You may have noticed that when you are using your Uber, Lyft or similar rideshare or delivery app alongside a GPS navigation app like Waze or Google Maps, that your cell phone battery gets drained very quickly.
Nothing spells doom for a rideshare/delivery driver like a dead phone. Your phone is your money line. Without it, your ability to make money is impossible.
Therefore, it is crucial always to have a good charger handy so that your phone does not die on you while you're working your shift.
Device Charging Technology
Device charging technology has come a long way. Charging devices are now working quicker than ever before.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0
Qualcomm Quick Charge technology enables devices to charge quicker using Qualcomm Snapdragon™ mobile platforms and processors.
The manufacturers claim that this Quick Charge technology gives devices 5 hours of battery life from just 5 minutes of charging. They do point out though that these results are not standard and are affected by the use of non-compatible devices or charge cords.
iPhones have Qualcomm technology but for some reason do not use it. For now, this is not an issue as the phones charge quickly in spite of that fact. We shall see if this changes in the future.
Turbopower has been optimized for best performance for Motorola devices.
The technology in use is referred to as turbopower ™15. According to its manufacturers, it has been designed to give hours of power in just minutes.
This technology monitors the activity of the device and adjusts the charging rate accordingly. This allows the device to experience optimal charging regardless of what activities are being carried out on it.
Another great feature is that it constantly monitors for excessive heat that may damage the device's battery.
Although designed to work best with Motorola devices, it has been designed to also work with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 compatible devices.
When shopping for a charger, you should consider the type of phone you will be using for your rideshare/delivery work. Some chargers work better with a particular type of phone. Others chargers simply do not work with certain types of phones.
The search for a charger is made up of two parts. The first is for the charger itself and the second is for the charge cord. The charger is the device you plug into the designated power outlet while the charge cord is what connects the charger to the device that needs to be charged.
Quick Charge 3.0 Car Chargers
Quick Charge 3.0 AUKEY Car Charger
This is a Qualcomm certified car charger. It comes with two USB ports that enable you to charge two compatible devices at the same time. This is great for when your passenger needs to charge their device. One USB port is a QC 3.0, and the other is a 2.4A charger.
Following are some of the phones and devices it can be used to charge. Samsung Galaxy Note8 / S8 / S8+, LG G6 / V20 and HTC 10.
The charger features built-in protection for devices against excessive current, overheating, and overcharging.
This charger is available on Amazon. It retails for approximately $20.
Anker Quick Charge 3.0 Car Charger
This charger also has two USB ports. The manufacturers' claim that it only requires about 35 minutes to charge devices up to 80%.
Following are some of the phones and devices it can be used to charge. Galaxy S7 / S6 / Edge / Plus, and PowerIQ for iPhone X / 8 / 7 / 6s / Plus, iPad Pro / Air 2 / mini, LG, Nexus and HTC
This charger is available on Amazon. It retails for approximately $26.
Quick Charge 2.0 Chargers
Quick Charge 2.0 AUKEY Car Charger
This is also a Qualcomm certified car charger. It is similar to the Quick Charge 3.0 AUKEY car charger. The difference is that it uses 2.0 Qualcomm Quick Charge technology and not the upgraded 3.0 technology. Both its USB ports are 2.0
This makes it compatible not just with android devices but also with Apple devices. The manufacturers claim it can charge devices up to 75% faster.
Following are some of the phones it can be used to charge. Samsung Galaxy Note8 / S8 / S8+ and LG G4 / V10.
This charger is available on Amazon. It retails for approximately $16.
Charge Cords
As stated above, the charge cord connects your device to the charger. You should consider getting a charge cord for the following reasons.
The charge cord that comes with your phone may not be compatible with the charger you end up buying.
If your charge cord gets subjected to heavy usage, you will require a more durable heavy-duty cord so that you do not always have to replace it.
The charge cord that comes with the phone is usually not long enough to reach the back seat passengers.
Anker PowerLine+ Lightning Cable
This cord has been designed for IOS devices. It is said to last six times longer than the average. This is in part due to the reinforced stress points.
It's made from double-braided nylon exterior, toughened aramid fiber core and laser-welded connectors and is 6ft long. It comes in multiple colors too.
It's available on Amazon and retails for approximately $17
AmazonBasics Lightning to USB Cable
If you have an iPhone, this charge code is for you. It is Apple MFi certified so your phone will not keep sending you that annoying message that your hardware is not compatible with your phone.
The cord has been designed to be able to bend 95-degrees up to 4,000 times. Also, the Lightning and USB ends have been reinforced to reduce fraying and maximize durability.
It comes in multiple lengths from 4 inches to 10 feet, so you get to choose which one works best for your needs. With regards to color, you get to pick between black and white only.
It's available on Amazon and retails for approximately $6 - $12 depending on the length you choose.
iSeeker Nylon Braided Tangle-Free Charger Cord
The iSeeker is compatible with Android, Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Nokia devices just to name a few.
The cord features a chevron pattern, and it comes in multiple colors. It is 6.6ft in length and comes as a set of three. It has been designed to bend more than 3500 times.
It's available on Amazon and retails for approximately $9.