I got a couple of those modern outlets with USB-A and USB-C ports installed in my kitchen a few weeks ago. The thing is, whenever I plug in my phone, it always says it's charging slowly. With my regular 20W power adapter it works great. What's going on?
I've tried similar outlets at home and they were really slow, until I realized that the total power of the socket is limited - if you use multiple USB ports at the same time, the amps get divided among all of them. You often only see that in the fine print in the manual. Check if your outlet, for example, only distributes 3.6A total, then you might only get one amp per port, and with modern phones you need at least two for normal charging. With your 20W power adapter you have full control over it, there's no sharing with other devices.
That's not necessarily a general problem with integrated USB outlets - many actually charge just fine. However, it really depends on the quality and model you bought. Cheaper variants often have limited total power output for all USB ports combined. So if you plug in multiple devices at once or the outlet only delivers 30-40W total, the power has to be distributed across all the ports - then of course it'll be slow.
The wiring inside the outlet also plays a role. Some cheaper models have thinner cables that lead to voltage drops. Your phone then notices that less voltage is arriving and automatically throttles the charging speed for safety reasons. Check the manual to see how many watts the USB ports provide in total and whether individual ports have a maximum. If you're only charging one device and it's still slow, your outlet is probably just undersized.
The safe solution: invest in a higher-quality outlet with at least 45-65W total output and good reviews. Or don't get rid of your old 20W power adapter - traditional power adapters are often more reliable when it comes to actual charging speed.
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