Power!! Unlimited POWEEER!! Well, not exactly… but with Anker’s new power offerings, you might as well possess unlimited power like Emperor Palpatine did.
By now, Anker has cemented itself as the leading brand in charging solutions. Apple, which we all know is very selective when it comes to brand partners, is selling Anker products in their Apple stores.
Anker is once again looking to reinvent the charging experience with three new offerings for the Philippine market: the Anker Prime Charger 250W 6-Port GaNPrime, the Anker 140W 4-Port Charger, and the Anker 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank.
Anker Prime Charger (250W 6-Port GaNPrime)
Need a charging hub that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb? Say no more, because the Anker Prime Charger (250W 6-Port GaNPrime) is the solution to all your problems.
Unboxing experience
Right out of the box, the Anker Prime Charger (250W 6-Port GaNPrime) (that’s quite a mouthful…) presents itself as a premium charging hub. The package includes:
- The Anker Prime Charger 250W unit
- Two-prong figure-8 style AC power cable
- User manual
- Quick start guide
Anker has kept the plastic use minimal, with only a protective cover on the charger itself. A win for the environment! The compact packaging makes for a clean unboxing experience, and it’s clear that Anker has put in the effort into making the user experience premium just by the box itself.
The design of the Anker Prime Charger is sleek and modern, with a compact but hefty feel that gives it a premium, well-built look. The ribbed metallic finish blends effortlessly into any setup, whether it’s on your desk, bedside table, or office workspace.
First in its class
A standout feature is the 2.26-inch LCD display on the front, which provides real-time charging information for connected devices. The display is small but adequately bright, making it easy to read from most angles. You could also use the charger as a clock, turning it into a functional nightstand accessory.
To the left side of the device, you’ll find a ribbed control dial, which feels sturdy and clicks satisfyingly when turned. This wheel allows you to navigate the UI without needing to use the mobile app.
Ports for days!
The front panel houses a total of four ports
- USB-C ports
- Port 1: Delivers up to 140W, perfect for high-powered devices such as laptops.
- Ports 2-4: Offers up to 100W each, more than enough for tablets and smartphones.
You’ll find the other two ports besides the control dial.
- USB-A ports
- Both provide 22.5W, great for charging small accessories such as smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
On the back of the charger, you’ll find a two-prong AC input for power, keeping the overall design minimal and streamlined.
Pandora’s box of charging
Despite its compact size, the Anker Prime Charger delivers high-efficiency charging, thanks to the GaN technology that Anker has pioneered. During our testing, it charged our 16-inch MacBook Pro from 0 to 100% in just 1 hour and 31 minutes, even with multiple devices connected. All without getting ridiculously hot which other charging hubs are struggling with.
Anker even ups the ante by including four power distribution modes:
- AI Power Mode: Which automatically detects which devices need power the most and distributes power as needed for a true plug-and-play experience.
- Port Priority Mode: Allows you to select a specific port to receive full power, even when multiple devices are connected.
- Dual-Laptop Mode: Balances power between two laptops, making it ideal for office environments.
- Low Current Mode: Reduces current to prevent unnecessary battery strain, useful for overnight charging or small devices.
These modes can be controlled using either the dial or the Anker mobile app.
Perfect combination
Unlike most chargers, the Anker Prime Charger supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity making it a breeze to pair the device with the app.
And, speaking of the app, pairing the charger grants you a few additional perks. First, remote control of charging settings. A godsend for couch surfers such as myself, you no longer have to travel across the room to check or tweak settings. Second, Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates, which keeps your device running in tip top shape. And, last but not the least, the previously mentioned clock mode, which… need I say more…?
One charger to rule them all
The Anker Prime Charger (250W 6-Port GaNPrime) is one of the most powerful and feature-rich chargers on the market today. It combines strong build quality, a smart LCD display, customizable charging modes, and app connectivity into a compact and stylish package.
The fast charging speeds, intelligent power management, and premium design make it a standout choice for tech enthusiasts, professionals, and power users alike. I guess the only qualm I have is the name, it’s just so goshdang long! Kidding aside… If you need a charging hub that delivers both power and convenience, then this is definitely the one to get.
Anker 140W Charger with display
Need something a little bit more compact? Why not go for the Anker 140W Charger with display?
Unboxing experience
Once again, Anker has kept things simple when it came to the Anker Charger’s packaging. Inside the box, you’ll find:
- The Anker 140W 4-port Charger itself
- A 1.5m (or 4 ft for our freedom loving buddies) braided USB-C Cable rated for 240W
- A quick start guide
We’ve got to say, the inclusion of the braided cable is a nice touch. Saving you the hassle of buying a cable separately. And just like the Anker Prime Charger, it doesn’t feature a lot of plastics, which keeps things eco-friendly.
Big things come in small packages
Compared to similarly priced GaN chargers on the market, the Anker 140W Charger stands out as one of the most compact, especially when compared to the humongous Apple 140W Charger.
It even has a foldable prong that allows it to become even smaller, thus ensuring a travel-friendly experience.
The Anker 140W Charger sports a smooth silver metallic finish all around and a nice shiny front that houses the high definition LCD display.
