Nov 10, 2013, 7:18 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: gfunkdave

Mod note: this thread is closed. The wiki is kept here as a static article.

This thread is about USB chargers, at least four ports, at least 4A.

Currently, the following chargers are in the contest of being the best:

Monoprice 21W 3.5" x 2.1" x 1", 100V-240V, the plug rotates, several of us have this, seems a good choice.
Anker 25W / 5 port this one requires an IEC C7 ("figure 8") AC cord, same as many laptops, 3.8" x 2.4" x 1".
iXCC 30W quite high amperage, "figure 8" cable. Noone has tried it yet. Note that figure 8 cords can be replaced by a plug adapter (L-shaped and straight and even a foldable plug is available), however it's an unknown whether the adapter and the outlet can hold the weight of the adapter + cables. However, the laptop power adapter Chargesource originally sells the foldable plug for is also 5 oz -- the Anker 5 port is 0.5 oz heavier, the IXCC is 0.5 ligher, so roughly the same, so it's reasonable to believe that the Chargesource plug should work. Alternatively, a very short cable is available.
Anker 36W USB Quad-Port Very high amperage and 3.3" x 2.5" x 1" size would make it great but the fixed plugs raises concerns.
USB SuperCharger 42W this is a beast with 8.2A, but it's a giant of 4.7" x 2.4" x 1.4" size and has a fixed cord and can only work from 100-120V.
Portapow 4 port is quite nice with interchangeable molded plugs that clip on for international use. (Amazon USA link)
Anker 40W 5V / 8A 5-Port charger is a new Anker product, slightly smaller than the Anker 25W that also requires an IEC C7 AC cord, has 5 USB ports, and uses smart port technology, so you don't need to worry about whether you're plugging an Apple or Android device into a particular port. Maximum 2.4A per port. If there's a criticism, it's spotty availability, but that may be easing.
Bolse 7 port, 60 watt, 12 A. The current highest capacity charger with smart ports that automatically provide as much juice as the device wants
sabrent 10 port, 12 amp (60 watt) charger: lots of ports but too bulky for the amperage you get.
new Anker 4 port, 40 watt/8amp looks like it does it all: high power, small size, and foldable plug

Instead of a simple figure 8 cable you can also pick up this cord: it gives you two NEMA 1-15R (ungrounded USA / Japan power outlets) as well.

I have found the ultimate charger solution!

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Mar 26, 2015, 1:00 am

#466

Join Date: Jan 2013

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Personally, I do prefer the look and smaller profile of the Kickstarter version (and magnetic fold). That said, it is enormously close the the Unitek one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freecia

Mu is crowdfunding their latest flat-ish charger with interchangeable plugs
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/m...tional-charger

Love the Mu and backed this a while ago. It's so annoying that Apple don't sell their travel kits anymore, with the 12V charger and international charging heads.

Mar 26, 2015, 1:01 am

#467

chx1975

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: YVR

Programs: Aeroplan, AAdvantage

Posts: 2,100

Quote:

Originally Posted by freecia

Mu is crowdfunding their latest flat-ish charger with interchangeable plugs
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/m...tional-charger

There are interesting flat products http://www.card-tec.com/store.html here.

Mar 26, 2015, 7:31 am

#468

dtsm

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: Tri-State Area

Posts: 4,728

Quote:

Originally Posted by tentseller

That was my thinking which prevented me from pulling the trigger on this deal to add to my USB arsenal in this arms race.

Update on the Sabrent: posted a neutral 3 star review on amazon.com and Sabrent CS reached out to me, sent me replacement charger FOC. Good marketing, it worked. Charger arrived a few days later, tested it out again and this unit worked like a charm. I now have it in office, charging iPad air, two iPhones, BT speaker and once in a while a colleagues android or iOS device.

^^^
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJ79UK6

Mar 26, 2015, 11:29 am

#469

freecia

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 2,304

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK

Love the Mu and backed this a while ago. It's so annoying that Apple don't sell their travel kits anymore, with the 12V charger and international charging heads.

