You don’t want to stay around waiting for your phone to charge. A slow charging process is annoying, especially if you need the device for essential operations. So one option people often explore is using a USB-C laptop charger to charge their phones.
You can charge your phone with a USB-C laptop charger if both devices are USB-C compatible. For iPhones, a USB-C to Lightning cable would be needed, but it the USB-C end can still be plugged into a laptop charger.
So if you’re in a time crunch or don’t want to wait around, using your laptop to charge your phone might be the ideal solution for you. So now, let’s dive in and learn more about it!
Can a USB-C Laptop Charger Charge a Phone?
The number of laptops supporting USB-C connectors has risen. You can find laptops that allow charging through both proprietary and USB-C ports. Others offer a USB-C port, but you cannot use it for charging, but this is less common the more the USB-C standard takes over the industry.
Because of the growing popularity of USB-C laptop chargers, many people are exploring the idea of using these chargers to charge their phones, with Apple even offering a USB-C to Lightning cable (on Amazon) for use with iPhones and older iPads. This, more than anything, signals the inevitability of everything moving to USB-C charaging.
Indeed a USB-C charger can charge your phone, but this is only possible if the phone and laptop come with chargers of a similar design. For the laptop charger to charge the phone, the charger must fit in the phone’s port. This is not possible with traditional chargers or iPhones- since they require a USB-C To Lightning Cable.
One reason to use a laptop charger to charge their phone is speed improvements. The laptop charging system can deliver power faster than your phone’s charger, so a laptop charger could be a good idea if you want to charge your phone quickly.
However, compatibility is key to making this work. A too high power rating can damage your phone’s battery if it can’t handle it. So check that the phone charger and the laptop charging system offer the same charging protocol and have a common physical connection.
Can a USB-C Laptop Charger Charge an Android?
Yes, you can use a USB-C charger to charge your Android device. Lately, USB-C chargers have grown in popularity, so most new Android devices come with one.
The benefit of USB-C chargers is the ability to charge the phone quickly as it boosts power flow in the initial phase and then lowers the voltage later in the second phase. This prevents overheating of the battery when charging.
Your Android phone manufacturer’s charger can allow you to fast charge depending on the wattage capacity. However, laptop chargers have a higher wattage rating, which is understandable as the laptop is a larger device with a bigger battery.
While the bigger laptop charger will have more charging capacity than your phone, the phone and the laptop charger still run at the same voltage. This is a USB-C standard that will not allow cross-charging.
To get fast charging, there’s a protocol that can support 20 volts and up to 100 watts of power. This is how compatibility between your Android phone and laptop charger comes in. All you need is a connector with USB Power Delivery, and you’ll be able to charge the Android phone with your laptop charger.
However, there’s no need to always use a laptop charger on your Android phone unless it can offer fast charging. Of course, what can be considered fast charging depends on your expectations. Most manufacturers provide fast charging that can be on par with most laptop chargers.
Is a Laptop Charger Safe for a Phone?
You don’t want a situation where the charger ends up damaging your phone’s battery. On the other hand, a laptop charger does an excellent job of charging your phone than an ordinary phone charger.
This is often because the laptop charger is designed to transmit more power than the ordinary phone charger. So, it probably charges your phone faster. It’s a good option if you’re in a rush and want to charge your phone.
However, there are still concerns about whether this option is safe, as the laptop and phone have different voltage requirements. It’s not easy to know what the laptop charger can do to your phone. Essentially, this is a risk, so keep in mind things could go wrong.
To avoid any risk of damaging your phone while charging, you should only use a genuine laptop charger calibrated to deliver the right amount of power.
The assumption is that your phone can negotiate down the power it requires. Using a USB-C charger not compliant with USB-IF specifications can cause problems and damage the phone’s battery. If you’re using the laptop charger from the manufacturer, it’s likely compliant and safe to use on your phone.
Two Factors to Keep in Mind Before Charging
To ensure safety while charging your phone with a laptop USB-C charger, you should confirm they’re compatible beyond the physical features. Of course, the first thing is to ensure the physical connection slots in perfectly, and you don’t need to use force to get it working.
When the USB-C was conceived, it would be a unique universal standard that would solve problems in older USB designs. It made the USB-C small enough to fit in smartphones and laptops. With USB-C becoming the standard today, it’s easy to find a laptop charger that will perfectly slot in your phone’s USB charging port.
The physical attributes are easy to verify, but what about the charging protocol? You must remember this before using a laptop charger to charge your phone. If you have a USB-C connector from your laptop, it does not automatically mean it’s compatible with everything.
The connector is only a physical attribute you plug into the device. To ensure a successful charge, the device needs a compatible charging protocol.
If the laptop uses a USB-C connector, it likely supports USB Power Delivery. This standard protocol offers up to 20v/5A power output. Also, this is the protocol behind fast charging technologies offered by companies like Apple and Google.
How to Determine if Your Charger is USB-C
So, what are some things you should look at to know if your charger is USB-C? First, it makes no sense to try and charge your phone with a laptop charger unless both devices use a type-C charger system. If unsure whether the charger is type-C, you should inspect the connector.
The connector should be rounded. You can get other USB connectors for comparison. You’ll learn that the USB-C connector is smaller and rounded. It does not look like older versions.
If this does not clear your doubts, try plugging it into the phone’s port. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to successfully plug in a charger that’s not physically compatible with the USB-C design.
The USB-C charger does not need to be flipped to face the correct side as it enters a port regardless of where it’s facing. But don’t force it too hard if it’s showing difficulties. Applying too much effort could damage the charging port, so exercise caution when testing.
Conclusion
The USB-C charging system is one of the most reliable. As a result, it’s the preferred option for laptops, and the one most phones have on the market today.
So, you could also use the charger on your phone if you use a computer that charges via a USB-C charger. However, check compatibility to ensure the charging protocol matches up.