Travel Adapters: 3 different approaches
2025-05-08
(1) Use an adapter for each country.
This is the best approach IMHO.
Pros: Excellent fit for each country. Much less likely to
encounter this sort of disaster .
Cons: More things to carry.
Type I adapter: Australia, New Zealand, China,
Argentina, etc.
Type G adapter: UK, Ireland,
Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Qatar, etc.
Type C Europlug adapter: widely used across Europe,
South America (except Argentina), South Africa (for buildings
built after 2018), and some countries in Asia.
Type F Schuko adapter: Not essential, but I prefer
using one for long-haul flights and cruises to ensure a secure
connection.
(2) Use a universal all-in-1 charger-adapter brick.
Pros: Only have to carry one brick.
Cons: The size of the brick is large. It may not fit in tight
spaces. This can become a disaster at the mercy of hotel furnishing.
Caution: Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina:
with the 2-pin AUS plug, it could be very rough/difficult trying to
insert the adapter into shuttered Type-I sockets.
In such situations, you need a 3-prong Type-I adapter. See this bad idea.
The total power output rating is small, but is improving with
new models.
The number of USB-C and USB-A charge ports are usually
limited, but is improving with new models.
(3) Use a charger brick with interchangeable plugs.
Pros: Slightly smaller than (2) above.
Cons: The size of the brick is still larger. It may not fit
in tight spaces. This can become a disaster at the mercy of hotel furnishing.
The total power output rating is small, but is improving with
new models.
The number of USB-C and USB-A charge ports are usually
limited, but is improving with new models.