This adorable Qi2 wireless charger is the iPhone 16 accessory I didn’t know I needed
- by Anoop Singh
- 4
There’s little nowadays that differentiates one charger or cable from another. Every decent charger uses GaN (gallium nitride) technology and is brimming with ports that push out insane amounts of power.
They also all look pretty much the same.
Accessory maker Ugreen is breaking the mold and bringing a friendly face to charging — a groovy robot face!
Also: I tested this USB-C cable with a digital display, and can’t go back to basic cables
If you’ve been keeping up with Ugreen products, you might remember the Nexode RG 65W 3-port USB charger that I reviewed earlier this year. This charger has an LCD face that displays the charger’s status, whether in standby, fast charging, or simply plugged in.
Ugreen has now taken this further with a new Uno line of chargers, and has even thrown a cable into the mix.
I’ve been testing two of the chargers.
First up is the Uno Nexode 100W 4-port charger. This charger features four ports — three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port. With four devices plugged in, you get 45W, 30W, and 7.5W from the USB-C ports, and a further 7.5W from the USB-A port.
On the front is a TFT display that shows different faces for fast charging, standby, and trickle charging modes.
This is a brilliant charger that retails for $60 on Amazon (it’s currently $48 for Amazon Prime members).
Next up is the Uno Qi2, a 25W 2-in-1 charging stand that features the new Qi2 wireless charger for up to 20W max, a USB-C output port that can output a modest 5W for earbuds and smartwatches, and another USB-C port for input.
Again, this is a high-quality charging stand. The Qi2 charging pad outputs as expected, uses super-powerful N48H magnets, and has advanced features such as foreign object detection.
Also: The best GaN chargers you can buy: Expert tested
And yes, this one makes faces — one for when it’s charging and another when it’s on standby.
This model doesn’t come with a charger — you will need something with a minimum of 30W output (Ugreen makes a perfect charger). On the plus side, you do get a 3.3 ft USB-C to USB-C cable, and it will only set you back $70 on Amazon ($49 if you’re a Prime member).
Finally, Ugreen has the Uno USB-C cable that supports power delivery up to 100W and data transfer speeds up to 480Mbps speed. This cable comes in four lengths — 1.6, 3.3, 6.6, and 10 feet — with prices ranging from $9 to $16.
And yes, the cable has a tiny LCD that features a face when power goes through it. It’s not the most practical use for an LCD fitted to a cable I’ve seen — that award goes to the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 USB-C cable, where the LCD is attached to a meter that shows the power going through the cable.
Still, it’s cute and different.
I’m a big fan of Ugreen hardware. Everything is solid and well-built using cutting-edge tech, passes every test I throw at it, and lasts for years. Plus, if you want something a little different, this new Uno line of charging hardware offers you just that.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET There’s little nowadays that differentiates one charger or cable from another. Every decent charger uses GaN (gallium nitride) technology and is brimming with ports that push out insane amounts of power. They also all look pretty much the same. Accessory maker Ugreen is breaking the mold and bringing a friendly face to charging…
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET There’s little nowadays that differentiates one charger or cable from another. Every decent charger uses GaN (gallium nitride) technology and is brimming with ports that push out insane amounts of power. They also all look pretty much the same. Accessory maker Ugreen is breaking the mold and bringing a friendly face to charging…