When you own multiple devices, keeping them charged while having a clean setup can be tricky. Using a dedicated charging station can help make this seamless while reducing clutter. The Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger can wirelessly charge your iPhone while powering your MacBook, tablet, or smartwatch. But does it deserve a spot on your desk? Let’s find out.
Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger
The Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger is a solid option for your desktop setup if you want to quickly and conveniently charge your smartphone and a laptop or tablet simultaneously without taking up too much space.
Unboxing and Contents
The unboxing experience of the Ugreen charger is straightforward. In the box, you get the charger itself, the power cord, and some documentation. All you have to do to get up and running is connect the power cord to the desktop charger and plug in into your power outlet. The documentation included lists the specifications, some tips for using the product, and an explanation of the power distribution.
The Design
The Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger features a fairly neat, tower-like design, with a wireless charger on the top and two types of USB ports on the front. It features rubber on the base and weighs around 591g, so it won’t move around on your desk easily. For example, you can take an iPhone 14 Pro Max off the magnetic charge pad without it toppling over.
It certainly is a different kind of charging solution than a charger like the MagSafe Duo. Apple’s own 2-in-1 charger for the iPhone and Apple Watch was perfect for travel with its folding design. But, thanks to the tower-like design, Ugreen’s 2-in-1 doesn’t occupy much surface area on a table or desk.
MagSafe Support
If you own an iPhone 12, iPhone 13 or 14, you’ll be happy to know that the Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 Desktop Charger supports MagSafe. For those unfamiliar withMagSafe, it lets you magnetically connect accessories to most modern iPhone models. Utilizing MagSafe, the Ugreen charger lets you dock your iPhone to the wireless charger easily and keeps it in place—no awkward clamping required.
The wireless charging pad is also adjustable. So, if you want your iPhone upright on your desk to view notifications while charging, the Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 Desktop Charger allows it. Additionally, since the wireless charger can be propped up at an angle, using StandBy, a new feature in iOS 17, is also possible. StandBy displays information you can view at a glance, such as the weather, news, stocks, and more, when the phone rotates to landscape on a MagSafe dock.
Charging Multiple Devices at Once
In addition to being a wireless charger that supports MagSafe, the Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 Desktop Charger has a total output of 100W and includes two USB-C ports and a USB-A port. The USB-C ports allow you to power a laptop, such as a MacBook Pro or Air, since the ports support up to 100W when nothing else is plugged in and charging. According to the documentation, when an iPhone is on the wireless charger, the USB-C ports should drop to 65W, which can still power a laptop. For the USB-A port, it outputs a maximum 22.5W.
Lastly, the wireless charger puts out up to 15W of power. While using wireless charging isn’t as fast as wired charging speeds, it gets the job done if you are not in a giant rush to charge your phone. To gauge how fast you can charge an iPhone with the Ugreen charger, I put an iPhone 14 Pro at 32% remaining battery on the wireless charger, and in a little less than two hours, the iPhone hit 100%.
Moreover, in case you were curious, you can charge more than two devices at a time. For example, you can charge three smartphones like the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Galaxy S22+, and Z Flip 4 at the same time. If you need more flexibility when it comes to charging, you may want to check out theUgreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger, which lets you power up to five devices.
You may be wondering how warm the Ugreen 2-in-1 gets during charging. The base does not feel warm when you connect just a smartphone to the Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 Desktop Charger. However, when I charged an iPhone and a 14-inch MacBook Pro simultaneously, the charger certainly got warm, which is to be expected. But it’s important to note that it doesn’t get too hot to touch.
The results were also acceptable in terms of how long it takes to charge a laptop with an iPhone connected to the charger. It took a little over an hour and a half to recharge a 14-inch MacBook Pro from 10% to 100%.
Should You Buy the 2-in-1 Ugreen Desktop Charger?
If you want a simple yet capable 2-in-1 charging station for your devices, this Ugreen option is a solid choice. You get the benefit of MagSafe charging that can prop up your device for using StandBy while still being able to charge your MacBook in a reasonable amount of time. It can be a great addition to your desk setup to help you keep your devices charged.
