Smartphone Accessories

All posts in “Smartphone Accessories”

How to Know If a Charger Can Charge Your Laptop

Can this charge my laptop? It’s a common question for anybody who’s lost or misplaced their laptop charger and is frantically seeking an alternative. If you’re like most people in such a situation, you’re going to use any random charger with your MacBook or USB-C laptop, plug it in and hope it starts charging. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes not so much.

The good news is that we’re living in a day-and-age where basically every new laptop charges via USB-C — it doesn’t matter if it’s made by Apple, Dell, HP or Lenovo. The confusing part is that not every USB-C wall adapter is capable of delivering enough juice to charge your laptop. If you’re looking to have some of the most common questions about laptop charging answered, look below.

Is there a minimum wattage required to charge a laptop?

It depends. Typically, a wall adapter or portable charger has to output at least 29-watts or 31-watts to give a laptop more power than it consumes by just being on. This, of course, will vary depending on how intensive your power consumption is. For instance, if you have a larger laptop or your running heavy-duty programs, a 30-watt wall adapter might not be able to charge your laptop as fast as you’re draining it. A safe range for a wall adapter is between 45-watts and 96-watts — those will definitely be able to charge your laptop (with normal use).

What is Power Delivery (PD) and does the wall adapter need it?

Power Delivery (PD) is a charging standard that allows a charger to output higher currents and higher voltages, thus allowing you to charge your smartphone or laptop from 0% to 100% in a shorter time. And yes, PD is the only charging standard that can charge a laptop.

That said, just because a charger supports PD, doesn’t necessarily mean it can charge your laptop. PD technology can be integrated into many devices whose power outputs can range from 18-watts to 100-watts. For instance, Anker’s 18-watt Power Delivery charger and Aukey’s 18W PD Fast Charger are both designed to fast charge your smartphone, not your laptop.

What is GaN? And how does it affect charging?

GaN stands for Gallium Nitride and it’s a new buzzword in the world of charging technology. Essentially, it’s a new material that is way more energy- and space-efficient than silicon, the traditional material used in wall adapters, so GaN chargers can be smaller and lighter, but also still really powerful. Anker has been a leader in GaN chargers, releasing the PowerPort Atom PD 1 last year, but a lot of other charging companies are catching on. There are even rumors that Apple will include a 65-watt GaN charger with its next MacBook Pros.

Not all laptops charge at the same speeds.

It’s not just about how powerful the wall adapter is. A lot of it has to do with how much power the laptop can take as well. Different laptops support different power inputs. The newest MacBook Pros support a max power input of 96 watts, for instance, while the newest MacBook Airs are significantly less than that. This means that not every USB-C laptop will be able to charge at the same speeds, no matter how powerful the charger’s power output.

The other thing is that not all USB-C ports are the same. Specifically, not all USB-C ports support Power Delivery and not all of them accept charging. Also, not every USB-C cable supports PD. So if you’re wondering why your laptop isn’t charging even when plugged in, it could be an issue with the charging port or the charging cable you’re using.

Some Chargers That Can Definitely Charge Your Laptop

RavPower 45W PD USB-C Charger

This tiny wall adapter is a great example of how GaN is impacting charging size. It can fit in your pocket, but it’s also more powerful than the stock 30-watt adapter than comes with a MacBook Air.

Anker 60W USB-C Power Adapter

This is 30-percent smaller than the 60-watt charger that comes with the latest 13-inch MacBook Pros. It’s also way cheaper and available in black.

Aukey Omnia Duo 65W Dual-Port PD Charger

Aukey’s new Omnia Series of wall adapters are up to 66-percent smaller than the stock adapter that comes with the latest 13-inch MacBook Pros. This model (above) can output 65-watts from one of its USB-C PD ports, but only when used only, and 45-watts out of each of its USB-C PD ports when its simultaneously charging two devices..

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Tucker Bowe

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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March 3, 2020 / Comments Off

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Pictar Pro Smartphone DSLR

Ohad Cohen wants you to use your smartphone like a real camera. Which is why he came up with a peripheral called the Pictar Pro, billed as “the world’s most advanced camera grip for iPhones and Androids.”

