On the road
Plugs and battery: charging your phone anywhere without slip-ups
Which adaptor for which region, why voltage matters less than you think, and how to make the battery last the day.
Nerea Aguilar 6 min Photo by Hoach Le Dinh on Unsplash The best data plan in the world is little help if the phone switches off at six in the afternoon. Charging is the other half of the question, and two things settle it: the right adaptor and a few habits.
The adaptor, by region
| Where | Which plug |
|---|---|
| Continental Europe, Morocco, Turkey | Two round pins |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | Large plug with three flat pins |
| United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan | Two flat pins |
| Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, China | Two angled pins |
| India and much of Southeast Asia | Mixed, and many hotels take several types |
A universal adaptor covers every case and takes up little room. It is one of the few things better bought in advance than on arrival, since at the airport it costs three times as much.
Voltage, which is almost never the problem
Modern chargers for phones and laptops take from 100 to 240 volts, so they work in any country with a shape adaptor. The charger itself says so in small print.
Voltage does matter for appliances with a motor or a heating element, such as hair straighteners. There a real transformer is not optional.
Making the battery last until evening
- Carry a power bank and its cable, and charge it every night along with the phone.
- Lower the screen brightness, which uses by far the most.
- Switch on aeroplane mode where you know there is no coverage: a phone hunting for signal uses twice as much.
- Download the maps: navigating with a downloaded map uses less battery than online.
- In the cold, carry the phone in an inside pocket. Batteries lose capacity abruptly at low temperatures.
Charging in public places
The USB sockets in airports, trains and hotels do charge, and whenever you can it is better to use your own mains charger. If you use somebody else's socket, a charge-only cable or an adaptor that blocks data removes any doubt.
This is not an alarm: it is the same caution as not plugging in a memory stick found in the street.
Frequently asked questions
Which adaptor do I need to travel?
It depends on the country: in the United Kingdom three flat pins; in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan two flat ones; in Australia or Argentina two angled ones. A universal one covers them all.
Do I need a voltage transformer?
For phones and laptops no: their chargers take from 100 to 240 volts. Yes for appliances with a motor or a heating element.
How do I make the battery last all day?
A charged power bank, low brightness, aeroplane mode where there is no coverage, and downloaded maps.
Is it safe to charge at a public USB socket?
They charge without trouble, and if you want peace of mind use your own mains charger or a charge-only cable.
Why does the battery run down so fast in the mountains?
Because of the cold, which cuts its capacity, and because a phone hunting for a signal where there is none uses twice as much.
