Belkin has announced today what it claims is an industry first, a USB-C car charger using the new USB-PD (Power Delivery) standard which allows the new charger to be compatible with a range of new release smartphones.
A key feature of Belkin’s new charger is the range of power output available; the charger supports both 5V and 9V output, at up to 3 Amps, allowing for a maximum 27W output. This gives the charger an ability to charge most smartphones up to 70% faster when compared to standard 5W chargers, which is all the more impressive because this is a car charger, not a home or travel charger.
Belkin’s Melody Saffery had this to say about the new product:
“We believe that USB-C is next generation technology, which delivers safe, speedy and convenient charging to consumers looking for the highest quality experience when it comes to mobile power and accessories,” said Melody Saffery, senior director of product management at Belkin.
“While USB-C accessories are an ideal solution for consumers looking for a universal charging solution, uncertified cables and accessories may not work or can damage their devices. Our USB-C accessories are engineered and tested to meet the highest international standards for quality, and are all certified and guaranteed so that consumers can rest assured that their devices are protected.”
Belkin have been testing the charger on a range of modern devices, and we understand that it is powerful enough to charge Google’s Chromebook Pixel (which sadly isn’t available here) and the Pixel C Tablet (which is available, and a decent car charger for it would be very welcome here…). Last year’s Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are also supported, as well as LG’s G5.
Being a first, Belkin’s USB-C car charger isn’t cheap cheap, but it is at a reasonable price for what’s on offer. You can pick it up today for a suggested retail price of $79.95 at JB HiFi and Harvey Norman.
Nothing to see here, just go and get an Anker or Aukey etc Dual Type A Charger from eBay that support QC2.0 or QC3.0 and you’ll get the same speeds via two 18W ports to charge two devices for half the price.
I think the phones will only pull a max of 18W?
It’d also be interesting to see how USB-C phones that use Qualcomm’s QC react to this. Android Central did a story on plugging an HTC 10 into one of the Nexus wall chargers with kinda scary results.
It could at least have a second USB port. It also looks like one of those that sticks out a lot and is forever popping out.
How is it s first? My wife bought me a USB-C car charger from your store last year.
Might be first 3A one.
I got one off Aliexpress but haven’t had a chance to test it out too much. Plugged phone in .. charging symbol and ‘charging off AC’ was the limit.