Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsGreat charger… unless you have an Apple Watch
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 22, 2023
This charger is fantastic in basically every situation except mine. It’ll charge my MacBook Air and iPhone at max speeds with a third USB-A port to spare. It’s small, fast, and convenient for travel. It can struggle in looser wall ports (and that suction-cup thing is useless), but that’s a minor gripe for me and I’ve never had that wreck my use of it.
HOWEVER, if you use that third port specifically for an Apple Watch and are using this charger for extended periods, I’d look elsewhere. This charger WILL NOT CHARGE an Apple Watch through that USB-A port after a day or so without you unplugging the cord and plugging it back in. This issue is known by Anker but is poorly communicated by their marketing. My understanding is it’s a side-effect of (otherwise good) design choices made by both Anker and Apple, and hinges on how their intelligent power delivery systems work (so do your research on other Anker products, too). I was hoping to use this charger for my laptop, phone, and watch while living away from home temporarily. I wanted a single plug I could use for all three and tuck it behind a nightstand. Sadly, I have to get a second plug now, which 100% defeats the purpose of buying this brick over the dozens of competitors. I know it’s another minor gripe, but I bought this specific brick to be a one-stop-shop. It shouldn’t be this complicated. If you’re in my situation, get a different charger.
