Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


xpd

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

#322843 28-Sep-2025 16:20
Send private message

I'm fed up with having a draw full of cables and chargers that seem to be extremely picky if they're going to charge a certain device or not. So I want to bin them all, and buy a single decent wall charger, and associated cables.

 

Looking at something like : https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/PDUAKR215411/ANKER-Desktop-GaN-Charger-112W-6-Ports

 

Any +/- going down this route ? 

 

Recommended brands/models ?

 

Don't mind spending $100 odd on it as it'll be saving me some time and angst :D

 

 

 





XPD / Gavin

 

LinkTree

 

 

 


Create new topic

mdf

mdf
3566 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1519

Trusted

  #3419480 28-Sep-2025 16:28
Send private message

Sensible plan. I have several similar ones deployed where children and devices congregate. GaN is the way to go. I'd subscribe to the Pbtech daily deal thing, they often come up there. 

 

You do need to check the wattage if you're planning on charging laptops too. Almost anything will be fine for phones and the like, but some laptops need more wattage than some chargers provide. At the other end of the spectrum, if I'm charging something with a small battery overnight, I feel more comfortable doing it on a relatively low wattage charger. Probably no scientific basis for that but I seem to have issues with fast charging.

 

In terms of neatness, be aware that cables will proliferate even going to a single charger. There are various ways of mitigating (e.g. retractable or magnetic coilable cables) but I have yet to have success winning that discussion with my offspring. 




Senecio
2851 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3159

ID Verified
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419487 28-Sep-2025 17:15
Send private message

I have done the same recently.

 

I used to swear by Anker but I've had three of these fail on me Anker 120W. Thankfully all accepted back for return from PBTech. These days I prefer UGreen and have a couple of these around the house in various locations where charge things UGreen 100W. These UGreen one are often on sale (like they are now) on Amazon AU.


Jase2985
13730 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419491 28-Sep-2025 17:58
Send private message

all depends on the devices you want to charge and if 30w will be enough. We charge a Chromebook and a laptop (slowly) on our charger, so wanted to ensure it could do the maximum 100w on one port, so it slows that down as you add more devices.

 

 

 

i use these ones: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/TAABEL5788620/Belkin-BoostCharge-Pro-4-Port-GaN-USB-C-Charger-10 




xpd

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419600 29-Sep-2025 06:40
Send private message

It'll just be the smaller things such as phones, powerbanks, BT speakers etc. 

 

Its only going to be for my use and I don't have a laptop (apart from work) so not worried at that level (and if any of the family touch this charger, there shall be words :D ).

 

 

 

 





XPD / Gavin

 

LinkTree

 

 

 


robertsona
176 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 109

Subscriber

  #3419605 29-Sep-2025 07:59
Send private message

As an aside, I use one of the four port Belkin ones when traveling and it's really handy in hotel rooms with various inaccessible or shortage of outlets. But the main advantage is not having the bulk of the charger hanging off the wall plug (and adapter). 


xpd

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419613 29-Sep-2025 08:42
Send private message

Decided I'll give this a go - most of my stuff is USB-A based still so having the 3 ports is handy. 

 

Will buy some new cables as well.

 

Cheers

 

 





XPD / Gavin

 

LinkTree

 

 

 


 
 
 
 

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).
frankv
5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

  #3419750 29-Sep-2025 12:22
Send private message

It may be that your devices are where the connectivity problem is. I have a tablet that only charges with one cable.

 

I too have a 4 port hub that serves as a charger for multiple devices.

 

 


KiwiSurfer
1722 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 993

ID Verified
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419791 29-Sep-2025 15:42
Send private message

I have a 6-port desktop hub (3x USB-C and 3x USB-A) that can do up to 100w on the USB-C ports (although it does fall back to lower wattages the more things you plug into it) - works well for all my home devices. Not unusual for me to have 1x laptop, 1x power bank, 3x phones, and 1x medical devicees all charging at the same time -- and it does this without any issues.

 

I also have a 4 port travel adapter (2x USB-C and 2x USB-A) that can do up to 100w as well - also works well for laptops, phones, etc.

 

I don't have any other chargers -- the above two are all I need.

 

100w may be overkill (the 6-port shows how many watts its outputting on each port and generally never goes over 65w) but generally the 100w models are the higher specs ones overall so worth the investment IMHO. At best you get something that charges everything at full speed at worst you have the satifaction if knowing it'll charge pretty much anything.


jarledb
Webhead
3319 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1983

Moderator
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419794 29-Sep-2025 15:51
Send private message

xpd:

 

Looking at something like : https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/PDUAKR215411/ANKER-Desktop-GaN-Charger-112W-6-Ports

 

 

Been very happy with Anker, have several USB-A desktop chargers from them from before that I have had very good experiences with, and just got the GaN one you bought, and expect to be happy with that one too.

 

Love that I can easily swap cables on them, so I can use them when traveling in Europe without needing an adapter.





Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.


xpd

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419806 29-Sep-2025 16:25
Send private message

Will pick one up this week. Talking of cables now... any recommendations on brands ? 

 





XPD / Gavin

 

LinkTree

 

 

 


jarledb
Webhead
3319 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1983

Moderator
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3419811 29-Sep-2025 16:38
Send private message

I have been buying braided Anker USB cables lately. They are decent. But not the cheapest cables. Haven't had them long enough to know if they will be worth the extra cost.

 

Have also gotten some Ugreen ones. But the braided cable is a little too thick for my liking.

 

Also have some braided Xiaomi USB-A to USB-C Cables that have lasted well. Bought them in 2019, and have been using them quite a lot without any problems. 





Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.


Create new topic








Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.