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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
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I highly recommend this car charger for quick charging on the go - and it's cheap
The start of spring and summer is a great time to pick up useful smartphone accessories that can improve your overall quality of life -- especially before vacation season.
Also: Amazon Spring Sale live blog 2026: Top Amazon deals still live
Right now, the Lisen Retractable Car Charger is on sale for $16 at Amazon, a 35% discount off its original $25 price. Multiple models are seeing the price drop. The one that I recommend is the all-gray option. But if you want something with more pizzazz, Lisen also has an all-black and a black-pink car charger for $30. The most expensive charger is the white-pink option, which is $40.
I actually own a Lisen car charger myself. I bought it last year during last year's Amazon Big Spring Sale, and I loved it so much that I ended up buying a second one for my dad to put in his car. What I enjoy most about it is how fast it charges my devices. It outputs 60W of power. I can plug in my phone for 15 minutes while I'm getting gas or dropping off a package, and it goes from 30% to almost 100% in that time.
It comes with two cables. One supports the USB-C standard to recharge modern phones, while the other is a Lightning cable for older iPhones. If those are being used, you can plug your cable into either the 3A USB-C or the 2.4A USB-A input. True to its name, the cables are retractable. The length of cables depends on which model you get. I have the 31.5-inch charger, which is perfectly fine for my small sedan. It can reach all the way in the back. If you have a larger car, such as an SUV, you can purchase either the 39-inch or 47.24-inch options to reach further back.
It plugs directly into a vehicle's cigarette lighter. That's how it receives power. The power brick rests on a 180-degree hinge, letting you adjust its position so it doesn't bump into the stick shift. I should mention that in the listing, you'll see specific smartphone models. You can ignore those. This charger is compatible with all phones that support either the Lightning or USB-C cable. I own an OnePlus 13R, which isn't on the list, and it works just fine with the charger.
If your device doesn't support either standard, you can always use the accompanying ports. Once you're done with charging, simply yank the cord back, and it'll return to the Lisen Retractable Car Charger intact.
How I rated this deal
As per ZDNET's rating system, I grant this deal a 4/5. However, in my heart, I give this a 5/5. I love the Lisen Car Charger. It's vastly improved my personal life. I can plug in my phone for 30 minutes and have enough juice to last me through Los Angeles traffic during rush hour. And the fact that it's nearly impossible to tangle the cable makes me love it even more. If there's a birthday coming up or you want a nice present for yourself, I recommend getting this charger.
When will this deal expire?
Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals so you can score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks the deals we share to ensure they are still live and available. It's possible that the deal for the LISEN Retracable Car Charger will continue past Amazon's Big Spring Sale, but we don't know for sure.
We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
How do we rate deals at ZDNET?
We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.
In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.
At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.

Facts Only

* ZDNET Recommends is presenting a deal on the Lisen Retractable Car Charger at Amazon
* The charger has 2 retractable cables, one for USB-C and one for Lightning
* It outputs 60W of power and can charge devices quickly
* The charger plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter and has a flexible power brick
* Multiple models are available with varying lengths of cables

Executive Summary

In this article, ZDNET Recommends presents a deal on the Lisen Retractable Car Charger, currently discounted by 35% to $16 at Amazon. The charger, which outputs 60W of power, comes with two retractable cables that support both USB-C and Lightning standards. It can charge devices quickly, with the author claiming it can bring a phone from 30% to nearly 100% in just 15 minutes. The charger plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter and has a flexible power brick for easy positioning. Multiple models are available, with the recommended option being an all-gray one.

Full Take

In this analysis, we will use the SKEPTICAL MODE as the article is a news report.
1. STEELMAN: ZDNET Recommends is promoting a deal on the Lisen Retractable Car Charger at Amazon, with a 35% discount bringing its price to $16. The charger, which boasts fast charging capabilities, comes with two retractable cables supporting both USB-C and Lightning standards. It can plug into a vehicle's cigarette lighter and has a flexible power brick for easy positioning.
2. PATTERNS DETECTED: ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey, ARC-0017 Emotional Appeal
The article presents the charger as a great buy for personal use or as a gift, appealing to readers' desire for convenience and improved quality of life. However, the author doesn't discuss any significant drawbacks or alternatives, creating a false dichotomy between this product and inferior options (Motte-and-Bailey).
The author shares a personal anecdote about owning and loving the charger, using emotional language like "improved my personal life" to influence readers' purchasing decisions.
3. ROOT CAUSE: The article is part of a larger trend in tech journalism where reviews and recommendations are used to drive sales, often through emotional appeals or by highlighting key product features without providing comprehensive information about potential drawbacks or alternatives.
4. IMPLICATIONS: This type of content can influence readers' purchasing decisions but may not always provide them with a complete picture, potentially leading to dissatisfaction or buyer's remorse if the product doesn't meet expectations in other areas. The author benefits from affiliate commissions when readers click through and make purchases.
5. BRIDGE QUESTIONS: Is this charger truly the best option available on the market? What other factors, such as build quality or customer support, should potential buyers consider before making a purchase decision? How does the speed of charging compare to other car chargers on the market?
6. COUNTERSTRIKE SCAN: The article doesn't show signs of being part of a coordinated influence campaign, but it is important for readers to be aware that affiliate marketing can create financial incentives for writers to promote certain products over others.

Sentinel — Human

Confidence

This article appears to be human-written. The author provides a detailed and personal review of a car charger, including their own experience with the product.

Signals Detected
low severity: sentence length variance
medium severity: absence of idiosyncratic emphasis, personal voice
low severity: no claims attributed to sources that seem unusually convenient or hard to verify
Human Indicators
evidence AGAINST synthetic origin: varied sentence structure, personal anecdotes, subjective opinions, detailed product description
I highly recommend this car charger for quick charging on the go — Arc Codex