this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
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No seriously, I always get blank stares when I ask people, I've called them wall chargers or power bricks, my friend called them plug chargers, my fiancee calls them dongles. What do you call these around your house, like when you're asking someone if they've seen any (______)'s

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[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I second bricks. If it matters I'm in the southern US

[–] KickMeElmo@sopuli.xyz 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Interesting, for us bricks refers to the rechargable portable USB power devices they sell. I don't even know how to describe them properly without calling them "bricks" or "power bricks".

[–] habitualTartare@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Power bank would be the term or battery brick/bank if you wanted to meld both terms.

[–] Capricorn_Geriatric@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I think "brick" started because laptop chargers used to have the adapter like an actual brick (most still do).

Since phones can get away with smaller power cables, the brick got stuck onto the regular power socket.

And since they use(d) less juice, the brick isn't a brick anymore.

AFAIK batteries are power banks, but brick and bank sound alike so I guess it got lost in translation a bit.

[–] Resplendent606@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

How funny, I am in the south too.