chargers Archives

5 ways you’re ruining your expensive phone, laptop, tablet and TV

Our devices are significant investments. You need to treat your tech well to get your money’s worth. Regular maintenance is one way to stay ahead of the game. Tap or click for six checkups to avoid a hefty repair bill.

Based on calls to my show, emails and questions posted on my website’s tech support forum, here are five common mistakes that could cost you.

1. You’re charging too much

Do you keep your phone plugged in all the time? Apple says that when your iPhone “remain(s) at full charge for prolonged periods of time, battery health can be affected.”

Android phone manufacturers, including Samsung, say the same. “Do not leave your phone connected to the charger for long periods of time or overnight.” Huawei says, “Keeping your battery level as close to the middle (30% to 70%) as possible can effectively prolong the battery life.”

The official word is to keep your phone charged — but not fully charged. Get in the habit of unplugging your tech after it is fully charged.

More tech smarts: Tap or click for tricks to keep your phone battery in tip-top shape.

2. You wait too long to charge your laptop

Laptop batteries have a finite number of charge-discharge cycles. If you frequently let your battery entirely run out of juice, it affects the charge-discharge cycle and diminishes its intended lifespan.

Your laptop battery can also lose efficiency in another way. Let’s say you regularly charge your laptop from 30% to 50%, or about 20% each time. Well, do that five times and you’ll have completed one battery cycle because you’ve charged your laptop 100% in total.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your battery charged to at least 40% most of the time. Tap or click here to check your laptop’s battery health.

3. You go with the cheapest option

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You or a loved one switched to an iPhone 15? The right and wrong chargers

OK, honesty time: I bought the new iPhone 15 Pro Max. I opened up my fancy $1,600 smartphone to realize … it was the same as the iPhone 14 Pro Max I was already using.

The big (only?) change I can spot is the charging port on the bottom. After all these years, Apple is ditching its Lightning cable for the one every other tech company uses for charging and data transfer: USB-C. Some new AirPod models are getting the same treatment.

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Li’l helpers under $10

Sorry, you’re going to want them all.

Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray ($10) is a water-based, perfume-free stain remover. Small enough to fit in your bag for on-the-go ketchup and blueberry stains.
Mesh bags are perfect for organizing chargers, plugs, screws, bolts, batteries, pens … I could go on. A six-pack is only $9.
Get a three-pack of light-blocking sleep masks and put one in your carry-on, one in your suitcase and one by your bed. They’re 20% off right now ($7.99).
If you’re like me, you have a plethora of USB-A plugs kicking around your house … and some USB-C cords. Fix that with these USB-A-to-USB-C adapters, four for $5.99.
Headaches, muscle aches, pains, cramps, bad days — there’s not much a hot water bottle can’t fix. This one is easy to fill, comes with a cozy cover and is just $7.99.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Keep your battery level over 0%: Letting your phone die does more than leave you without a way to play Wordle. It can also degrade your battery over time. Keep a portable charger on hand and power up before you hit 0%.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Chargers and cord frustration will be over soon

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Do you have many different kinds of cords and chargers lying around? It can be hard to find what you need right away. Listen to this one-minute podcast for a useful fix.

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🪫 It’s not just you: Apple’s new iOS 18.2 update is draining iPhone batteries. If it’s happening to you, don’t panic. Turn down your screen’s brightness and turn off apps refreshing in the background. Apple says to give it a few days to settle. Or you could get this portable charger for just $17.75 (26% off; click the box for an additional 5% off).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

EV stats revealed: States with the most chargers

Quick, take your best guess! Which state has the most chargers per registered electric vehicle (EV)?

Nope, it’s not California — though it is the state with the most EVs and the most EV chargers, all told. There are about 43,000 chargers (that’s 47 for every thousand EVs). That’s below the national average.

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Best ways to charge your phone’s battery

We spend so much on tech that it’s incredibly frustrating when our devices break. A little prevention can go a long way. Here are six checkups to give your tech now to avoid a shocking repair bill later.

Regular maintenance is vital to longevity. Tap or click for my simple action plan to get more years out of your iPhone or Android.

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Feeling random

Cool stuff I found for cleaning, chilling and last-minute gifts:

Pastel plastic baskets for cords, chargers and everything else.
Keyboard wrist rest and mousepad that looks like a cotton candy cloud. Cute!
Tiny pink sound machine for white noise on the go. OK, it comes in other colors, too.
For when your smartwatch is out of juice, a silicone wristband you can jot notes on with a pen.
Professional ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry and glasses.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

⚡ Don’t use this Apple charger: Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro magnetic charging power bank contains bisphenol A (BPA). The chemical used in plastics is linked to hormone disruption, fertility issues and even cancer. The warning is buried at the bottom of the fine print nobody reads — that’s why I read it for you!

Urgent fire risk recall: For Belkin BoostCharge Pro fast wireless chargers. The iPhone and Apple Watch power pack launched in May 2023. Look for model number BPD005 on the back of your charging pad, and if you have one, stop using it immediately and fill out the refund form.

Everything in its place

Check out this cool stuff I found to help us all get organized. Spring cleaning, I’m comin’ for ya!

This labelmaker is currently 40% off. Pop these babies onto some storage bins, and you’re halfway there.
Make junk drawers a thing of the past with this set of 25 organizers.
If you’re still nesting your pots and pans, you need this stacking contraption (48% off!).
Replace your big box of chargers with this small box made just for juicing up — without the mess.
It might not be time to put the sweaters away, but when it is, be ready with stora g e bags. (Click the coupon box for an extra 40% off!)

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

6 pieces of tech that are always draining power and costing you money

Depending on where you live, your electric bill can be super expensive, no matter which season we’re in. You run the AC during summer and the furnace during winter. We don’t seem to get a break.

Smart devices can go a long way in saving you some cash. Smart sprinklers, for instance, stop watering when it’s raining and monitor to ensure you’re not wasting water. Tap or click for the features to look for when upgrading your sprinkler system.

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10 tips and tricks for your new iPad

The holiday season has passed, and it’s time to play with your new toys. Tech products are always a popular gift under the Christmas tree, and you’re spoiled for choice between phones, tablets, smart speakers, laptops and more obscure items like smart temperature-controlled coffee mugs.

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Upgrade from your ratty old charger - Try one of these charging stations

Everyone gets new gadgets for the holidays, and you know what that means. Yep, everyone will be taking, losing or hoarding all the chargers.

Avoid the charger battles with a few space-saving docks and stations. Keep them in a centralized area so everyone can power up their devices when they need to, and you never have to worry about lost or damaged cables again.

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Are you buying the correct chargers and cables for your devices? Check this chart

A phone, tablet or laptop without power is a sad thing. It’s an expensive useless brick until you can juice up the battery. Don’t be ashamed if you have nightmares about being stuck with a dead battery. We’ve all been there.

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Tech from 6 gadget brands pulled from Amazon

The pandemic saw online sales skyrocket as many brick and mortar stores either shuttered their doors or ran low on essential supplies. Even as restrictions eased, people continued to order everything from toilet paper to electronics to crafting materials online.

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Working from home? You need a VPN now more than ever

You’ve heard Kim talk about how important it is to have a virtual private network (VPN). Now that a lot of you are working from home, it’s even more important to choose a VPN you can trust.

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many companies across the U.S. to have employees work from home (WFH). That means it’s not just the personal information stored on your device at risk from security threats, but also your work data.

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