Optimize your recharge needs with the might of UGREEN.
Are you tired of trying to find real estate for all of your USB powered devices? Look to the 300W GaN beast from UGREEN. Enjoy up to 300W Max output from the 4 USB-C and 1 USB-A port, a 240W capable fast charging USB-C cable, and a 6.6 foot wall plug. Heavy duty rubberized feet, vertical orientation, stacked USB-C x4, USB-A x 1 ports will reduce toppling/sllding/drifting of the Nexode 300 GaN Device on your nightstand/desk. Take the device on the road or upgrade your desk/nightstand with the Nexode 300W GaN charger
- Design
- Ease of use
- Power Output
- Power Cables
- Cost
Optimize your recharge needs with the might of UGREEN
As a Xennial, I have had the luxury of an analog childhood and a tech-filled digital adolescent and adult life. I knew a time before cords, cables, and USB powered everything, and I watched as tech quickly outpaced the charging capabilities of my home and dorm. From the 80s-90s stereo systems to entertainment centers, gaming consoles/setup, computer systems, etc., many dorms and homes relied on power strips to expand beyond the standard two-port outlet, sometimes encroaching on fire-hazard territory.
Before USB cables/chargers were commonplace, each device shipped with a type A/B wall plug. Unfortunately, many companies shipped an unwieldy, humongous, oddly-shaped AC adapter plug. Each upgrade or acquisition required another rousing game of cable Tetris, where the contestant needed to attempt to fit the various AC adapters onto a power strip. Thankfully, some power strips arranged the outlets perpendicularly, allowing more devices to charge simultaneously.
I don’t exactly know how or when we became such a tech-heavy home, but it is now hard to miss viewing some digital or smart device in any room of my home. We have slowly amassed several iPad Minis, iPad Pros, MacBook Pros, Echo Dots, iPhones, headphones/earbuds, and other USB-powered electronics. Each of the devices requires USB power, and some provide their own large wall charging block.
As an example, my MackBook Pro 15” had a single 87W USB-C charging adapter, while my iPad Pro 12.9” had 30W single USB-C power adapter. The 87W charger alone weighed 10.2 ounces and measured 3 1/8 inches square by 1 1/8 inches thick. With so many devices requiring power, it is wasteful and inefficient to use single-port chargers. Thankfully, many companies have moved from silicone to Gallium Nitride technology, which allowed for smaller, more heat-efficiency multi-port chargers.
Packaging
The UGREEN Nexode 300W 5-Port GaN Fast Charger arrived in a 6 1/2 inches long by 4 7/8 inches wide by 4 1/4 inches thick retail package. Instead of using a generic white colored background, UGREEN stepped up the cool factor with a glossy black base color. The color/texture served as the perfect backdrop for the white-colored UGREEN company name along the top left, four grey product feature icons along the left (PD 3.1 140W max Single Port Charging, GaN Higher Efficiency & Less Heat, Fast Charge 5 devices at once, 1.5m/4.9ft USB-C Fast Charging cable), the “300W 5-Port PD GaN Fast Charger” name along the lower left, and the golden-colored NEXODE name along the bottom right of the cover panel.
Each of the above features provided a convenient border for the sleek image of the UGREEN 300W hub, the main showcase of the panel. I liked that the user could see the five USB outputs (four USB-C and one USB-A), and I felt that the USB-C centric ratio better represented modern tech trends. I respect the font choices, the layout, the quality of the imagery, the use of contrasting shades, dead space, and the slightly subdued grey icon fonts.
The rear panel listed the white-colored UGREEN name along the top, followed by an attractive, although generic image of GaN circuitry. Beneath the image, you will find a re-listing of the four icons on the front cover, followed by a helpful tech-spec table. Despite the visual appeal of the contrasting colors and imagery, the table provided the most useful information. The device promises 100-240V 50/60Hz 4.2A max input, 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 28V/5A USB-C1 output [140W Max], 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A USB-C2/3 output [100W Max], 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/2.25A USB-C4 output [45W Max], 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A 10V/2.25A USB-A output [22.5W Max], for a total of 300.0W Max output. Like the cover panel, the top panel successfully utilized the contrast between the metallic-golden Nexode name and the black backdrop.