The add-on is designed to give your iPhone or Android device more advanced and fine-tuned controls than the basic adjustments you’re stuck with on the stock camera app on your smartphone. Plug it in and you’ll have access to things like white balance, ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Plus a lot more that are often absent out of the box.

A follow-up to the Pictar grip announced in 2016, the Pictar Pro features a satin-finish brass-body. It’s got four larger control wheels and buttons for more efficient one-hand and one-touch operation. There’s also an exposure compensation wheel, a multi-state shutter release, a rocker zoom switch, and a smart wheel for switching between different modes, just like on a standard DSLR.

To be clear, this accessory doesn’t actually turn your smartphone into a DSLR; it doesn’t improve the lens or anything like that. It simply makes your phone behave like one, and gives you near-full control of how you want your image to turn out.

The Pictar Pro works with the Pictar App. This is the control panel where you can find all your options. Play with controls, settings, and other image adjustments you need to take photos as you see fit. And don’t worry about running out of battery. The device features Qi wireless charging that keeps your smartphone juiced during long days of shooting.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

December 13, 2018 / Comments Off

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Prynt Pocket Instant Photo Printer

Though everything is digital now, a bunch of holdouts still prefer their content in physical form, especially when it comes to photos. There’s just something about printed photographs — they feel a lot more special than flipping through a digital album.

The tactile experience of “touching” your photos and putting them in frames goes a long way in immortalizing memories, and memories in this age of hyper-information can get pretty fragile at times. But printing photos typically involves going to a photo lab if you don’t own a printer, and who wants to go to all that trouble?

Thankfully, the Prynt Pocket Instant Photo Printer for iPhone lets you print photos right off your iPhone pretty easily. You can print anything from your camera roll, or you can shoot photos and print them in “real time” as well. It uses zero-ink sticker paper, just like the Polaroid ZIP, giving all your photos peel-off backing so you can turn them into stickers.

The Prynt Pocket also comes with an app that lets you “print” videos. We know that sounds ridiculous, but just read on. This feature lets you attach a video file to a photo, print it, then have a friend or family member scan that photo using the app to play the video clip, sort of like augmented reality.

You don’t need to worry about running out of paper, by the way — Prynt is the only company that offers an unlimited paper plan for $35 every two months. That’s on top of the $150 asking price of the device itself, just so you know, but that doesn’t matter because we think by now you’re already convinced you should get this.

Prynt Pocket

November 2, 2018 / Comments Off

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ShutterGrip Smartphone Camera Controller

The way smartphones have evolved is pretty astounding, but it’s kind of been a double-edged sword for us consumers. Their cameras have gotten way more excellent over the years, that’s a fact. But manufacturers have been making them thinner than ever before. In effect, you get an excellent camera on your pocket that’s often difficult to hold properly given its thin frame.

Imagine you’re travelling through difficult terrain. Often, you end up missing out on what could be excellent photos, right? That’s because you’re too afraid of taking out your phone and accidentally dropping it. Thankfully, there’s a smattering of cases on the market that promise to give you better grip and control. However, we’d argue the ShutterGrip Smartphone Camera Controller is one of the best options you can buy.

This accessory instantly turns your smartphone (iPhone or an Android) into a serious camera. It features a tensioned grip that allows it to be attached to any smartphone. Yes, even those wrapped in a bulky cases. Moreover, it provides a solid, ergonomic handle with a wireless shutter button. Say goodbye to shaky shots or photographic fumbles.

The accessory’s non-slip, contoured grip lends you a larger, more stable surface to hold. This ensures photos are blur-free and videos are as smooth as possible. The design also includes a tripod screw to make attaching peripherals easier, and the shutter button is removable for remote clicking. For added safety, it also has a lanyard hole and a wrist strap.

The ShutterGrip Smartphone Camera Controller is a must-have for your iPhone and Android toolkit, especially if you’re a serious mobile photographer who always wants to get the perfect shot.

BUY HERE

November 1, 2018 / Comments Off

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