Are there times you need to charge your T-Mobile G1 Android phone on-the-go? Maybe there are times you’re stuck between your home and office, or your home and the shopping mall, or your home and just about anywhere else, and you are without a wall socket to plug in. The HTC Car Charger for T-Mobile G1, available here in the Android Central Store for $19.95, is a great way to keep your G1 battery fresh and ready to use, especially if you are a “road warrior.” Keep reading after the break for a review!
Overview
The HTC Car Charger for T-Mobile G1 is, well, a car charger. It plugs into the lighter socket in your car or truck and enables you to charge your G1. Car chargers are rarely fancy nor anything to get incredibly excited about, but this car charger is noteworthy for it’s design and it’s build quality.
The lighter adapter end of the charger is made of plastic with a chrome-like cap on one end with HTC’s branding and a bluish light to indicate a positive connection to your lighter socket. The power cord connection is robust, with a section of coiled, flexible cord in the middle. A mini-USB connector on the other end fits the mini-USB port on your G1.
Performance
The HTC Car Charger, designed to fit standard lighter sockets, has a snug fit and easily connects to the mini-USB port of the G1. The cable is about 2 feet before extending the coiled portion. I like the coiled section in that it permits some flexibility in length without the nuisance of a power cord getting entangled with the stick shift, console, or anything else in the cabin of your car.
Both the power cord and connectors are robust and of decent quality, promising a long life of mobile charging. When driving, I can just plug my G1 into the HTC Car Charger and top off my battery while I’m driving, yet still answer the phone if a call comes in. Using a Bluetooth headset is a good idea when driving, especially when you have your phone connected to a charger.
Conclusion
For only $19.95, the HTC Car Charger for T-Mobile G1 is a useful, quality product that stands head and shoulders above the cheap knock-off chargers that are out there which are sold at close to the same price. The design is attractive with the bluish power indicator, and the flexible cord is a great design for use in a car when you don’t want a long cable that can get tangled up. If you spend a lot of time in your car away from any wall sockets to charge your G1, or if you just want to top off your battery during your morning or evening commute, you can’t go wrong with the HTC Car Charger.