7 ways to charge your iPhone if you can't or don't want to use the typical wall charger

If you are a commuter, you probably spend a lot of time in the car. If so, your very first iPhone accessory should be a car charger, which lets you draw power from the car's power port (more commonly known as, but probably rarely used as, the cigarette lighter). You can get a car charger for less than $10 (this Anker model, for example, has a pair of USB ports for charging two devices at once).

If you have an iPhone X or later, and you're not charging your phone wirelessly, you're missing out on one of the most satisfying features of modern smartphones. These phones can charge just by being set on a compatible wireless charging pad, which you can keep on your desk, bed stand, or elsewhere.

Apple embraced the Qi wireless standard, so any pad that is Qi-certified will work with your iPhone. There are all sorts of charging pads available, from pads that lie flat on a tabletop to stands that let your phone sit upright.

If you have an older iPhone, you're technically not shut out of the wireless charging party — there are a number of wireless charging cases available. Slip your iPhone into a wireless charging case from Weluv, for example, and you can charge it anytime just by placing it on a charging pad.

We'd be remiss not to mention a dependable low-tech solution as well: just plug your phone into any computer's USB port. It pays to keep a Lightning cable in your bag or briefcase so you can get a charge from any nearby laptop or desktop computer.

If you find yourself away from your usual charging options for long periods of time — for example, if you're on vacation and don't have access to a wall outlet to plug in — you should join the ranks of veteran road warriors everywhere and carry a battery with you.

There are a vast variety of batteries available for charging smartphones (and other mobile devices), from small, low-capacity models (like Bonai's shaped roughly like a AA battery) good for perhaps a single top-off to a big, beefy battery that can potentially charge a phone 2-3 times (like Anker's PowerCore 10000, which delivers 10,000 mAh of power). All you need is the battery and a Lightning cable to charge your phone anywhere, anytime.

Or, even more convenient: get a case for your phone that has an integrated battery. A typical 7000mAh case can more than double the battery life of your iPhone during the day.

Why carry a separate battery when you can carry a bag that has one built in? Backpacks with integrated batteries are a handy way to always have a battery at your disposal, especially if you need all the storage that comes from a bag like that. Check out the TYLT Powerbag, which has an 10,400 mAh battery, or Voltaic's 4000 mAh bag that also includes solar cells for optionally charging in the sun.

If there's one thing that's true about chargers, it's that they always seems to disappear just when you need them. You might not have access to electrical outlets, your portable battery might be dead, and you might not be able to get to your car. For times like these, consider carrying the ultimate failsafe: a hand-crank portable charger.

Like a modern version of churning butter, you add energy to your iPhone by spinning a small hand crank for several minutes. It's slow work and a little tiring, but no other solution is guaranteed to be able to give you a few minutes of charge when your phone is dying.

You can get a simple single-purpose hand crank like the Eton BoostTurbine or a more elaborate hand crank generator like this model from FosPower that includes a portable radio and flashlight.

Like a hand-crank, a solar charger is a bit unusual — but what other solution lets you charge your phone with clean, effortless energy from the sun?

Solar chargers aren't super popular because they aren't highly efficient. It can take all day under the sun to get a few hours' charge for your iPhone. But if you find yourself outdoors in a sunny locale (on vacation, perhaps) then a solar charger might be an easy and reliable way to keep your phone charged.

Just spread out the cells — like with this one from Hiluckey — and let the sun do its job, topping off your phone or charging the battery that's integrated into the solar cells.

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