Ugreen 100W GaN Charger
MSRP $62.00
“The Ugreen GaN charger gives an amazing worth and is an utter no-brainer at this value”
Professionals
- Excessive energy and superefficient charging
- Compact and dependable construct
- Helps newest charging requirements together with USB-PD 3.0 and PPS
- Out there in U.S., U.Ok., and EU plug configurations
Cons
- Can fall out of the ability outlet
- Charging stops momentarily when one other machine is plugged in
You’re packing for a visit and are pressured to take alongside separate chargers for actually each smartphone, digital camera, laptop computer, set of earbuds, and each different sensible machine you’ll carry with you. Isn’t that galling? If the reply is sure, then you definately’ll have an interest to listen to that on a latest household vacation, I introduced alongside only a single multisocket quick charger — the Ugreen 100W GaN charger — to cost all of our units whereas on the journey.
I’ll clarify on this evaluation why a easy Amazon for $62 solves all of the woes associated to charging, particularly when you find yourself touring.
In immediately’s technology-dependent world, we’re continually juggling sensible units. Retaining all of them juiced up with ample battery is as important as staying updated on social media. However whereas we love to boost each aspect of our lives with these units, charging them stays to be essentially the most painful facet of proudly owning and counting on them. Some smartphone and laptop computer manufacturers similar to OnePlus and Xiaomi have tried to deal with this ordeal by launching superfast proprietary charging applied sciences. In distinction, others like Apple and Samsung make the most of non-proprietary requirements like USB-PD (Energy Supply) and PPS (Programmable Energy Provide) to dispense quicker charging on their units.
Apart from the problem of how rapidly we are able to cost our units, we face the constraints of what number of can we cost directly. The Ugreen 100W GaN charger addresses each of those constraints by permitting 4 units to be fast-charged concurrently. However earlier than delving into the specifics of this succesful machine, allow us to discover what a GaN charger is and the way it impacts charging.
What’s a GaN charger?
Silicon is a semiconductor that’s broadly utilized in circuitry for digital parts. Silicon has been used as a semiconductor for over 60 years, and scientists consider they could quickly be approaching the theoretical restrict of silicon-based chips.
GaN, or gallium nitride, is a extra environment friendly semiconductor used as a substitute for silicon. The power hole between the valence and the conducting bands on GaN is sort of triple in comparison with silicon, and this provides it a lot electrical and thermal stability at excessive voltage and temperatures.
Due to this fact, for functions with greater voltages and lengthy period, whereas silicon tends to offset lots of warmth — resulting in wasted power, GaN is a perfect alternative. GaN can also be a greater conductor of electrical energy than silicon at excessive voltage, which implies electrical present passes quicker by way of it. These properties make GaN extra fascinating for chargers.
GaN-based semiconductors require a lot smaller area to ship the identical energy as silicon. This is the reason a typical silicon chip may be changed with a GaN chip that’s a lot smaller in dimension. Consequently, GaN chargers are comparatively smaller than normal chargers whereas being extra environment friendly and delivering extra energy.
Typical GaN chargers can ship an influence output upwards of 100W, whereas some firms similar to Oppo and Xiaomi have even achieved speeds greater than 200W. At MWC 2022, Oppo demonstrated its 240W GaN charger that may cost a 4,500mAh battery to 100% in beneath 10 minutes.
However regardless of all its advantages, GaN has one main tradeoff: The manufacturing value tied to the advanced course of required to rectify its crystal defects. Due to this fact, the functions of GaN are restricted to equipment similar to chargers and haven’t been utilized to the manufacturing of smartphones and PCs.
Construct high quality
Now that we now have a good understanding of a GaN charger’s benefits, allow us to deal with the 100W GaN charger from Ugreen. The Ugreen charger has a strong development. Though the outer shell is fabricated from plastic, it feels exceptionally sturdy.
The Ugreen 100W GaN charger I acquired has a flat 3-pin plug generally used within the UK. However the firm additionally sells the identical 100W charger with plugs used within the U.S. and Europe. In comparison with the fashions designed for the U.S. and Europe, the U.Ok. model has rounder edges, however is thicker and marginally heavier. The U.S. variant weighs roughly 235 grams, whereas the U.Ok. variant weighs 245 grams. The load feels akin to the Apple 61W charger for my MacBook Professional 2020, and contemplating it replaces 4 charging bricks, it ought to solely be a bonus when you find yourself lugging it round in a backpack.