I enjoyed the visual appeal and the “pop” of the Nexode name against the dark void. The bottom panel listed the company contact information, registration information, product manufacturing labels, and SKU barcode. As mentioned above, UGREEN did a great job showcasing its product and drawing in the consumer.
UNBOXING
I slid the outer slipcover away from the black-colored inner box and then removed the top half of the inner box. I removed the plastic-wrapped, 13.6 ounce, 4 3/8 inches long by 3 3/4 inches tall by 2 1/16 inches thick charging brick from the lower box. Beneath the charging hub, you will find a thin black cardboard separator that covered a lower cubby. The cubby contained a 6.6 foot/2.2-meter charging cable, ~5-foot long USB-C to USB-C cable, user manual, and FCC/IC statement card. The multilingual (EN, ES, JP, CN) 13-panel manual laid out the package contents, how it works, specifications table for the charger/power cable/fast charging cable (rear panel of packaging), and then a very useful segment on power distribution for 1/2/3/4/5 port use.
You can expect 140W, 100W, 100W, 45W, 22.5W output for the individual ports and single port use. For dual-port utility, when USB-C1 is paired with either USB-C2 or 3, you can expect 140W/100W output. When USB-C1 is paired with USB-C4, you could expect 140W and 45W output. When paired with USB-A1, you can expect 140W/22.5W. If you pair USB-C2 and USB-C3, you will have up to 100W/100W output. If you pair either USB-C2 or USB-C3 port with USB-C4, you will have 100W and 45W output. If you pair either port with USB-A1, you will have 100W/22.5W output. Lastly, if you pair USB-C4 with USB-A1, you can expect 45W and 22.5W output.
The manual further delineates the outputs based on three, four, and five port occupancy. When using ports USB-C1 through USB-C3, the device will output up to 140W/100W/60W. If you use USB-C1, USB-C2 (or USB-C3), and USB-C4, you will have 140W/100W/45W. If you use USB-C1, USB-C2 (or USB-C3), and USB-A1, you will find 140W, 100W, 22.5W power output. If you use USB-C1, USB-C4, and USB-A1, you can expect 140W, 45W/22.5W. If using USB-C2 through USB-C4, you will have up to 100W/100W/45W. Pairing USB USB-C2, USB-C3, and USB-C5 you can have 100W/100W/22.5W. Pairing USB-C2, USB-C4, and USB-C5, you could enjoy up to 100W/45W/22.5W output.
Finally, if you pair USB-C3 through USB-C5, you will enjoy 100W/45W/22.5W power. The four-port charging options included five configurations: 1. USB-C1 through USB-C4 (140W/60W/60W/30W). 2. USB-C1 through USB-C3 plus USB-A1 (140W/60W/60W/22.5W) 3. USB-C1 plus USB-C2 plus USB C4 and USB-A1 (140W/100W/30W/22.5W). 4. USB-C1, USB-C3, USB-C4, USB-A1 (140W100W/30W/22.5W). 5. USB-C2 through USB-A1 (100W/100W/45W/22.5W). Lastly, the five port configuration allowed up to 140W/60W/45W/20W/22.5W respectively. I am aware that this may be difficult to follow. Please see the image from the manual for additional clarification as the setup was laid out very well.
240W Fast Charging USB-C to USB-C Cable
I was both surprised and impressed that UGREEN included an accessory fast-charging cable with this kit. Furthermore, the cable’s quality made it difficult to relegate it to a sidekick role rather than a hero. The black-braided USB-C to USB-C charging cable measured 60 3/8 inches long. Each end of the cable had a 5/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches tall by 3/32 inches thick metallic prong attached to a 7/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches thick by 5/8 inches tall oval neck segment. The neck segment had a metallic grey outer cover with the UGREEN name etched onto the surface.
