We're lucky that most devices these days have the same USB-C port to charge (Thanks EU?). The number of things I carry with me that I need to charge has exploded: a laptop, a phone, a gaming device (Switch / Retro handheld), maybe a pocket light and camera. I'm happy that I only need 1 power plug to charge everything, but juggling cables throughout the day isn't easy.
Both Anker and Ugreen released a few desktop chargers this year. Sometimes it feels like those 2 companies are the same. I grabbed the 300W Nexode charger by Ugreen to see if it could upgrade the way I manage this pile of power hungry gear.
Price
At the time of writing:
- Ugreen Website↗
- Price: $169.99 (USD) / £149.99 (GBP)
- Amazon↗
- Price: $135.99 (USD) / £129.99 (GBP)
I purchased mine off Amazon for £129.99 since it was the cheaper option.
In the Box
- The 300W desktop charger
- An AC adapter for your region
- A 5 Foot/1.5m 240W USB-C to USB-C cable
- A manual and user guide
I purchased a bunch of USB-C to USB-C cables separetly too.
Checking the Ports
- Up to 140W on the C1 top USB-C port
- Up to 100W on the C2/C3 middle USB-C port
- Up to 45W on the C4 bottom USB-C port
- Up to 22.5W on the USB-A port
With 300W, you cannot max out all the ports. The charger balances the power output automatically. Preffer the top port when charging. My 2 gaming laptop only accept 100W on their USB-C ports at most. The 45W USB-C would still be able to slowly charge them.
It's nice to still have a "legacy" USB-A port. Many cheaper device - like retro handheleds - aren't compatible with modern USB-C charging.
Testing
For testing, I'm using a USB-C power meter.
Charging Multiple Devices
In this first test, I plugged my gaming laptop on the C1 port, ran some heavy load software to make sure it was pulling 100W, then plugged in additional devices to charge.
I'm happy to report that the charger was able to continue delivering close to 100W to the laptop for the 1h I tested and it didn't get too hot either.
Charging a Laptop while Gaming
Gaming laptops still come with an AC adapter and for good reasons. GPUs require a ton of power to opperate. I was curious to see if 100W was enough to game without compromise or if carrying the dedicated AC adapter was still needed.
I ran a series of 3DMark benchmarks, making sure the power settings were on "Best Performance":
| Test | Score | % Difference |
|---|---|---|
| With Adapter (240W) | 1741 | - |
| On Battery | 1307 | -25% |
| With USB-C (100W) | 1288 | -27% |
Unfortunatly powering through USB-C yields no advantage here and the performance is comparable to being on battery only.
My Thoughts
The Nexode 300W charger is definetly a beast, but comes at a cost. I don't think it's for everyone since you can get a 2/3 USB-C plugs for that price. 100W/140W plugs are expensive though and I like the fact that I can now charge all my devices in one place.