What to consider when buying a USB charging station

Features

• Power
• Speed
• Placement
• Number of ports

Choosing a USB charging station

The fast-growing market for USB charging devices means there are now lots of options available with a wide range of features. The main features you need to consider are:

• Power—are you charging a device that needs a normal amount of power, or one that needs high power?
• Speed—how important is this to you and are you willing to pay more for it?
• Placement—where do you need to put your charging station?
• Number of ports—how many devices do you want to charge at the same time?

Power

• Most USB charging stations provide 1A or 2.1A of power per USB port. 1A ports are fine for mobile phones, but aren’t suitable for tablets. To ensure you can charge a range of devices, it’s best to go with 2A ports at minimum.
• High-power USB ports—2.4A to 5A—are available. 2.1A ports are normally sufficient, but a high-powered port will charge your device quicker.
• Some charging stations are able to detect the device connected and provide the optimum amount of power. CMD’s charging stations all have this capability.

Our recommendations

Device	Power needed (in amps)	Best charging hubs for power
Smartphones	1A of current per device		Chip On-Desk Charger 2 x 2A ports On desk
			Face Power & USB Charger 2 x 2A ports In desk
			Inca Power, USB Charging & Data 2 x 5A ports on either face, if specified On desk High power
Tablets	2A of current per device		Reveal Power, USB Charging, Data and Media 2 x 5A ports In desk
			Harmony Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports On desk High power
		(White plastic)	Contour Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports On desk High power
		(Silver metal)
Laptops	2A of current per device		Porthole IV Power & USB Charger 2 x 2A ports In desk
			Harmony Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports On desk High power
		(White plastic)	Contour Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports On desk High power
		(Silver metal)

Speed

• Generally, the more power the USB port provides, the faster the charge. So, if you need to charge your device quickly, choose a charging station with high-speed ports (2.4A or 5A).
• Charging a device with less than its optimum current prolongs the time it takes to fully charge the battery, so make sure your charging station provides the power you need.
• Ports on USB charging stations are dedicated charging ports, meaning they provide faster speeds than the ports on PCs and laptops.
• Many Android smartphones incorporate Quick Charge technology, a feature that ensures devices are charged at the fastest rate possible. So, if you have an Android device, combine it with a high-speed charging station and you’re away!

Our recommendations

High-speed charging hubs
	Inca Power, USB Charging & Data 2 x 5A ports on either face, if specified
	Harmony Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports
(White plastic)	Contour Power, USB Charging, Data & Media 2 x 5A ports
(Silver metal)

Placement

• You can install USB charging stations in four places:
  • On the desk
  • In the desk
  • Under the desk
  • Into soft seating
• Installing on-desk and under-desk charging stations is very simple
• For in-desk charging stations, you might need to first saw a hole in the desk for the hub to slot into. At CMD, we make this straightforward by providing templates with every product

Our recommendations

Placement	Product		Benefits
On the desk	Inca Power, USB Charging & Data		Very convenient to install and use. The module can be placed anywhere on the workstation and provide easy access to a charging port.
In the desk	Porthole IV Power & 4A USB Charger		Can be installed into a desktop easily, without having to make space. Perfect for staff who need an open desk on which to lay files and documents.
Under the desk	Conti		These power modules can be placed out of the way under a desk. However, you may need longer charging leads for your devices.

Number of ports

• USB charging stations are designed to charge multiple devices at the same time, and so come in a range of configurations—2-port, 3-port, 4-port and so on. Which one you choose depends on how many devices you’ll want to charge.
• Many charging stations will have a maximum output, where the power shared across all its ports will reach a limit. This might mean some devices can only be charged on a lower current than they need.

Our recommendations

Most of our USB charging stations come with twin USB ports as standard, but we can build them to whatever specification you need, for example:

Product		Configurations available
Porthole IV Power & 4A USB Charger 2-port charging station		One power socket and one 2-port 4A USB socket.
Inca Power, USB Charging & Data Up to 8-port charging station		Each of Inca’s four faces can be configured with either a plug socket or a 2-port 2A USB socket, giving you up to 8 USB ports.

Frequently asked questions

USB hub vs. USB charging station—which is best?

Because they serve different purposes, a direct comparison is perhaps unfair. USB hubs do the job of providing more USB ports for your computer, while USB charging stations are dedicated to charging USB devices.

If charging is your main requirement, a USB charging option is definitely your best option.

Can I use a USB hub as a charging station?

It’s possible, if the hub has its own AC power source and is capable of charging.

A USB hub powered from a USB port on a computer will still charge, but at very low power. It will never be as efficient as a charging station or an AC charger.

Many USB hubs can only generate a small amount of power (0.5A or less) for each port. Some also go into low-power states after being left idle for a time, which means they stop charging altogether.

Can you use a USB hub without a computer?

Yes, if it comes with its own AC adapter. That way, it can be powered from the mains.

What’s the best USB charging station for iPhone and iPad?

Like most smartphones, iPhones only need 1A of power to charge, meaning any USB charging station will do.

iPads, however, have bigger batteries and so require 2A of current. As a result, you need a charging station capable of providing this amount of power, otherwise your device won’t be able to charge at its fastest speed. We recommend some ideal products above.

Related content

CMD’s 2018 product catalogue

USB charger FAQs

Power module guide