Powerful AND considerate
The Anker 140W Charger features four ports found at the bottom, which is perfect for outlets found in tight spaces. Instead of the cables sticking out, putting unnecessary stress on the connectors, it hangs down, giving you a much cleaner, clutter-free look.
There are three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port. Ports 1 and 2 support 140W of charging while ports 3 and 4 only support 40W and 33W, respectively. Do take note that you could only receive the full 140W when you’re only using a single port.
Should you decide to use all four ports, port 1 will only max out at 65W, port 2 at 45W, and ports 3 and 4 maxing out at 12W, so do connect your device accordingly. The inscriptions near the ports should be useful in helping you determine.
First in its class
Here we are with the star of the show, the built-in smart display. You know, never have I ever encountered a wall charger with a display, but I guess there’s a first for everything, am I right?
When you first plug in the charger without any cables attached, you’ll be greeted by a cute snoozing emoji, which transforms when you connect a device.
And what’s more is that it’s touch sensitive, so you can control it from the charger itself.
Pressing the circle below the display will let you cycle through different charging information such as how much power is being distributed to each port, temperature monitoring, and total output information. There’s also a nifty feature where if you long-press the circle, the screen will rotate horizontally.
Chill out, power up
140W is a lot of power for a compact-sized travel charger, and with a lot of power comes a lot of heat. Most, if not all, chargers of this caliber usually struggle with overheating, greatly affecting the charging time because it would shut down and charge at a slower rate once recovered.
Anker is aware of this, which is why they employed state-of-the-art features to ensure the charger stays cool and safe. These features include the use of GaN technology, ActiveShield 2.0, and advanced cooling algorithms. All of which help prevent overheating and ensure the charger’s long life.
A compact powerhouse
With this, you won’t have to carry anything else in your luggage. Well, I guess you do still have to carry cables, but you won’t need to carry different chargers. It’s compact yet still powerful, it handles multiple devices with ease, and it includes a high-quality braided cable, which saves you a few hundred. And, of course, who could forget about the display? What more can you ask for?
Anker 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank
Want to go even further in terms of convenience? Why not try the Anker 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank?
The same experience you’ve come to love
Continuing the theme of minimalist packaging, you’ll find that the Anker Power Bank is no different. Inside the box, you’ll only find two things: the power bank itself and a quick start guide.
You must be thinking, Anker bothered to include a strap but not a charging cable? Aha! That’s where you’re wrong; the strap IS the cable. It also has another built-in retracting braided cable that spans 0.7 m.
Small but terrible (in a good way)
Given the power bank’s immense size, we can forgive the fact that it isn’t exactly pocketable. The Anker Power Bank comes in at a hefty 594 g with dimensions similar to a tall, slim soda can.
Build quality is what you’d usually expect with most Anker products. It carries the Anker design language that we’ve previously seen with the Prime Charger and the Anker 140W Charger. Featuring the same smooth metallic finish with a glossy smart display.
We do appreciate that the glossy finish didn’t take up the whole side it belongs to; you’ll still be able to grip the power bank without smudging up the display.
Speaking of the display, while it is on the smaller side given the space constraints, the texts and graphics are still visible. It actually provides you with a ton of useful information, such as the battery temperature, output and input wattage, the remaining charge time when you’re charging the power bank, and a battery health indicator.
No strings attached, sort of…
But the standout feature is, of course, the integrated cables. It saves you the hassle of carrying multiple charging cables, which can be quite annoying to deal with, as long as all your devices support USB-C charging.
The main port, or rather, the main cable, is the 0.7m retractable braided cable. Its mechanism is similar to that of a seat belt, where it automatically retracts as soon as it’s not in use.
The second USB-C cable, which only goes as far as 0.3 m, is looped and doubles as a carrying strap. As an added feature, it also supports 20 kg of weight, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking easily.
There’s also an additional third USB-C port and another USB-A port alongside the power button that supports a 33W max output.
Take note that all of the USB-Cs support 100W max, which can be used for both input and output charging.
Fast & Furious
Anker designed the power bank to handle everything from laptops to accessories like wireless earbuds. You can charge multiple devices all at once, however, the power is shared between devices.
If you connect two devices simultaneously, the power bank will evenly distribute 165W across the two USB-C ports. While three or more devices will only distribute 133W max across all of the devices.
It’s still pretty impressive considering it charged our 16-inch MacBook Pro from 0-50% in just 30 minutes. Additionally, the power bank can charge an iPhone 16 4.5 times before replenishing.
Other features include pass-through charging, which makes it sort of a charging hub because it can charge your device while the power bank is plugged in. It also has a trickle charge mode, which you can activate by double-pressing the power button; it keeps the power bank active when charging small devices.
The final piece of the puzzle
Anker really did knock it out of the park with the 165W Power Bank, offering a powerful and versatile charging solution designed for high-power users. The retractable and looped cables, as well as the smart display, make for an unparalleled convenient experience without compromising on the essentials. And, did I mention that it’s airline safe? Coming in just under the 100Wh limit.
However, no device is made perfect. The glossy display is a fingerprint magnet, and its size and weight may be too bulky for pockets. Additionally, while the built-in cables were made with durability in mind, it still begs the question, “What if it breaks? ”. Despite these minor drawbacks, we still think that the combination of power, portability, and thoughtful design make it one of the best power banks for users in need of reliable charging on-the-go.