Thanks to evolution, phone chargers these days are unlike what or how they used to be back in the day. Today we have USB chargers - USB C, Micro USB - they come with different ratings, design, and can deliver fast charging and multimedia support to various devices like mobile phones, tablet computers, laptops, game consoles, bluetooth speakers, bluetooth headsets, portable projectors, cameras etc. A USB charger may seem easy to buy, but the fact is most people are clueless when it comes to selecting good chargers - they either go for brand names, or choose based on aesthetics - design, length, colour etc - or affordability. Not that any of those are wrong calls to make, but choosing a USB charger should be largely based on compatibility, charging capacity/rate and speed etc. This article should help you understand the basic things to know before buying a USB charger. Power/Charging Rate The charging capacity of a charger is usually measured in Wattage, Voltage and Ampere (amp) - and it determines or gives an estimate on the rate or speed at which a charger can juice up your phone. Usually, the higher the amperage of a charger, the faster your phone charges, and vice versa. Most USB chargers in the market have a rating of 1A and 5V output which gives a maximum of 5W and for 2A and 5V output, you get a maximum of 10W to charge your device. However, while a 1A charger is good for a smartphone, it isn't quite suitable for tabs. Charging tablets, iPads and devices of higher capacity with 1A charger may require a much longer period to charge. So for tablets, it is recommended to go for chargers with ratings at 2.4A - 5A. On the other hand, you can use a charger with a higher rating than your phone's rating, as it (charger) automatically adjusts to provide the optimum amount of power your phone needs or even provides a quick charge. Number of Charging Ports Some USB charging stations are designed with multiple output ports usually ranging from 2 ports - 3 ports up to 7 ports - to enable simultaneous charging of several devices at the same time. Chargers like this do have high electrical power capable of providing maximum output that can be shared across all its ports to reach several devices at the same time. For example, if you're charging 2 devices, power will be divided between and distributed to both devices. But imagine a 3.4 A on 1 phone,…