Start with your exact device model, its charging port and the manufacturer’s charger requirements: a connector that fits does not establish the power or charging standard your device needs. Replace only the cable if your existing charger is suitable; consider a multi-port charger after checking its output with several devices connected, or a travel charger after checking the plug arrangement for your destination. For a mains replacement, London Fire Brigade advises choosing a genuine branded product from a trusted supplier.
If one phone, tablet or laptop is the priority, identify its model and charging requirements before comparing chargers. Apple’s guidance illustrates why: the appropriate iPad adapter depends on the model and region, while a Mac that charges through USB-C needs a USB Power Delivery-capable adapter or display.
If you need a replacement promptly, check the product’s identity and supplier as well as its fit. London Fire Brigade recommends a genuine branded replacement from a supplier you trust; the Office for Product Safety and Standards publishes alerts and recalls for specific electrical products.
If you want fewer chargers at a desk or in a bag, check what each port supplies when others are in use. For travel, also confirm the included plug tips and the socket requirements at your destination; a charger’s device compatibility does not settle its plug compatibility.
Check device fit first, then the condition and source of the replacement. If you need to charge several devices or travel, check the additional port and plug requirements before choosing that arrangement.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Device fit | Match the device model and both cable ends; check the required charging standard and recommended power. Apple says a USB-C-chargeable Mac needs USB Power Delivery, and iPad adapter requirements vary by model and region. | If my existing cable or charger has failed, I need the replacement to work with this particular device, not merely fit its socket. Around 34% of consumers would put device fit first. |
| Electrical safety and sourcing | Check the product identity, supplier and condition, and look up the exact model in current Office for Product Safety and Standards alerts and recalls. | When replacing a damaged or lost mains charger, I want to know what I am buying and whom to contact if a problem emerges. Trusted sourcing would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Multi-device output | Compare total output with the limit for the port your priority device will use, including the allocation when several ports are active. | If my laptop and smaller devices must charge together, I need to know what happens when I occupy more than one port. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise multi-device output. |
| Travel plug arrangement | Confirm the destination socket, the charger’s input information and which plug tips are supplied; check the exact adaptor model for recalls. | When I pack one charging arrangement for a trip, the plug must suit where I am going as well as the device I carry. Travel configuration would be the main concern for around 13% of consumers. |
A matching connector does not establish the power, charging standard or data capability needed for a particular device. Apple specifies USB Power Delivery for Macs that charge through USB-C.
Check the device model, both cable ends and the charger’s supported output. If the cable will also carry data, check its stated data capability.
Specific USB power adapters have appeared in Office for Product Safety and Standards reports concerning electric-shock risks. London Fire Brigade warns about counterfeit chargers and advises buying a genuine branded replacement from a trusted supplier.
Keep the exact brand and model to hand for a recall check, and do not continue using damaged charging equipment.
A charger’s total rating and the limit on an individual port answer different questions. Belkin, for example, specifies 200 W total and a 140 W maximum on one port for its four-port USB-C GaN charger; that does not mean every port supplies 140 W at once.
Read the maker’s output allocation for the ports you intend to use together, then match the priority device and cable to a suitable port.
Socket fit and product safety need separate checks. The Office for Product Safety and Standards recalled the Universal Travel Adaptor 931E in June 2026 after identifying an electric-shock risk involving accessible live parts and an insecure UK plug connection.
Confirm the plug arrangement for your destination and check the exact adaptor model against current recalls before travel.
A manufacturer route when replacing a charger or cable for an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
A manufacturer route for Galaxy owners checking a specified fast-charging arrangement.
A branded range to examine when considering USB-C or multi-port GaN chargers.
A branded route for comparing multi-port chargers and selected models with interchangeable travel plug tips.
These choices cover multi-port mains chargers and replacement cables. Match a charger’s ports and stated power, or a cable’s connector ends, to your device before deciding; for travel, check the plug arrangement separately.
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Consider this travel charger if its plug arrangement and ports suit the devices you will take. Its title specifies 100 W and a 3C+1A configuration; check the output available to each device when charging together.
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This is a multi-port option to assess when more than one device needs charging. Its title specifies 130 W and four ports; check the output of your chosen port when the others are occupied.
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Consider this wall charger if you need two ports and its output suits your devices. Its title states 32 W; check the allocation when both ports are in use rather than treating that figure as the output of each port.
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Consider this cable if your device needs a Lightning connector and your charger has a USB-C port. The stated length is 1 m; confirm the cable requirements for your exact device model.
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Consider this cable when both the device and charger use USB-C. Its title states a 0.9 m length and a 240 W rating; check the cable markings and your device’s power and data requirements rather than assuming the stated rating changes its charging speed.
No: USB-C describes the connector, not a guarantee of suitable power, charging standards or data capability. Check your device model and both cable ends; for a Mac that charges through USB-C, Apple specifies a USB Power Delivery-capable adapter or display.
Not on its own. The device, charger and cable must all suit the intended charging arrangement, so choose a cable with an appropriate stated power capability and check its data capability if you also use it for data.
It can if the ports, supported charging standards and output allocation meet the requirements of the devices you will connect together. Check the maker’s simultaneous-use figures rather than relying on total output alone.
Follow the instructions for the exact recalled model. For the Universal Travel Adaptor 931E recall issued in June 2026, the Office for Product Safety and Standards instructs consumers to stop using it immediately and contact the distributor.
Use a charger suited to the product and place devices on a hard, flat surface while charging, as Electrical Safety First advises. Do not use damaged charging equipment, and check the rating of any extension lead rather than overloading it.