Although a good number of cars being produced today offer USB integration, the charging speed of a vehicle charger only offers about 1 amp of output, which is not enough to keep up with a modern-day smartphone trickling out battery life while using Apple or Google maps. In this scenario, you’re likely going to end up at your destination with a battery that was less charged than when you started. At just .8 ounces, the Scosche offers a product that will charge your smartphone at the same speed as your wall charger. The inexpensive price, trusted name, small frame and glowing blue ports that make it simple to plug in when dark make the Scosche an easy recommendation for our top pick. But this device is still a charger at its core, and when it comes to speed and power, the Viva is one of the best. Its USB ports are created with Anker’s patented PowerIQ technology, bringing your devices up to full battery with lightning speed. And the dual-port design means both you and your passenger can plug in simultaneously. There are no bells, whistles, GPS location, but the 3-foot long cable is long enough to stretch to the back seat. If you’re looking for something that’s basic, budget-friendly and ready to go, there’s little question that you should wish list this Anker 24W Dual USB Car Charger PowerDrive 2 model right away. The lightweight, low-profile and out-of-the-way design make this choice a steal, and we’d recommend picking it up just to have an extra car charger lying around the house, if nothing else. When designing the Rockstar, it’s likely Belkin had tablets in mind as the backseat chargers are designed more for tablet use, thanks to increased 2.4A separate USB ports. It’s perfectly OK to charge smartphones as well, but the original intent was clearly focused on rear-seat passengers boosting battery life on tablets. It would have been ideal for the Belkin to consider the higher-amp in the front passenger charging capacity as well, rather than separating the 2.4A between the two USB ports offering up a slightly slower charging time. Aside from charging capacity, the Belkin includes a six-foot cable offering more than enough line to clip to a backseat car pocket. There’s also a three-meter double-side adhesive included if you have considered a more permanent charging option for rear-seat passengers. The Jelly Comb is built for families in mind. It’s made with an industry grade material with premium circuitry that makes it both reliable in safety and performance. Kids in the backseat don’t have to worry about stretching, as the Jelly Comb has a 3.3 feet adapter cable to make sure everyone can get their charge on. Don’t worry about compatibility issues either – the Jelly Comb offers universal compatibility with all USB powered devices (the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, tablets, sports watches and more). Multiple charging ports - One charging port might be enough to get you by, but there’s no reason to stop there. Most of the best car chargers include at least two USB ports, and some even have four or more. This allows you to keep all of your devices charged at once without swapping cables all the time. Fast charging - Having multiple ports isn’t enough; the charger needs to be able to feed enough power to each port. Look for a car charger that can supply 2.4A to at least two ports simultaneously. If you have a phone that supports quick charging over USB-C, some phone chargers have a special port for that as well.