Apple still offers the World Travel Adapter kit which fits onto the current iPad and Macbook power bricks.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD...r-kit?fnode=3c

Amazon also has one for the kindle which includes the charger
http://www.amazon.com/PowerFast-Inte...kindle+charger

Mar 26, 2015, 12:40 pm

#470

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: London

Programs: BA Gold / OnBusiness, SPG Lifetime Plat 100, AmEx Centurion & BAPP, Superking Westin Heavenly Bed :)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by freecia

Apple still offers the World Travel Adapter kit which fits onto the current iPad and Macbook power bricks.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD...r-kit?fnode=3c

Awesome, thank you!

Mar 29, 2015, 6:48 am

#471

NYTA

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I'm about to buy the Asus T300 Chi 2-in-1 and I'm looking for a micro-usb hub where I can also charge at the same time. Can anyone recommend one? Most of the ones I have seen disconnect the USB items when a charger cable gets plugged into the hub.

Thanks!

Mar 29, 2015, 7:19 pm

#472

ScottC

FlyerTalk Evangelist

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As someone with a Nexus 6 (and therefor a huge crush on Quick Charge 2.0), I am in love with this new charger:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...3BVBKIDGIIQBDR

6 ports - 2 Quick Charge 2.0, and 4 2.4A smart ports.

My other new crush is this Quick Charge 2.0 battery pack which does both INPUT and OUTPUT in Quick Charge 2.0:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...UYUGESMMIJI4AC

I've tested both on my USB tester, and they do indeed output per spec - my Nexus 6 charges at 9V, and the battery pack also measured 9V on the charger.

With these two, I'm done for the time being.

Apr 8, 2015, 12:59 am

#473

futaris

Join Date: Jan 2000

Posts: 1,424

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottC

Looks like the perfect thing for my Galaxy Note 4.

Apr 8, 2015, 8:32 am

#474

ScottC

FlyerTalk Evangelist

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Join Date: Sep 2000

Posts: 37,486

Quote:

Originally Posted by futaris

Looks like the perfect thing for my Galaxy Note 4.

Indeed - it should support the Quick Charge 2.0. I'd also recommend picking up a cheap USB power meter - it will show the increased output power so you can test the performance:

http://www.amazon.com/DROK-Multimete...sb+power+meter

I used that one since it supports over 5V on USB.

Apr 8, 2015, 9:44 am

#475

fropones

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 70

I've been using the Bolse 7 port and it's been good. Maybe a little overkill for my at most 4 devices but useful to have the option for when I'm travelling with my girlfriend. My biggest complaint about it is that I don't love the indicator light. I like to sleep in complete darkness and find the light pretty bright at night. I'll probably put some tape over it and solve my problem.

Apr 18, 2015, 10:49 pm

#476

freecia

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 2,304

Quote:

Originally Posted by freecia

ChargeTech has supposedly started to ship based on comments so I placed my order earlier this week as I was looking for a small charger that can fit into desk/lamp/bedside outlets in Japan and North America. I'd expect earlier backers orders to be fulfilled first.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/c...etech#comments

My order hasn't been shipped yet. A different company has already put something very similar on Amazon while ChargeTech fulfillment is backlogged and double the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Aukey-External...a_1_26&sr=8-26

Apr 19, 2015, 6:24 am

#477

tentseller

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Quote:

Originally Posted by freecia

The magic of the knock off industry. With the net funding model the knock off gets to market long before the actual product is released.

Apr 19, 2015, 7:21 am

#478

mikel51

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tentseller

The magic of the knock off industry. With the net funding model the knock off gets to market long before the actual product is released.

As someone who has supported about a dozen crowd funding projects on kickstarter and indiegogo, I'd say that its pretty easy for an entity that already has infrastructure to deliver to beat the crowd funding product. In my experience, 3/4 of the projects are more than a year overdue. I definitely don't support with any expectation that the timing will be anywhere close to the estimate in their fundraising.....a significant fraction may never deliver.

Apr 19, 2015, 10:55 am

#479

jc777

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 81

The Bolse 7-port charger looks bulkier than the Anker 5-port. So for portability, the Anker would be preferred.

Apr 19, 2015, 1:17 pm

#480

ScottC

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Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2000

Posts: 37,486

Quote:

Originally Posted by tentseller

The magic of the knock off industry. With the net funding model the knock off gets to market long before the actual product is released.

Nah, not a knockoff. All these companies (Bolse, Anker, Aukey) get their stuff from the same manufacturers. Anker doesn't really make anything themselves, and neither do most of the others.