Do you need an original smartphone charger?
No, that is a myth. Original chargers are usually well-made, but they are not the only safe option. A universal charger or power bank from a reputable manufacturer charges a smartphone just as safely and often just as quickly, while also offering things the original adapter usually lacks: multiple ports, support for different protocols, and the ability to charge both a smartphone and a laptop from one device.
Below, we will look at the limitations of original chargers, which universal protocols smartphones support, how to choose a replacement, and why the cable matters.
Limitations of original chargers
Original chargers, especially those included with a phone, are designed for a specific smartphone. Their typical drawbacks follow:
Size and weight. Included adapters are usually large and heavy.
One port. An original charger usually has just one output port, so it charges only one device.
Limited protocol support. Original chargers often support few fast charging protocols. Apple adapters work only with PD, while AVS is available only on the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter. Xiaomi chargers included with phones supply 90-120W to Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones through a proprietary protocol, while devices from other brands and laptops get standard protocols at lower power: according to Xiaomi, its 120W Type-C charger charges laptops only up to 65W via PD, and it has no PPS at all.
Proprietary cable. To enable high-power charging, Xiaomi and OnePlus chargers need their own cable. Without it, the charger normally works only with basic universal protocols at low power.
Which universal protocols smartphones support
Besides proprietary protocols (Xiaomi HyperCharge, SuperVOOC, SCP, and others), smartphones often also support universal protocols shared across manufacturers:
USB Power Delivery (PD) with modes PPS and AVS. They activate over a regular USB-C - USB-C cable, with no proprietary cable required.
UFCS. A universal protocol that works similarly to PPS. It is widely supported by Chinese smartphone manufacturers.
QC. The Quick Charge fast charging protocol is old and rarely mentioned now, but most smartphones support it. It works with a USB-A - USB-C cable.
The smartphone itself selects a protocol supported by both the phone and the charger. We explained how this works and why power headroom does not harm a smartphone in the article What happens if you use a more powerful charger with a smartphone?
Thanks to universal protocols, an alternative charger can not only charge your smartphone quickly but also charge a laptop or a smartphone from another brand at the same time, even if it may initially seem incompatible. Charging speed with universal protocols depends on the smartphone brand:
Samsung, Google Pixel, Apple iPhone. There are no compatibility problems: Samsung and Pixel use the widely supported PD and PPS protocols, while iPhone uses PD. Apple itself states that an iPhone can use a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter, and such adapters are not made only by Apple. To get the maximum power from a charger, you need to consider some details, covered in these articles: Google Pixel Pro XL, Samsung Galaxy S26, iPhone and iPad.
Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO. They support PD, PPS, and QC. Power through these protocols is lower than in proprietary mode, but it remains acceptably high. Their situation is better than for OPPO and OnePlus. Details are in the article How to charge Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones?
OPPO and OnePlus. Their speed over universal protocols is lower than with proprietary ones, but it remains acceptably fast if the charger supports PPS or UFCS. For example, the OPPO Find X9 Pro specifications list 80W with SuperVOOC, 55W with PPS, 44W with UFCS from third-party chargers, and only 11.7W with PD. Therefore, when choosing a charger for these smartphones, look for PPS or UFCS support.
Smartphones from the Chinese brands mentioned above that were released more than five years ago depend more heavily on proprietary protocols: for example, OnePlus phones up to and including the 8T enable fast charging only via VOOC or SuperVOOC.
How to choose a replacement charger
Prefer powerful multiport charging adapters or power banks from first-tier brands: they support more protocols and are more reliable. In terms of quality, brands can be roughly divided into two groups:
first tier: chargers from smartphone manufacturers, Anker, AOHi, SHARGE, INIU, CUKTECH, SLIMQ;
second tier: UGREEN, BASEUS.
Second-tier brands can have good models, but overheating and overstated specifications are more common than with first-tier brands. Before buying, compare the protocols stated in the charger's specifications with those supported by your smartphone. A powerful multiport charger also brings practical benefits:
Power reserve for other devices. Extra power makes it possible to charge a laptop or several devices at once: 2-3 smartphones, or a laptop and a smartphone. In multiport chargers, power can be redistributed between ports when used simultaneously, most often in fixed proportions (50/50, 70/30, 60/20/20, etc.) and less often dynamically.
More protocols. Powerful chargers often support more protocols, but this is not guaranteed, so check the specifications of the specific model.
One charger for travel. It can charge all your gadgets, including a laptop: many modern laptops support charging from PD-compatible adapters even if they come with a proprietary charger without PD (for example, Lenovo laptops).
USB-A port. Some multiport chargers retain this outdated but useful port. It helps USB-C devices that, because of an imprecise USB-C implementation, do not charge from PD chargers over a USB-C - USB-C cable but do charge through a USB-A - USB-C cable.
Avoid suspiciously powerful but very compact charging adapters. Site tests show that such adapters generally cannot deliver their claimed maximum power for long: they overheat and reduce output. This is especially important when an adapter replaces a laptop charger that needs stable power for many hours at a time. GaN technology has reduced the size and weight of charging adapters, but their efficiency is still not perfect, and without good heat dissipation they can overheat.
All charging adapters on this site are tested under load with temperature measurements, so you can see the results for the model you are interested in in the catalog of tested chargers, or in the selection of the best chargers in different categories, including power banks and car chargers.
Do not forget the cable
The cable is part of the charging system and can become the bottleneck. A standard USB-C - USB-C cable is rated for current up to 3A, meaning up to 60W at 20V, while current up to 5A requires a cable with an e-marker, a chip that tells the charger the allowed current. Therefore, choose e-marker cables marked 100W/240W: they are rated for 5A, suitable for charging any device including laptops, and do not limit power. You can choose a suitable cable in the USB cable catalog: measured internal resistance is listed there for many cables.
Conclusion
An original charger is a good option, but not the only one. A quality charger from another manufacturer charges a smartphone safely and usually fast enough if it supports the protocol used by the smartphone: PD for iPhone, PPS for Samsung and Google Pixel, and PPS or UFCS for OPPO, OnePlus, and Xiaomi.
In return, you get flexibility: one multiport charger supporting different protocols replaces several original adapters and charges a smartphone, a laptop, and a smartphone from another brand, including at the same time.
