Universal adapter vs. travel charger: Confused? Here's the device you need most

Universal travel adapter or travel-ready charger -- which do you need? Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Know what the power is in the country you're going to.

Check device voltage needs before you travel.

Remember, these do not convert voltages!

One fact of life when it comes to travel is dealing with different power outlet styles (called sockets in some countries) around the world. While USB might have come a long way to standardizing the charger-to-device pathway, the wall outlet to charger is something travelers must think about and plan for. The US wall outlet (the NEMA 5-15 for you people who like to know stuff) that outputs 120V/60Hz power isn't a worldwide standard. Not by a long shot.

Also: The 7 tech travel hacks I swear by - after years of learning the hard way

And this is just the beginning of things getting complicated. Not only will you come across different physical plugs and outlets, but the electricity can also be very different.

Plugs and outlets

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