Anker Nano II Charge review

CNN
–

Anker’s latest Nano II chargers are tiny and fast.

With three separate models that deliver between 30 watts and 60 watts of power, Anker aims to provide a model for any device you might need to charge. We’ve spent the last few weeks with the Nano II 30W, 45W and 60W and call them the ultimate tech accessory. Not only do they build on the original $ 16.99 Anker Nano brick, but with upgraded hardware inside, they’re more efficient and run even cooler.

Here’s the most interesting thing, though – the Nano II 60W is a bit heavier, but about a quarter the size of a 65-watt Apple brick and can deliver roughly the same amount of power. It’s a truly pocket-sized brick that can power a MacBook Air, Surface Laptop 4, Surface Book 2, or even a 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is really impressive. Let’s break them down.

Anker’s three Nano II chargers deliver on the promise of fast charging times in a design that doesn’t weigh you down or get too hot during use. To us, these are the ultimate tech accessory and we think adding them to your collection makes a lot of sense.

And if you just want a better way to charge your phone, the original Anker Nano is still a great option.

As we said when we previewed the Anker Nano last fall, the secret to a tiny, fast-loading brick is a hardware change. Anker effectively replaces electrical silicon components with gallium nitride (GaN), creating a new set of cooler and more efficient parts. For Nano II, Anker uses GaN II, which can run twice as fast – hence the major wattage improvements – and still just as efficient.

They are all equipped with Anker’s Power Delivery System to ensure safe operation and minimize the risk of overheating. On that last point, these three new bricks are also a bit cooler and, in our testing, only got hot to the touch during a long charging session.

Each Nano II charger offers a single USB-C port on the front but does not include a cable in the box. This is because if you pick up a smartphone this year, iPhone 12 or Galaxy S21 included, you will receive a cable with a USB-C end that can be used with these chargers. Likewise, the iPad Pro, Galaxy Tab S7, and many laptops also go for this standard. We also have our top picks for USB-C cables and Lightning cables.

Rather than a classic white construction all around, Nano II opts for a more elegant (IMHO) silver and dark gray color scheme. You feel like these can deliver some serious power. The $ 29.99 Nano II 30W is roughly the same size as a 5-watt charger and the original 20W Nano charger. It has become our new go-to product, especially for the power it can deliver for the size of the wall brick.

In our testing, the Nano II 30W charged an iPhone 12 to over 50% in just 25 minutes. Bigger devices like a Nintendo Switch or iPad take a bit longer to boot up, but will eventually speed up the charging rate. It should be noted that although many devices may quickly display a higher percentage, the charge slows down as it approaches 100%. This is the case with most lithium-ion devices.

The $ 35.99 Nano II 45W offers the same fast charging times with an iPhone or Android device, but offers the ability to charge select laptops and tablets as well. In our testing, it rose to the challenge of a MacBook Air, Surface Laptop Go, iPad Pro, Galaxy Tab S7, and eighth-generation iPad. It’s a wide range, but don’t expect super-fast charge times here. The Nano II 45W is also a bit larger than the 30W but has foldable outlets, which makes portability easier. It is similar to the design of the Belkin 30 watt quick charge plug.

The most impressive of the bunch is Anker’s $ 39.99 Nano II 60W, which can handle charging full-size laptops with extra speed. It’s also very fast at charging an iPhone, capable of reaching 50% on an iPhone 12 in about 20 minutes. The 60 watt brick is the largest of Anker’s Nano chargers, but also quite small compared to the Apple 61W brick. It’s about a quarter the size and stays much cooler when charging a laptop, even a 16-inch MacBook Pro.