On his podcast, Clark Howard answers real reader questions on money, credit, debt, retirement, travel, and more, along with co-host Christa DiBiase.

Clark's answer: You would think it doesn't matter, but there are actually a lot of unbranded chargers for sale on Amazon that could potentially harm your phone – and the same thing applies if you're using an Android. You really have to be careful which third-party brands you buy. A lot of these chargers come from overseas, and while some sellers are just fine, others are not reputable at all.

You also can't just rely on the user reviews on Amazon. Instead, you want to look at reviews on various tech sites, like CNET and their competitors, to see which third-party chargers are actually good and safe. Buying official branded gear – whether it's Apple or Samsung – costs a fortune. Buying third-party from a reputable brand is a great idea, but just buying any random third-party charger is not.

The exact same thing goes for your cables. If you buy cheap USB-C cables, many of them aren't worth anything and won't give you the rated charging speed. Buying a decent cable makes a real difference. In fact, Samsung phones – and Apple may do this too – will actually alert you on screen if you plug in a really crummy cable. Buying cheap knockoffs just isn't worth the risk to your device.