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MagyarUGREEN Nexode RG GaN charger and Mini MagSafe power station hands-on: Aesthetics and utility
UGREEN is a popular manufacturer of chargers and battery packs for mobile devices. In its ongoing mission to meet customer's mobile power needs, the company recently released two new chargers. While one aims to bring some style to the otherwise boring world of USB-C power delivery, the other aims to roll multiple charging devices into one compact package. We'll take a look at the UGREEN Nexode RG charger and Mini MagSafe power station in this hands-on review.
Nexode RG Charger: Fast charging in a cute package
The first charger on our docket is the UGREEN Nexode RG. The appeal of this tiny USB-C charger is immediately apparent: it is designed to look like a cute robot. This aesthetic certainly stands out amidst a sea of simplified wall warts. The Nexode RG is a bit longer and wider than most USB-C wall chargers, but not by much. It shouldn't stick out too much further from the wall than most chargers do.
The Nexode RG is available as either a black-and-gray robot or a purple robot with pink accents and a rubber bow on its back (which is absolutely adorable). Both of these models offer up to 30 W of power delivery. UGREEN also sells a version of the black robot that supports up to 65 Watts of juice. Anecdotally, both of these models charge an iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Doogee S99, Nintendo Switch, and Lenovo Chromebook (via USB-C) at roughly the same speeds as similar chargers.
For example, the 30 W Nexode RG charged the iPhone 13 from 5% to 46% in 30 minutes, while an Anker Nano II 30 W GaN charger juiced the same iPhone 13 from 5% to 48% in 30 minutes. Similarly, the 65 W Nexode RG charged the Lenovo Chromebook just as fast as a generic 65 W USB-C laptop charging brick. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, Nintendo Switch, and Doogee S99 had similar results with different 30 Watt chargers.
There is a tiny LCD panel on the Nexode RG that works as a cute charging indicator. When a device is plugged in and charging, the LCD lights up with a smiling emoticon-esque face. Two upturned arches and a left angle bracket, representing eyes on a smiling face, indicate that the connected device is receiving power from the adapter. Once the device is fully charged, the left angle bracket disappears to indicate that the device's battery is full.
The last thing to note is the Nexode RG's appearance is its feet, which slide onto the prongs to protect the metal while the charger isn't in use. These feet, which look like tiny boots for the robot, are also magnetic. As such, the Nexode RG can be stuck to anything ferric, like a fridge, to store it out of the way. The feet stay secure but remain easy to slide off when the charger is needed.
Since the Nexode RG is a GaN charger, it produces significantly less heat than standard wall warts. During my use, the 30 W model never got warm to the touch, even when charging at full blast. The 65 W charger got somewhat warm but did not get hot.
All said, the Nexode RG is an effective and efficient USB-C charger that looks cute while doing its job. It's sure to stand out and could make for a nice novelty gift.
Mini MagSafe Power Station
UGREEN also sent over its Mini MagSafe Power Station. This is a countertop station that can charge up to four devices at once. Its main feature is the foldable MagSafe platform, which can adjust to any angle up to 60°. It also features two USB-C charging ports that can charge at up to 100 Watts, making them suitable to charge most laptops. There is a single USB-A port that pumps out up to 22.5 Watts, and the MagSafe platform supports charging at up to 15 Watts. The MagSafe platform is also compatible with Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5 Watts, and this worked with a variety of TWS earbud chases, Android phones, and an iPhone 8 and iPhone 11 (although none of these can benefit from the platform's magnetic attachment).
In my testing, these speeds appear to be accurate. I borrowed a friend's MacBook Pro 14, and both USB-C ports charged the laptop at the same rate as the Apple 96 W USB-C charger (which my friend included) when the laptop was the only device connected. Using multiple charging ports complicates total power output a bit, but UGREEN has a handy chart available on their website. From my personal testing, these numbers look accurate. Interestingly, though the station bears "100W" in its name, it can provide a total output of 112.5 Watts when all three USB ports and the MagSafe platform are engaged (at least, according to UGREEN). As such, users should be able to power a modest laptop and fast-charge multiple devices all at the same time through a single wall outlet.
The station uses GaN hardware and thus doesn't put out much heat. When the three USB ports are all engaged, the bottom of the unit gets very warm to the touch. It isn't hot enough to cause pain, but it is toasty. As such, users should probably not place the station on soft plastics or other materials that might warp due to extended exposure to modest heat.
The unit is built like a tank and feels premium in the hand. It's held up to being chucked in a backpack and carted to coffee shops and friends' houses, and its stood up to about two months of daily use. The MagSafe platform looks just like it did out of the box despite my slapping a phone on it at least once a day. The magnet in the platform is incredibly strong; I can pick up the entire 600 g station with my iPhone 13 when it's attached via the magnet. Essentially, an iPhone with MagSafe won't slip off the platform at any angle.
All said, the Mini MagSafe platform is a well-built multi-port charging station designed for iPhone users to clear the cable clutter at their workspace. It offers enough juice to charge most laptops, though users may need to keep a dedicated charger for the notebook if they're charging a lot of devices at once.
Conclusion
UGREEN continues to offer unique and useful charging solutions. The Nexode RG is a cute GaN charger that adds some flavor and spice to the otherwise boring world of wall warts, and the Mini MagSafe Power Station is a high-quality solution for reducing the amount of plugs needed for a workspace. Both of these charging options perform as advertised and are wrapped in a well-built case.
Both the Nexode RG and Mini MagSafe Power Station can be purchased from UGREEN's website.
You can also purchase the Nexode RG on Amazon. The Mini MagSafe Power Station is also available at Amazon.
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
