Handy retractable charger with a full-power USB-C port
The media could not be loaded. I have several of these charging boxes with retractable cables. They’re my favorite kind of power adapter. And even though I don’t use the built-in cables that much, it’s nice to have them in case I misplace my regular cables. Plus, the retractable cables are always too short to be practical for charging your devices while they’re actually in use. This unit from Nillkin actually comes with an extra (very nice quality) braided cable in the box. But bafflingly, it’s only three feet long. For using your device while it’s charging, it’s almost as limiting as the built-in 2.4-foot cable. This extra cable really should have been at least five feet long to expand the usability of the product as a package. It’s a nice cable, but it’s a short cable. So, with this, you get two short cables. Anyway, that’s all pretty minor. The charger itself is pretty nice. It has good heft and seems to be of good quality all around, and it’s well made. The plug of the retractable cable snaps satisfyingly into its magnetic receptacle, the unit has travel-friendly fold-out blades, and the see-through feature is a nice touch (even if the glossy transparent plastic is likely to attract fingerprints and scratches). I also like the orange accent on the USB-C port. The one thing I can’t confirm about the charger is how it splits power between the two outputs. The unit maxes out at 65 watts through both the built-in USB-C cable and the USB-C port if you’re using them one at a time. However, if you use the retractable cable while powering something else with an external cable via the USB-C port, one maxes out at 45 watts and the other is limited to 20 watts. Based on the power ratings printed on the charging box (see pictures), I THINK the built-in cable gets the 45 watts, but I’m not 100% sure. Regardless, the fact that you can get 65 watts out of the USB-C port with a longer cable of your own is a big point in the Nillkin’s favor. Many competing devices limit their extra ports to 12-15 watts of maximum output, rendering them mostly useless for charging laptops during actual light use. That, more than any other reason, is why this charger lives in my laptop bag (along with a 10-foot USB-C cable). I just wish this also had a USB-A port. Then it’d be truly universal. PROS 👍 Well made out of quality materials 👍 Efficient GaN technology runs cool 👍 Retractable USB-C cable is always there when you need it 👍 65W total output is enough to charge most consumer electronic devices 👍 65W should be adequate to run most laptops during light to moderate use 👍 USB-C port supports full 65W power delivery 👍 Included cable is very nice quality CONS 👎 Dual charging power limits are unclear 👎 No USB-A port 👎 Somewhat expensive for what you get VERDICT 😃 I would buy this again. Read more




















