You may also have used a non-original charger to charge your smartphone, perhaps by borrowing it from an acquaintance. And who knows, maybe you too have asked yourself this dilemma: is using non-original chargers dangerous? Let’s say right away that it depends. From what? From various factors, such as the build quality of the charger itself, its electrical compatibility, safety certifications, and so on. If the charger is well designed, complies with international standards and is compatible with our smartphone, the risks are minimal and often negligible. On the contrary, very cheap products, without controls and protections, can lead to overheating, battery stress and, in the worst cases, damage to the internal circuits and safety problems when using the charger in question (as demonstrated by the rare cases of battery explosions, sometimes attributable to counterfeit chargers). So, to summarize and simplify as much as possible, the problem arises not so much when using a “non-original” charger; What makes the difference is how that charger manages electricity.
When using non-original chargers can be a problem
Let’s start with an assumption. Using non-original and non-certified chargers can lead to serious problems. Erin Hollinshead, the executive director of the Safe Electricity program, explained:
While it’s tempting to buy a cheap charger to save money, purchasing and using cheap chargers is one area where it’s best not to skimp. Using an original replacement charger made by the manufacturer of your cell phone is always the best choice.
Even more forcefully was what was said by Dr. Alan Reyes, electrical engineer and consumer safety consultant, who said:
Using non-certified chargers is like playing Russian roulette with your electronic devices. A faulty component can cause permanent damage, or worse.
So it is clear that the best choice is to use original chargers as much as possible and that the worst choice is to use non-original and non-certified chargers. In the middle between these two extremes there is a third possibility: using non-original chargers (therefore not made by the manufacturer of the device we are going to recharge), but still certified (therefore with all those precautions on the part of those who produced them to ensure that they have a certain quality and meet certain minimum standards).
Now, when we lose or forget the magazine, the temptation to use what happens can be very strong. In an ecosystem full of smartphones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches, the idea of a single universal charger seems to be rational. From a technical point of view, however, each device is designed to receive energy within very specific limits. Charging is based on three quantities: voltage, measured in volts, which indicates “how hard” the electricity is pushed; the current, expressed in amperes, which represents how much electricity is absorbed; and the power, expressed in watts, which is the result of their multiplication. A traditional smartphone works around 5 volts, while more recent models can go up to higher voltages thanks to fast charging protocols such as USB Power Delivery or QuickCharge technology. These protocols are communication systems between charger and device that negotiate in real time how much power to safely provide.
If the voltage is too high and not properly controlled, the circuits can be damaged; if it is too low, charging becomes slow or unstable. Current works differently: the device “takes” only what it needs. A charger capable of delivering more amps does not force the smartphone to receive them all, while an undersized one can heat up and work poorly. This is where build quality makes the difference.
Original chargers from companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung and Xiaomi, which are among the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers, are tested to ensure electrical stability, good heat dissipation and protections against surges and short circuits. In the world of third-party products, however, we find enormous variability. Some models meet the same standards, others cut back on internal components to keep costs down at the expense of quality. This is why by opting for poor quality non-original chargers you can start to experience overheating problems, voltage peaks or irregular charging which accelerates the degradation of the battery, i.e. the progressive loss of capacity over time.
How to choose a non-original charger
When choosing a non-genuine charger, be sure to follow these 3 basic tips:
- Use chargers that meet the charging requirements of the device: if necessary, consult the user manual or in any case the technical data sheet of the device, so as to identify the input voltage and current recommended by the manufacturer (e.g. 5 V/3 A or 9 V/2 A) and then choose a charger compatible with these characteristics.
- Buy only certified chargers: if a charger does not have the logos of the main certifications, such as the CE and FCC marks, do not buy it or use it (if you already have one).
- Check Power Delivery support: if you have a smartphone that supports fast charging, make sure that the non-original charger you intend to use explicitly declares compatibility with Power Delivery or Quick Charge technology.
