Group test
Superfast compact chargers
Space-saving chargers with bags of power
Reviewed by HOLLIN JONES
ON TEST…
> Anker 737 Charger GaNPrime 120W
> Chargeasap Zeus 270W GaN USB-C
> Hyperjuice 140W PD 3.1 USB-C
> Mophie Speedport 120 4-Port GaN
> Satechi 200W USB-C 6-Port PD
> Ugreen Nexode 200W
USB-C Desktop
Many people own at least a couple of batterypowered devices with
fairly high power needs, typically a laptop and smartphone but also tablets, earbuds and battery packs.
While wireless charging is improving, it still offers slower charging speeds than wired connections and isn’t available for power-hungry devices like laptops. And it’s increasingly common that we need to charge or top up several devices at once, so high-powered chargers are becoming essential as we seek to spend less time waiting.
The use of Gallium Nitride (GaN) chips allows the creation of more compact chargers that still have a high-power output while effectively dissipating heat. These usually have several ports; their high rating means they can supply a lot of juice to multiple devices at once; and using a single, compact charger saves the hassle of carrying several around, especially when travelling. This new generation of chargers can solve all your portable power needs with the minimum of fuss.
How we tested
Since Apple’s devices have different sizes and battery capacities, we chose a baseline test of a 2020 16-inch MacBook Pro with a 100Wh battery and no fast charging and an iPhone 11 charging at the same time from empty to full. A 13-inch MacBook Pro and an iPhone SE would charge quicker due to their smaller batteries. Though the chargers supplied essentially the maximum wattage to both devices, variations in charge time arise from different levels of power efficiency.