The black font of the UGREEN name contrasted nicely against the metallic background and provided a visually appealing experience. The neck segment attached to the 8/16 inches tall by 7/16 wide collar segment, which tapered down to the 3/16 inches diameter cable. I plugged each USB-C prong in/out of the UGREEN Nexode device and in/out of an Apple 87W charging block. I gripped each prong and neck segment and attempted to bend the prongs. I gripped the collar/neck segment and tried to remove the cover. I also gripped and bent the cable at the collar/cable junction. I was pleased with the robust nature and overall design of the 240W/5A max cable, and with the convenient hook-loop cable management strap.
Testing
Even though the Nexode 300W charger could be used for on-the-go portable power, comfortable travel may be a bit difficult with the weight approaching a pound. The four USB-C and single USB-A outputs provided the equivalent power of 5 single charging blocks in a smaller space, reduced clutter on my desk or end table. The vertically spaced USB ports along the front of the NEXODE GaN fast charger were well-spaced, easy to access, and well-portioned toward USB-C.
I loved the dark grey face with lighter metallic side panel accents, the dark/bold 300W logo on the side panel, and the dual 1 5/8 inches wide by 11/16 inches thick rubberized anti-slip feet at the base. The build felt solid, secure, and safe. The dark-grey rear panel listed the product specifications and provided the input point for the three-prong power adapter port. I plugged the female end of the power cord into the Nexode hub and then plugged the male Type A wall outlet prong into one of my wall outlets.
I liked the design of the type A prong, which matched the shape of the old Magnetic MacBook charger. The Nexode had no lights, no LED, no fanfare, had no bells, no whistles, no fan, and just provided simple ready-to-access power. The devices weight, vertical mounting status, and rubberized feet prevented the device’s slippage upon my desk once the USB plugs were installed. My only complaint was with the lack of cable management once the USB cables were installed.
I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the USB-C1 port, and then the included USB-C to USB-C cable between the multimeter and my iPad Pro Gen 5 12.9”. The multimeter displayed 15.07V/2.35A. I removed the multimeter and plugged the device into USB-C2 (15.16V/2.34A), USB-C3 (15.12V/2.33A), and USB-C4 (15.16V/2.33A). For the second test, I plugged my MacBook Pro 15” 2018 into USB-C 1 (20.05V/4.09A), USB-C2 (20.21V/2.55A), USB-C3 ( 20.15V/2.20A), and USB-C4 (19.98V/1.86A). I then ran a test with three devices charging simultaneously. I plugged my MacBook Pro into USB-C 1, my iPad Pro into USB-C2, and my iPhone 14 Pro Max into USB-A 1. I used two Klein tools multimeters for the USB-C ports and a DROK USB-A Multimeter for the USB-A port. Starting at 8:45 PM, my MacBook Pro was at 48% (20.06V/3.81A), IPad Pro at 8% (15.16V/2.36A), and iPhone 14 Pro Max at 35% (5.14V/2.04A). By 9:03, the MacBook Pro was at 67% power (20.04V/3.29A), IPad Pro increased to 22% power (15.16V/2.40A), and the iPhone 14 Pro Max increased to 46% (5.14V/2.05A).
By 9:16 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 77% (20.08V/2.10A), iPad Pro at 35% (15.15V/2.43A), and iPhone 14 Pro Max at 57% (5.13V/1.88A). By 9:34 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 89% (20.05V/2.33A), iPad Pro at 54% (15.15V/2.49A), and the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 71% (5.13V/1.72A). By 9:50 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 100% Power (20.11V/1.68A), the iPad Pro was at 68% Power (15.15V/2.29A), and the iPhone was at 80% power (5.11V/0.17A). By 10:16 PM, my iPad Pro was at 85% (15.16V/2.08A), while the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 80% (5.11V/0.2A), but the phone entered into optimized charging mode. By 10:49 PM, my iPad was at 95% (15.14V/0.93A), and fully charged by 11:08 PM.
