Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Update 11-18-2011 This compact and foldable 2.1 A (2100 mA) charger can QUICKLY charge Kindle Fire or Apple iPad/iPad2 (you need a different cable for each one). It is NOT one of those "ordinary" USB chargers that outputs only 0.5 A of current. The Kindle Fire requires just 1.8A of charging current, so this charger is fine (1.8 < 2.1). It is functionally the same as Apple's 10 Watt USB charger which outputs 2.1 A, so it is also suitable for charging the iPad. You also need to buy a $6 AmazonBasics USB Cable - 2.0 A Male to Micro B (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters). Do not use one intended for your cellphone; it may not work. The total cost is $16, still much cheaper than the dedicated Kindle charger which sells for $25. Apple's 10W charger costs $35. You enjoy better utility with this charger/cable combo because they are separate, and the charger prong is foldable. Additionally, the micro USB cable can be used for copying files from your computer to the Fire, and vice versa. This is the kind of cable (USB 2.0 on one end and micro USB on the other) that some reviewers were saying that Amazon should have included in the Fire box. You can check what both look like in Customer Images on this web page. The main draw of this AmazonBasics USB wall charger is the 2100 mA current output, which is required for most modern smartphones and iPad/iPad2. You get these gadgets charged the fastest with this charger. But the shape of this charger will BLOCK adjacent power outlets if it is plugged into the wall or even an extension power strip. In this respect, it is really not an improvement over Apple's 10W USB Power Adapter. This is why I also bring along a Ziotek ZT1212518 Power Strip Liberator Plus with Pass Through, 5-Pack when I travel. It will allow all outlets to be used by extending the plug a few inches. With its pass through feature, a normal plug can be piggybacked on top of the extender plug, thereby doubling plug density (from 6 plugs to 12 plugs, for example), although the total power consumption still cannot exceed 1680 watts. It comes in a pack of 5, and the average cost is $2.65. I consider this a small price to pay for more convenience and flexibility. In summary, I do recommend this AmazonBasics charger because it works, is well-made, and costs only 1/3 the price of Apple's part.