Hold up, is Ikea undercutting Apple and Samsung's pricey power adapters?

Hold up, is Ikea undercutting Apple and Samsung’s pricey power adapters?،

I mean, we're looking at just $8 for a 30W charger and just $15 for a 45W dual charger. These rather low prices got me thinking: are the tech giants' chargers just too much Dear ? Let's take a closer look at the world of fast chargers.

Fast Charging Magic

The latest OnePlus 12 has a charger in the box (Image credit – PhoneArena)

These days, most mid-range phones and all flagship phones come with fast charging capabilities. This is a game changer as it significantly reduces charging times. But unless you're using a OnePlus or Motorola device, you'll probably need to purchase a fast charger separately.

Apple, Samsung and Google? None of them throw a charger in the box, but they are more than happy to sell you one. The fact is that their prices are high compared to other options available.

Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter: $20
Apple MagSafe charger: $40
Apple 35W Dual USB-C Compact Power Adapter: $59
Samsung 25W PD Power Adapter: $20
Samsung 45W power adapter with cable: $50
Samsung 35W Duo Power Adapter: $30
Google 30W USB-C Charger: $25

Grab Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter for $20. It's designed for fast and efficient charging from the iPhone 8. But that's just for the adapter; if you need a cable it's extra, although you get one with the phone which is something I suppose. Apple also offers the MagSafe Charger, a wireless option for the iPhone 12 and later, which costs you $39.

Moving on to Samsung, its 35W dual power adapter costs $30, letting you power two devices at once faster than Apple's offering. For wireless charging, its cheapest option is the 15W Wireless Charger Duo for $70, charging two gadgets at Apple speed but at twice the price.

Samsung 35W dual power adapter (Image credit – Samsung)

Google isn't out of the game, offering a 30W USB-C charger for $25 and various wireless options like the iON Wireless Duo, supporting up to 15W charging speed for $50.

Thus, the big players in mobile technology offer similar products ranging from $20 to $70. But is it too much?

Ikea has your back for just $8

Ikea 45W 2-Port USB Charger (Image credit – Ikea) – Wait, does Ikea sell Apple and Samsung's expensive power adapters?

The 45W 2-port USB charger from Ikea (Image credit – Ikea)

Ikea, certainly not the first name you think of in tech, has launched two wallet-friendly chargers:

A 45W 2-port USB charger for $15
A 30W 1-port USB charger for $8

Yes, these prices are real and they are considerably lower than those of the big tech companies. Ikea's single charger offers up to 30W, surpassing Apple's and matching Google's. Ikea's duo charger outpaces the rest, begging the question: why so cheap?

And it's not just Ikea. Anker, a power solutions professional, offers a wide range of chargers at prices that won't make your wallet cry. The Anker 511 Nano, for example, matches Apple's 20W speed, but at almost half the price. Why such a price difference ?

The reason behind the price

Anker 511 Nano charger (Image credit – Anker)

When asking why Ikea or Anker can keep prices low, it mostly comes down to a question of marketing. However, marketing may be only one reason. Brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google may have higher prices due to various factors, such as:

Premium brand: These brands have a reputation that commands higher prices, associating them with quality and status.
R&D Costs: Investing in innovation and unique features increases costs.
Material quality: Higher quality components and safety features such as overload protection increase production costs.
Certifications: Meeting strict safety and performance standards costs money.
Warranty and Support: Providing solid customer service and warranties doesn't come cheap.
Ecosystem integration: Their products are designed to work seamlessly within their device ecosystem.
Marketing and distribution: Extensive advertising and a global retail presence are expensive.
Profit Margins: Higher margins on accessories mean more revenue.

Companies like Anker and Ikea, however, can reduce costs through economies of scale, reduced marketing spend, or by offering products with more universal compatibility, allowing them to offer more affordable prices for their chargers. while maintaining quality.

Plus, there's another slice of the Ikea puzzle worth mentioning: As a mass-market giant, Ikea produces its products in large numbers, which helps keep those prices nice and low.

As for quality. From personal experience, after going through several official Apple chargers that eventually broke, I switched to cheaper alternatives. Why pay a high price every year for something that will fail anyway? Anker has been my favorite for over a year now and I haven't had any issues with it.

We haven't had a chance to test Ikea chargers yet, but I'm willing to try them if I come across one. Even though Ikea isn't a tech company, its reputation for quality at affordable prices makes me curious to see how its chargers compare.

So, is it better to stick with chargers from your phone manufacturer? Of course, if you want. But there are other options worth considering, especially if you're looking to save money. That said, it's wise to avoid off-brand chargers of questionable quality. They may save you a few dollars up front, but they could end up damaging your device in the long run.