Using a charger different from the one you receive out of the box isn’t the real problem. It’s the pressure!
Lost your phone’s charger that came with the box? Unable to buy a replacement because it’s too pricey? You may be browsing for knockoff versions right now.
But be careful, a single difference between the knockoff and the original charger can harm your phone’s battery. So, in this article, we have insights to help answer the age-old question.
Voltage, Watt, and mAh: Let’s Different Them
Voltage, watt, and mAh are all about power but they cover very specific aspects of the electrifying field. However, we won’t bore you with technical stuff. That’s why we’ll share what you need to know, particularly the ones associated with your mobile devices.
In mobile devices and their batteries, these three are best described as:
- Voltage is the pressure that pushes electricity.
- Watt is the rate of energy transfer.
- Milliampere hours (mAh) is the energy capacity of a battery.
When you plug your phone to an outlet or a power bank, the voltage measures the pressure of the electricity, watt measures the flow of the energy transfer, and mAh measures how much must be filled. That’s why brands are adding software- and hardware-based techs to ensure safe and stable charging.
While watt and mAh are important in powering up and charging smartphones, voltage plays an even greater role in the life and death of batteries.
Using a Different Charger for Your Phone
As mentioned, voltage can be the life and death of your phone’s battery. This is because it defines the pressure of the electricity flowing into the battery. The voltage of the charger and the voltage of the battery must meet correctly within the specified range.
Confused? You can find the voltage of your phone’s battery using a third-party like DevCheck. The voltage of the charger is written on it and you may need to zoom the details using your phone.
Smartphone chargers have a standard voltage of 5 volts, and don’t be fooled by that small number if fast charging is in your mind. We’ll get to that later.
Charging your phone with voltages significantly lower or higher than 5 volts won’t be good in the long run. Though, it’s hard to find chargers today with lower than 5 volts. You’ll have more chances to get something higher than 5 volts.
If you frequently charge your phone using a charger with incompatible voltage, the battery will wear down quickly. The higher voltage is like an intense pressure beyond what the battery can handle.
Knockoffs, Off-brands, and Brand-certified Charges
OEM-certified or branded chargers are expensive and even if you have the money, searching for a genuine charger is sometimes difficult, especially online. But will knockoff chargers damage your phone?
It’s not the price tag that matters, it’s what’s inside these chargers. The main concern is that knockoffs of the original typically don’t have the standards to charge up your phone at the correct voltage.
Genuine chargers follow standards so the current is always stable to protect the battery and in turn, the phone itself. These standards add to the price tag though.
Without these standards, unstable electrical flow can damage the charger, the phone’s battery, and the phone. There’s a risk of fire or explosion.
You can go for off-brands, or chargers not sold by brands, and they may have standards. But the best bet is getting brand-certified ones.
Can a Different Charger Harm Your Phone’s Battery
Yes, if the voltage isn’t the same as the original charger. But if the voltage is the same, it should be safe. When you use a different charger, there’s something that may not work: fast charging.
In the pic above, the brand noted the typical output and the faster output. The former is always enabled, letting any phone charge normally. The latter requires a trigger, such as the exact phone model or another phone from the same brand.
Depending on the charger and phone, the minimum charge rate is 5 W but it’s too slow for a 5,000 mAh battery. To determine charge rates, just multiply volts with amps. Let’s isolate the details from the pic:
| Normal Charge Rate | 5 V / 3 A / 15 W | 5 x 3 = 15 |
| Fast Charge Rate | 5-20 V / 6.2-3.25 A / 67 W | 5 x 6.2 = 31 or 20 x 3.25 = 65 |
Fast charging isn’t dangerous by itself. The concern is the heat generated by charging your phone rapidly. The electrical flow is speeding like a maniac in an open freeway without care. That speed generates lots of heat and that’s what you need to manage.
Keep in mind that fast charging doesn’t work round the clock. Your phone and its original charger work together to analyze factors to balance charging speed and heat generation.
Fast charging usually activates if the battery is below 50% and gradually drops as the battery level rises. When the phone reaches a certain temperature, let’s say 42℃, the charging speed will decline to prevent overheating.
The cooperation between your phone and the genuine charger is really what you’re paying for when buying brand-certified chargers.