The Ugreen 100W GaN charger seems to be premium and feels strong.
Given its use of GaN, the Ugreen charger in all fairness compact and suits simply within the palm. Its heft does make it susceptible to slipping out of the ability outlet, particularly in case you are utilizing all 4 ports. That is far much less problematic for the U.Ok. variant for the reason that earthing pin does present extra stability within the socket.
The exterior shell is available in a darkish grey coloration and feels just like a brushed aluminum floor when it comes to really feel. This offers the charger a premium look, and it may even achieve fooling you that it’s fabricated from steel and never plastic. Total, the charger feels sturdy, and whereas I’d not suggest doing so consciously, it ought to be capable to stand up to some average falls.
Supported charging requirements
The highest two out of the three USB Sort-C ports on the charger assist charging at 100W — when used individually — whereas the third one is proscribed to charging at solely 22.5W. The underside-most port, i.e., the USB Sort-A port, can also be restricted to 22.5W. Though Ugreen endorses a 100W output from the charger, you could keep in mind this solely applies for those who use the charger to cost only one machine at a time.
Charging speeds on every port
The 100W energy is split among the many ports whenever you join two units. The facility output of the topmost port is decreased to 65W, whereas the second port is proscribed to 30W. The facility output of the remaining two ports stays unchanged. In the meantime, whenever you interact all three USB Sort-C ports, the utmost output of the topmost port is additional restricted to solely 45W. Lastly, when all 4 ports are getting used, the ability output of all of the ports from high to backside is 45W, 30W, 10.5W, and 10.5W, respectively.
Thus, even whenever you interact all 4 ports, you’ll be able to fast-charge a minimum of two units utilizing this charger. As well as, the 45W output is ample to drive a laptop computer that helps charging through USB — though to not cost it in a short time.
Charging protocols supported by every port
The Ugreen charger helps USB-PD 3.0 and Qualcomm’s Fast Cost 4+ by way of all three USB Sort-C ports. Alongside USB-PD, the charger additionally helps PPS — a more recent normal that permits the charger to govern output present and voltage in micro-step, thereby leading to extra environment friendly use of power and decreased waste within the type of warmth. Assist for PPS additionally implies that the Ugreen charger can pump cost into flagship Samsung telephones, together with the Galaxy S22 Extremely, utilizing any of the three USB Sort-C ports.
The USB Sort-A port on the backside helps Qualcomm’s Fast Cost 3, amongst different extra widespread charging requirements.
The large gamut of supported charging requirements means apart from your laptops, smartphones, and tablets, you can too cost your smartwatches, headphones, earbuds, wi-fi keyboards and mice, or handheld gaming consoles such because the Nintendo Swap.
Charging instances for various merchandise
Whereas Ugreen’s case seems compelling on the specs desk, real-life efficiency is what issues. To check the precise caliber of the charger, I attempted 5 completely different units with it and famous the cost taken by every machine in half-hour to ascertain a degree enjoying area. These units have been left untouched throughout the charging interval to stop various workloads from affecting the outcomes.
Listed here are my observations on the charging efficiency of the Ugreen:
- My 13-inch MacBook Professional 2020 went from 1% to 48% in half-hour utilizing the Ugreen charger. That is barely greater than what I received utilizing the usual 61W charger provided with the MacBook. Notably, the 13-inch MacBook Professional can solely obtain a cost at a most charge of 61W (you’ll find out your MacBook’s most supported energy enter on the underside case close to the show hinge). Due to this fact, the Ugreen charger’s full functionality couldn’t be utilized.
- The Galaxy S22 Extremely went from 18% to 60% in half-hour and took almost 70 minutes to finish charging. Although the Galaxy S22 Extremely helps quick charging at 45W, the charging pace doesn’t seem dazzling, particularly after we take a look at manufacturers similar to OnePlus and Xiaomi that already promote telephones with a lot quicker charging.
However Samsung is the possible perpetrator right here, as Andy Boxall, senior cell author at Digital Tendencies, famous in his evaluation of the Galaxy S22 Extremely. As seen throughout his evaluation, the distinction between a 25W Samsung charger and one rated for 45W is just marginal. In my testing, charging with the Ugreen charger shows “tremendous quick charging” on the telephone, whereas utilizing every other charger exhibits solely “quick charging.” - To check how a lot quicker I can cost a smartphone, I used the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge — a telephone that takes solely 20 minutes to cost totally and comes with a 120W charger in its field. Whereas it makes use of Xiaomi’s proprietary charging expertise to refill the battery in lower than 20 minutes, it additionally helps non-proprietary chargers with USB-PD at a most charging charge of 68W.
