This is the reason why you travel back and forth to work can not be doubled as the perfect time to charge your Apple device. While there are plenty of car chargers with lightning connectors out there that are able to get the job done, only a few deserve attention and hard-earned money. Some of them may have lightweight designs or additional USB ports, while others are compact and try to save space, but almost all provide a quick and easy solution to charge your smartphone via a 12 volt socket - aka cigarette luminaire bulb in the dashboard or main interface your vehicle. Here are some of our current favorites.
Best iPhone car chargers
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: N/A
- Warranty: None
- Price: $12
The car charger does not include a USB cable, but it makes up for it by having two USB ports (each charging at 2.5Amp / 12.5-Watt each port). Not only can you charge multiple devices at once while you're on the road, but the green halo lights show the charger and it works. When your device is 100 percent capacity, Rapid Volt 'Smart Charge' technology stops charging to avoid premature battery wear.
PowerBear Car Charger
- Certified MFi: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 24 months
- Price: $ 22
PowerBear's offer is another charger that comes with built-in Lightning cable and also has two additional USB ports to charge other devices simultaneously. The charger will adjust to the connected device to charge the battery as quickly as possible. Unlike the Shine Future charger, it's smaller, but depending on where your 12V car socket is located, the USB ports and cables may be more difficult to access or, at least, the wires will be bent in an uncomfortable direction. If anything happens to the charger, this is covered by a 2-year warranty, so you can contact PowerBear to get a replacement.
Anker PowerDrive Charger
- MFi Certified: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 18 months
- Price: $14
If you don’t care about extra USB ports or the ability to retract the cable, and just want a charger with one use, Anker’s car charger is the way to go. It just has the one, 3-foot Lightning cable built-in to it and, overall, it may be one of the smallest products on this list. Anker notes that its charger isn’t compatible with Lifeproof or Otterbox iPhone 6 cases, so if you prefer cases from those manufacturers, this charger may not be for you. On a more positive note, though, it is backed by an 18-month warranty.
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: N/A
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $10
If two USB ports just won’t cut it, 1byone’s three-port charger has you covered. At just $10, this is one of the cheapest ways to charge multiple iOS devices while assuring you don’t overcook your toys. Up to 2.4 Amps of power can be delivered to whatever is connected. An LED light is displayed when the device is on and delivering charge. Also, that red aluminum casing looks pretty snazzy.
COMPACT IPHONE CAR CHARGERS
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: N/A
- Warranty: Limited 18 months
- Price: $22
If you’re looking for an ultra-quick charge, the Anker Quick Charge 3.0 is what the doctor ordered. As one of the fastest chargers on the market, the Quick Charge 3.0 will refuel iOS devices up to 80 percent in 35 minutes. For reference, that’s more charge than Apple is claiming for its new USB-C fast charger in the same amount of time. Dual USB ports also gives you the ability to charge more than one device at a time.
Belkin Car Charger
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: 4 feet
- Warranty: Limited
- Price: $20
Let’s be frank: Belkin’s offering is a compact, lightweight option with power to spare. Coming in at a commendable 10 watts and 2.1 Amps, the built-in lightning cable will charge any Lightning-compatible device quickly while remaining small enough for easy storage on the go — nothing more, nothing less.
Incipio Ultra Compact Charger
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: 12 months
- Price: $24
Like the aforementioned Belkin Car Charger, Incipio’s Ultra Compact Car Charger lives up to its name. Incredibly compact and outfitted with an attached lightning cable, the device touts 2.1 Amps of power for lightning quick charges on the go. Also, although initially designed for the iPhone 5, the charger boasts compatibility with the other Lightning-compatible products, so you can buy this without worrying if it’ll work with current Apple products.
Incase Mini car Charger
- MFi Certified: Yes
- Length: 4 feet
- Warranty: Limited 12 months
- Price: $25
Apple and Incase go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it’s no surprise that at least one of Incase’s Apple-friendly offerings makes our list. Packing 2.4 Amps, the Incase Mini Car Charger offers quick charging capabilities, comes packaged with a detachable lightning cable, and has a handy, LED light that indicates when your phone is charging.
Griffin PowerJolt SE with Lightning Connector
- MFi Certified: Yes
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
- Price: $17
The PowerJolt SE car charger takes a cue from the chargers of yesterday with a coiled cable design. Outfitted with a lightning connector cable and compatible with most later-generation Apple products, the Griffin PowerJolt packs 10 watts of charging capacity while boasting a self-resetting SmartFuse used for guarding against power fluctuations. And at 3 feet in length, it’s the perfect for those long hours on the road.
E. T. Pocket Car Charger
- MFi Certified: No
- Length: 3 feet
- Warranty: Limited
- Price: $13
The car charger from E. T. Pocket features a retractable Lightning cable that puts out 1.2 Amps. It also comes equipped with one additional USB port in case you need it, and that’s really all this particular charger has to offer. Its design is straightforward and easy to use, which may be exactly what you want from a car charger.