X
Home & Office
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

This powerful 140W USB-C charger is smaller than Apple's and has three ports

Looking for power? The versatile Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C charger may be just what you need.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor
Closeup of the UGREEN Nexode 140W USB-C charger.

Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C charger.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

It's not long ago that even the idea of a 140W USB-C charger was ludicrous. But once Apple put one to use for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we knew that it wouldn't be long until the big names in chargers followed suit.

And why not?

If you have a laptop that needs 140W, then having a spare charger is handy. And if you don't actually need the whole 140W from a single port, then a 140W charger with several ports allows for fast-charging several devices simultaneously.

If you want that kind of power, the new Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C charger is the charger you need.

Also: This USB-C charger can power 4 devices at once and look good doing it 

Specifications

Input

100-240V~ 50/60Hz 2A max

Single-Port Output

USB-C1: 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 28V/5A 140W Max PPS: 3.3-21V/5A
USB-C2: 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 100W Max PPS: 3.3-21V/5A
USB-A: 4.5V/5A 5V/4.5A 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A 22.5W Max

Total Output

140W max

Protocol

USB-C Port: PD3.1(PD3.0\PD2.0), QC4+(QC4.0\QC3.0\QC2.0), PPS, AFC, APPLE 5V2.4A, BC1.2
USB-A Port: SCP, QC3.0, AFC, FCP, APPLE 5V2.4A, BC1.2

Technology

Gallium Nitride chip

Charger Size 

2.99×2.99×1.37 in (75.9×75.9×34.7 mm)

Charger Weight

10.39 oz (294.5 g)

Closeup of the tech secs of UGREEN Nexode 140W USB-C charger.

Tech specs.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Physically, the charger is 22% smaller than the charger Apple ships with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and that charger features a single USB-C port. The Nexode 140W has two USB-C ports and a single USB-A port, making it a lot more versatile than Apple's charger.

Inside, the Nexode 140W charger is powered by a Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. This allows for the charger to be smaller, more power-efficient, and run cooler than older chargers based on silicon technology. 

You use less power, and the planet benefits.

Also: What is Gallium Nitride (GaN) next-generation charging technology?

The three ports makes this charger much more flexible than Apple's 140W USB-C charger

The three ports makes this charger much more flexible than Apple's 140W USB-C charger.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Using a single USB-C port allows for up to 140W of power. Using both USB-C ports at the same time allows for 65W per port, and using a USB-A and USB-C port allows the USB-A port to draw 22.5A and the USB-C port to draw 100W.

Where all three ports are in use, the USB-A port delivers 22.5W, with the USB-C ports putting out 45W and 65W, respectively.

And yes, Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro sees this as a 140W charger (as long as you use Apple's MagSafe cable), so you'll have no problems fast-charging your MacBook.

I've pushed this charger hard to make sure that it lives up to the manufacturer's hype, and I'm pleased to say that it does everything that's promised, and thanks to the built-in ThermalGuard technology that scans the system 800 times a second, the charger can do this while remaining cool to the touch.

Also: Using the wrong USB-C cable can damage your tech

Closeup of screen on Nexode 140W.

Even under sustained heavy load, the Nexode 140W remains nice and cool.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Also included with the charger is a 1.5 meter 240W nylon-braided USB-C to USB-C cable. This is a seriously good quality cable, but I wish it were marked with 240W somewhere because I fear it's going to be consumed by the myriad of other cables I have.

Also: How to tell how fast your MacBook is charging (no meter required)

Top view of a 1.5 meter 240W USB-C-to-USB-C cable for UGREEN Nexode 140W USB-C charger.

Included is a 1.5 meter 240W USB-C-to-USB-C cable.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The Ugreen Nexode 140W USB-C charger is the first charger that I've been excited about for some time. Sure, it's more expensive than Apple's 140W charger, but it's a lot more flexible, offering the power needed for cutting-edge devices, as well as legacy support for older devices happy with the lower power requirements of USB-A.

Editorial standards