A mobile phone, tablet or laptop without a power supply is a sad thing. This is an expensive useless brick until you can drain the battery. If you have nightmares due to a dead battery, don't be ashamed. We have all been there.

Fortunately, there are countless options to keep our devices charged. There are portable power banks, high-speed chargers, wireless chargers, gadgets that add USB ports to the cigarette lighter ports of old cars, and so on. But can you use any charger or data cable for your phone or tablet? Click or click here to learn more.

USB-C has become the industry standard for power and data transmission. One cable can power your device while allowing it to communicate with another at high speed. Many newer devices have adopted USB-C technology, and now it is easier to purchase compatible accessories. Read on to learn more.

Apple has always insisted on using the Lightning connector for the latest iPhone 13, but Cupertino has been using USB-C technology. You can use the Lightning to USB-C cable and USB-C power adapter to charge iPhone 8 and later models. In addition, some iPad models have a USB-C connector, as do some Mac computers.

New phones from Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, LG, OnePlus and Google all have built-in USB-C ports, as do tablets and laptops from different manufacturers.

The problem is that the latest phones are shipped without a charger or cable, forcing you to buy it yourself. The wrong charger will not necessarily damage your phone, but you will want to get the fastest charger. But how do you make the right decision?

Related: True or False: Fast charging apps can indeed speed up the process

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is responsible for overseeing and promoting the advancement and adoption of USB technology, and recently released a new certified USB Type-C cable power rating logo to make it easier to discover your needs.

In addition, the certified USB4 logo has been updated to show the performance and power capabilities of the USB cable, host, device, and charger.

The new packaging logo will show whether the USB-C cable or charger has an output power of 240W, which is the new maximum. The logo will also show whether the cable or charger can support the 40Gbps speed of USB4.

There is now a sign that combines speed and data transmission into one. You can find the new logo on the cable and the charging port itself.

Different devices can be charged at different rates. For example, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and iPhone 13 Pro Max support power less than 30W. So the 240W charger is useless here. Tablets and laptops support higher rates. Check your device specifications to see how much power they can support.

Power banks sold by Amazon, Best Buy and Target are recalled due to fire risk

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Tech Tip: Make your phone's battery life longer

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