At one point, I had four USB-C and one USB-A powered device (Apple Watch ULTRA) charging through the Nexode 300W GaN Fast Charger. I charged my devices several times over the past week, utilizing several configurations, and found the size dissipated the heat quite well. The surface of the unit did get hot to the touch, but the rubberized feet prevented any of the surface from touching my desktop. UGREEN advertises thermal monitoring, and I was pleased with the ability of the GaN tech to regular the heat despite charging four devices. Had this setup used silicone instead of gallium tech, I believe the device would have required its own powered cooling system. Thankfully, the device was hot but not uncomfortably or dangerously hot.
Even though I never required 140W output for a single device, the USB-C1 was still optimized for the more power-hungry tech. I loved that I could charge two laptops, and two iPads plus a phone, or use a USB-C to lightning for my phone and plug in a cable for my Apple Watch Ultra. The robust nature/design of the Nexode 300W GaN fast charger allowed me to remove other charging bricks from my nightstand for a single convenient solution. I would have loved a single power outlet from the top or back of the device and believe it may be the only true negative for the price point.
When compared to a few other mixed-type hubs (USB and power outlet) like the one from BESTEK, and UGREENS 65W GaN multi-hub, the Nexode GaN 300W output could not be matched and did not provide PD3.1/QC 3.0 or 140W/100W power options. Many Hubs limit the user to 45-65W power from a USB outlet, and do not allow for 300W total power. However, the inability to add Type A/B plug-ins to the Nexode 300W GaN charger could limit the device for some. Historically, I have always found a benefit to having at least a single extra power outlet.
Summary
Despite the lack of a wall outlet, the sleek surface matched the tacticool appearance of the packaging. The dark and light metallic accents paired nicely with my computer ensemble and looked great on my nightstand. The heft, rubberized feet, and vertical/stacked design ensured that the device remained upright and did not slip/slide. The surface was quite fingerprint and dust resistant, whereas the rubberized feet appeared to be dust magnets.
The manual did an exceptional job laying out the power outputs; my tests with the three multimeter devices showed that my devices charged optimally (although I never got above ~80W from the MacBook Pro). If you are looking to expand your charging capabilities, to reduce the clutter on your nightstand/computer desk, and to decrease the number of charging bricks in your drawer, look to UGREEN to keep your devices ever-ready.
AT ~$250-270, the device may exceed many users’ price expectations. Why not simply buy two smaller GaN chargers and drive down the ~0.85-90 cents/W cost that the 300W Nexode demands? For those more interested in portability, the lighter chargers may also provide a better packable option. However, the benefit of the 300W charger is the 140W output of USB-C1 and the ability to provide power to modern devices rapidly.
If you had space in your carryon or luggage for a single charger for your camera, MacBook, Switch, Apple watch, iPhone, iPad, etc, the 300W Nexode will charge 5 devices simultaneously without effort. This may be a perfect cruise ship charger thanks to the five outlets and relatively compact design.
I love that the 140W output provided future-proofing as tech improves power transmission through USB-C. Hopefully, as the price of tech decreases with time, the price per Watt will come down closer to 50 cents or even below. At nearly 90 cents/Watt, the premium appears to be rather steep.
3 Comments
Hello,
Did brand sent you to review or you have purchased this to review?
Hello and thanks for visiting Macsources.com. The 300W GaN NEXODE charger was sent as a pre-release/launch review by the company. I have purchased and own several UGREEN products and have really not experienced any issues or concerns with the Nexode line of products. The GaN tech has really changed charging and is quickly becoming industry standard (if not already there). The cost of the device may seem rather steep, but the output is incredible. I have purchased a few of the 200W Nexode chargers and utilize them regularly. I have been very pleased with the 300W GaN Nexode and feel it is well built/designed.
Thanks again for visiting the site and asking questions.
Best,
Jon
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your review, keep up the good work. I am interested in this product, but I would like to know if 90W + 90W + 65W output is possible for 3-port configuration?