The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W Smart GaN Charger with Retractable Cable is the power adapter for Power Users. Somehow UGREEN has somehow transformed devices we sometimes call wall-warts into a must-have cool product for modern road warriors. With its understated elegant design, advanced digital display, and hidden features, it is the charger Q might have slipped into James Bond’s attaché case.
What it Does & Doesn’t
The Nexode Pro is a power adapter that promises to deliver enough juice for a MacBook Pro and still have energy to spare for up to three other USB devices. The 160W total ceiling distributed across 3 USB-C and 1 USB-A ports handles a full workstation (laptop, tablet, phone, and accessories) simultaneously, all while providing enough power for “fast-charging”. (Just because a charger has multiple ports it can’t necessarily provide enough juice for all charging modes. Typically, cheap, small multi-port chargers start with a very low watt output that gets watered down when more than one device is charging. This is may be why your phone is taking longer to charge than you think it should. With the Nexode Pro this should never be a problem!)
It is not a battery pack, although its 3.23 × 2.87 x 1.44 inch form factor does resemble one. This power adapter is strictly for charging devices while it is connected to the wall. It is great for travelers, with universal 100-240V support that replaces up to four individual power bricks.
With a claimed output of up to 160W it is a direct competitor to the Anker Prime charger, which it bests or matches in most categories, starting with list price $149.99.
The most obvious difference is the inclusion of a retractable, built-in cable on a spring-loaded wheel that secures itself to the case with a satisfying magnetic “click” that ensures that it won’t flop around in your bag when it is not in use. The Anker Prime doesn’t have it.
Although this cable feels as light (or lighter) than similar retractable cables that have been around on much less powerful units for a long time, it can handle the 140W current required by the MacBook Pro. Impressive.
The consequence of UGREEN’s retractable 28” USB charging cable coupled with the fold-down plug design (which eliminates the need for a power cord) is that in many cases you won’t need to carry any extra cables to use it.
Anker fanboys will be quick to point out that the Prime is 9 ounces lighter than the Nexode Pro, but that is without the charging cable. For me, the lack of clutter, is worth a few extra ounces. And it means I won’t accidentally leave the cable behind at the coffee house by mistake.
Unfortunately, the cable is only 28”, so you’ll be limited to the situations where it can be used. In fact, it might not reach your computer if you’re using it plugged into a power strip on the floor.
For those situations (or when you need to charge more than one device) there are two more USB-C and one USB-A ports on the front of the unit. Keep in mind that to use the full power output of the charger you’ll need an appropriately capable USB cable designed to handle the maximum power you need. (You can use a higher rated cable with electronics that need less, but not vice-versa.)
Smart Cookie
The Nexode Pro can be used literally as a plug and play device. It has a display that shows you how much power is being pulled through each of the four ports. This is important because it can help you ensure the charging devices are in “fast-charging” mode with the faucet full “on”, and not just sipping the electricity like a good chardonnay.
There are multiple display modes that get flipped through by way of a capacitive touch button under the screen. The placement of the button is a bit awkward because it is so close to the USB ports. Fortunately, it isn’t the sort of thing you touch very frequently.
Another one of those James Bond-like hidden features is that you can monitor and control the charger from a Bluetooth-connected app. This requires an account with UGREEN, so there are privacy issues. Fortunately, it appears that the app appears to be optional.
In addition to receiving firmware updates through the app you can turn the ports on and off, manage the screen, and switch between charging profiles.
The Nexode Pro 160W stands out in the multi-port GaN category by integrating a built-in 140W retractable cable alongside app-connected telemetry. While slightly heavier than conventional 3-port bricks like the Anker Prime 160W, the inclusion of a 4-port setup and a self-storing high-power cable makes it one of the most self-contained, versatile charging hubs for multi-device power users.
Electrifying or Blown Fuse?
The Nexode Pro 160W is fully loaded with features you might not even know you need until you start using it. Instead of four chargers, it takes me down to one: A net savings of space, weight, and tangled cables.
No device is perfect. The built in cable might have been longer. Some will object to the app requiring registration. I wish the manual was better and in a bigger font. When a device offers new functionality it behooves the manufacturer to really explain the “how” and “why” to ensure wide adoption. I’m concerned that some users will miss out on the treasure built into this product.
Those niggles aside, you won’t be shocked to learn that the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W Smart GaN Charger is currently the current-king of power chargers!
