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The fast-growing market for USB charging devices means there are now lots of options available with a wide range of features. The main features you need to consider are:

• Power—are you charging a device that needs a normal amount of power, or one that needs high power?
• Speed—how important is this to you and are you willing to pay more for it?
• Placement—where do you need to put your charging station?
• Number of ports—how many devices do you want to charge at the same time?

POWER

Most USB charging stations provide 1A or 2.1A of power per USB port. 1A ports are fine for mobile phones, but aren’t suitable for tablets. To ensure you can charge a range of devices, it’s best to go with 2A ports at minimum.

High-power USB ports—2.4A to 5A—are available. 2.1A ports are normally sufficient, but a high-powered port will charge your device quicker.

Some charging stations are able to detect the device connected and provide the optimum amount of power. E-SENSE’s charging stations all have this capability.

SPEED

Generally, the more power the USB port provides, the faster the charge. So, if you need to charge your device quickly, choose a charging station with high-speed ports (2.4A or 5A).

Charging a device with less than its optimum current prolongs the time it takes to fully charge the battery, so make sure your charging station provides the power you need.

Ports on USB charging stations are dedicated charging ports, meaning they provide faster speeds than the ports on PCs and laptops.

Many Android smartphones incorporate Quick Charge technology, a feature that ensures devices are charged at the fastest rate possible. So, if you have an Android device, combine it with a high-speed charging station and you’re away!

PLACEMENT

You can install USB charging stations in these places:

• Home
• Office
• School
• restaurant
• Hotel

NUMBER OF PORTS

USB charging stations are designed to charge multiple devices at the same time, and so come in a range of configurations—2-port, 3-port, 4-port and so on. Which one you choose depends on how many devices you’ll want to charge.

Many charging stations will have a maximum output, where the power shared across all its ports will reach a limit. This might mean some devices can only be charged on a lower current than they need.