Best Portable, Multi-Port GaN Charger?

Ladd-delay on 21/02/2023 - 23:25
Last edited 21/02/2023 - 23:41 by 1 other user

Heading over to Japan, and looking to get a single multi-port GAN charger to power my MacBook Pro 14", plus charge up other family devices (couple of phones, iPad, Watch, and headphones). What's the general go-to?

I'm looking at stuff like the Satechi 100W USB-C PD Compact GaN Charger, the Mophie Speedport 120W, and the Belkin BoostUp Charge Pro 108W — particularly since they just use an external figure 8 cable so I can easily swap it out — but they all seem to be roughly the same size/weight as the standard Apple 96W charger.

But otherwise, it seems hard to get a gauge on specs and getting comparisons between brands.

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  poppingtags on 21/02/2023 - 23:50

  +1

  Have had good experience with the Satechi 165W.

  Would love the Baseus GAN chargers that also serve as a power board, but wouldn't trust them as a portable charger because of the risk of getting electrocuted by the cable that fails to meet insulation requirements in Australia. I do use one at my desk, only because I'll never unplug it.

  Coil whine seems to affect some units of GAN Chargers, regardless of the brand.

  • 

    add-delay on 22/02/2023 - 00:04

    Nice. Looks to be a souped up version of the 100W version. I did see the Baseus ones, and they look pretty nifty, but the million different eBay listings for them sets off some concern about using it to power expensive items.

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    SmileSydney on 22/02/2023 - 06:56

    There's a new Saitechi 200W GAN charger capable of delivering 140W to the MacBook Pro 16" but only via the Apple magsafe cable.

    https://satechi.net/products/6-port-gan-charger?variant=4019…

  • 

    boomramada on 22/02/2023 - 11:08

    for the price, it better be good. :)

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  tucker7B on 22/02/2023 - 00:33

  +1

  The ChargeASAP wall chargers took a long time to go from the campaign to shipping but apparently all but the last of the backers have now received their orders and the company is moving to regular purchase and shipping. I've got the 200W version and it's been working fine. https://chargeasap.com/collections/usb-c-wall-chargers-with-…

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  FullPrice on 22/02/2023 - 02:36

  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005193740857.html

  This one looks ok

  200W, 5 ports mix of C & A, GaN, a display, stand and clover cable.

  Rebranded for BH

  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1718922-REG/xcellon_p…

  Anyone use?
  Safe, good? Catch fire, explode?

  • 

    SmileSydney on 22/02/2023 - 06:57

    Crikey the Aliexpress is cheap! As you said, makes u wonder the fire danger…

    • 

      FullPrice on 22/02/2023 - 07:01

      I messed the link up.

      Need to select Plug type.

      Both about $175 AUD

      • 

        SmileSydney on 22/02/2023 - 07:02

        Ah thanks - was thinking that was exceptionally!

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  Undisrupted on 22/02/2023 - 08:58

  +1

  I use the Belkin 108W and it's been great, no coil whine, figure 8 cable, has 2 USB-A ports too for some older devices if needed which suited my needs better.
  Not a huge fan of the white but in the end doesn't matter too much as long as it is reliable and continues strong.

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  flipfire on 22/02/2023 - 09:38

  I have the Satechi 100w (2x USB-C & 1x USB-A) it wont charge my laptop if the other usb-c port is being used to charge my phone.

  • 

    add-delay on 22/02/2023 - 10:43

    Oh really? That completely defeats the point of the second USB-C port. Do you know why that's the case?

    • 

      flipfire on 22/02/2023 - 15:38

      If you have 1x USB-c device plugged in its 100w but with two it splits to 60/30w. My X1 laptop needs 65w so it gives out an incompatible charger error. What i do now is plug the laptop in USB-C and the phone in USB-A. This combination does 100w/12w

      Several of multi-port chargers have this caveat

      Speed
      1 x USB-C PD connected - up to 100W
      2 x USB-C PD connected - up to 60W/30W
      1 x USB-C PD + 1 x USB-A connected - up to 100W/12W
      2 x USB-C PD + 1 x USB-A connected - up to 60W/30W/12W

      • 

        add-delay on 22/02/2023 - 17:03

        Ah, gotcha. From a quick search, it looks like the MBP14 is ok with 60W, it'll just be slow - which is fine. If I need to fast charge then I'd just unplug the second device.

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  y on 22/02/2023 - 12:19

  Very happy with my Hyperjuice charger (2x high wattage USB-C, 2x USB-A), have bought multiple