Throughout my testing, the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge went from 10% to 100% in simply 24 minutes when hooked to the GaN charger. This result’s nothing however spectacular. - Along with these fast-charging units, I additionally examined a few slow-charging units. First, the iPhone 11 went from 57% to 84% in half-hour of charging with the Ugreen GaN charger. Because the iPhone 11 can solely cost at as much as 22W, all three USB Sort-C ports would ship the identical efficiency. Not a lot has modified when it comes to the iPhone’s charging speeds, and the newer iPhone 13 can also be caught on the similar charging pace.
- Fnally, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 was the slowest of the lot. Whereas it’s formally restricted to 25W charging, it went from 42% to 66% in half-hour, indicating a lot slower charging. The foldable additionally received significantly sizzling, which can have led to slower charging.
This swift and versatile is the proper charger to your MacBook, Dell XPS, or Galaxy S22 Extremely.
My findings for the charging assessments are summed up within the desk beneath:
| Machine | Max supported charging charge | Change in battery % after half-hour |
| Apple MacBook Professional 2020 (13-inch, Intel) | 61W | 47% |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely | 45W (PPS), 25W (USB-PD) |
42% |
| Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge | 120W(proprietary tech), 68W (USB-PD) |
Charging accomplished in 24 minutes |
| iPhone 11 | 22W | 27% |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 | 25W | 24% |
Are there any downsides?
I’ve just a few minor gripes with the Ugreen GaN charger. First, as I discussed above, its weight makes it susceptible to falling out of the ability socket, particularly when utilizing the U.S. plug variant.
Secondly, whenever you plug in a brand new machine, the already plugged-in units will cease charging for a second. That is most likely as a result of the charging speeds readjust when a number of ports are engaged. I reckon this may sound like nitpicking and will not trouble the vast majority of the customers, but when it weren’t for this, I’d most likely give this charger an ideal rating of 5 stars.
Lastly, you can’t quick cost telephones from manufacturers like OnePlus or Oppo that provide superfast however proprietary charging.
Availability
The Ugreen 100W GaN charger is out there on Amazon for $62 (together with a $6 coupon). You may as well purchase the U.Ok. plug for 60 British kilos on Amazon UK (together with a 20-pound coupon). Lastly, in case you are in search of EU-type plug, you’ll find it on Amazon Germany for 75 euros (together with a 5-euro coupon).
Folks in Asia may also purchase it on AliExpress.
Our take
The Ugreen 100W GaN charger is a compact and charming machine that may simply change 4 of your charging bricks. Apart from being a incredible workplace or bedside gadget, the Ugreen GaN charger is the definitive resolution for journey and can ease your burden of carrying completely different chargers for various units. Apart from being the proper charging resolution that can assist you hold your work desk organized, the Ugreen 100W GaN charger can also be preferrred for those who personal a telephone or laptop computer that helps non-proprietary quick charging requirements similar to USB-PD PPS. This is the reason it is usually a superb charger to your new and glossy Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely that doesn’t include a charger throughout the field.
Is there a greater different?
If you’re in search of barely extra energy output whereas additionally with the ability to cost 4 units directly, you’ll be able to contemplate the Spigen 120W GaN charger on Amazon for $100. Nonetheless, you’ll solely get two USB Sort-C ports alongside two USB Sort-A ports and also will must shell almost $35 extra for the additional energy.
If you would like a extra reasonably priced resolution, you’ll be able to take a look at the Spigen 100W twin USB-C charger on Amazon for $48. However right here, you’ll solely get two ports and each of them shall be USB Sort-C ports.
There are just a few different manufacturers promoting superfast GaN chargers rated at 100W or greater on Amazon, and people are comparatively extra reasonably priced than the Ugreen charger. However we can’t suggest them with out testing them ourselves.
How lengthy with it final?
Ugreen tells me that the 100W GaN charger may be plugged in 10,000 instances and even contends that that is greater than the trade normal. That many charging cycles means you’ll be able to simply use it for a decade, and by then, there shall be a greater expertise that may change it.
Do you have to purchase it?
The Ugreen GaN charger gives an amazing worth and is an utter no-brainer at this value. In the event you want a flexible charger to cost up your entire units all of sudden with out grappling with a number of completely different chargers, Ugreen’s resolution is nearly good.
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