC 3.0 with the appropriate cable even if you are implementing a Type-A to Type-C solution. The flip side of this is that the Type-C port does not support QC 3.0.

The Tronsmart car charger also strikes a nice balance between the larger Aukey charger, albeit at the cost of outlets, and the smaller Axgio charger. Interestingly, Tronsmart notes in the Amazon listing for this device that it may not be compatible with Mazda vehicles, so keep that in mind.

Retail price: $39.99

[Tronsmart] [Amazon]

Closing

As you can tell from the choices out there, the introduction of both USB Type-C and Quick Charge 3.0 technologies in a relatively short period of time is creating some challenges for aftermarket charging solution manufacturers. This is especially true as we are just now getting devices like the LG G5 and the forthcoming HTC 10 that combine both of them in one device. On top of that, throw in the concerns about support for QC 3.0 over USB Type-C and the market is still sorting out how to get everything implemented. The good thing is that many of the leading solutions have a good history and background with technologies intended to protect your devices should something start to go awry.

Be sure to keep in mind that when it comes to Type-C cables, you will likely have to buy the appropriate cable separately whether you go Type-C to Type-C or Type-A to Type-C.