Help!!

[sandra4444]

Today I splashed out on a Samsung Galaxy A13. Am I just out of touch and I've got to buy a new wall charger. or is it a mistake in manufacturing.

The charging cable supplied got no USB at one end, both ends are phone connections?

[Buenchico]

There's a move away from using USB-A connectors (which are what most people probably think of when someone refers to a 'USB port') to using USB-C ones instead. That's fine if you've got a charger with a USB-C port on it but it makes a nonsense of the vast number of premises (from new homes to upgraded railway rooms, etc) that have the older USB-A ports built into mains power sockets!

The charger that comes with the Galaxy A13 has a USB-C port on it, as does the phone itself, which explains why both ends of the charging cable are the same:
https://www.mobilefun.co.uk/official-samsung-galaxy-a13-4g-25w-uk-wall-charger-1m-usb-c-cable-88579

Part of the reason is undoubtedly that new desktop and laptop computers are now likely to be fitted with USB-C ports, meaning that a cable with USB-C connectors at both ends will be needed to transfer files between the phone and newer computers.

If you want to be able to charge your phone from 'regular' (USB-A) ports and/or transfer files to or from older computers, you'll need to buy another cable:
Amazon.com User Recommendation?th=1

[sandra4444]

Cheers Buenchico. Seems thay can make a bit more money also selling the new socket. I thought they wanted to move away from all these different connections. Unless this new socket is up to speed with the fast charging of this phone??

[sandra4444]

Plus with this new cable I wouldn't be able to charge in the car.

[Buenchico]

The cable in my Amazon link will allow you to charge the phone in your car.

The problem really comes about because the cables that are supplied with phones are used for two different purposes. In order to be able to transfer files (such as photos) from the phone to a new computer (fitted with USB-C ports), it makes perfect sense to have USB-C connectors at both ends of the cable. However in order to be able to charge the phone from USB-A ports (found just about everywhere, including in your car), the cable needs to have a USB-A connector on one end of it. Unless Samsung were to provide two different cables with their phones (which would probably end up just confusing lots of people anyway!) they can't really win!

NB: If you decide to buy a USB-A to USB-C cable from a shop, rather than from my Amazon link above, beware of buying some of the ultra-cheap ones that some discount stores sell. For example, my local Poundstretcher had a '50% off everything offer', reducing the price of such a cable from £2 to just £1. I decided to buy one as a spare and found that, although I can use it perfectly well to charge my phone, it doesn't work when trying to transfer files to my laptop. (The original cable, and another spare that I paid a tenner for, still do the job with no problems though). You usually get what you pay for!

[sandra4444]

All good, thanks for the heads up. There is some rubbish around regarding tec stuff, but like you say price nearly always dictates good or not so great.

[Old_Geezer]

You can get adaptors.

[sandra4444]

Apart from all the above, is it the norm now for any tom dick or harry to download what they choose onto your phone and empty £7 from your PAYG account without your knowledge, and what its for?

Having gone into my PAYG account I see £5 was taken for...( Web Self care) the other £2 not really explained.
Can anyone shed any light on these charges?
Just to add I've not used the phone only charged it, and left on for a few hours in case of calls.