Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger overview: Quick 4-way energy

Obtained extra units that want charging than you’ve wall sockets to energy them from? Then you definately’re in want of multi-device charger. Whereas wi-fi mats and stands are in vogue, it’s nonetheless helpful to have the ability to tether your units to a wall when at a desk or touring.

The Alxum 100W 4 port USB-C charger is an outstanding possibility in that case — with three USB-C ports, 1 USB-A, and 100W of Gallium Nitride (GaN) fast-charging energy, it’ll juice your units tremendous speedily, and depart you with wall retailers to spare.

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: Value and availability

The Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger is obtainable now, out there from Amazon (opens in new tab) and direct from Alxum. Anticipate to pay round £60 (about $75) for it. That’s proper in the course of what we’d hope to pay for a 4-port 100W GaN charger, with choices from competitor Ugreen equally priced.

For comparability’s sake, a 96W single-port MacBook charger from Amazon prices $79 / £79.

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: What’s good?

Let’s begin with what makes Gallium Nitride (or GaN, its chemical system, as you’ll extra generally see it written) necessary. The crystal-like semiconductor materials is beginning to exchange silicon in some transistor methods, as GaN transistors might be made smaller than silicon ones, can change quicker and carry extra energy effectively. In different phrases, they will cost at larger wattages, quicker, with out overheating, in general smaller units.

GaN chargers can cost at larger wattages, quicker, with out overheating.

The Alxum charger manages to do all of that, with a brick in regards to the third of the dimensions of Apple’s equivalent-powered charger, and weighing nearly 300g within the course of. Black with a textured wave end that makes it simpler to tug out of an outlet, it’ll protrude from a wall about 7cm when plugged in, is about 2.6mm huge and 5cm tall.

With 4 ports (three USB-C, one USB-A), the Alxum charger intelligently distributes energy relying on what ports you’re utilizing, and what’s plugged in, aiming to maintain all of your units charging safely. It’s fairly a fancy record of combos and energy provides that may be despatched from the charger, and is finest illustrated by this chart offered by Alxum itself:

Alxum plug

(Picture credit score: Alxum)

In brief, utilizing both or the highest USB-C ports individually provides you with a 100W energy provide, whereas utilizing all 4 ports will separate it out into 45W, 30W, 7.5W and seven.5W, working down via the ports respectively. There are many different distributions when utilizing two and three ports, too.

Throughout all of them, the Alxum 100W GaN charger labored speedily to energy units, and was all the time recognised by the units being juiced up — although there was generally a delay when including a brand new system to the chain. Charging speeds will differ relying on what you’re seeking to energy, however each the PD3.0 and QC3.0 quick charging protocols are supported, and there’s UKCA & CE certification, defending in opposition to overcharging, over-heating, over-voltage, and brief circuit points. In our testing, we skilled no issues, with the plug staying comparatively cool even beneath heavy masses.

Alxum

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch/ iMore)

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: What’s not so good?

It’s exhausting to seek out fault with the Alxum 100W 4 port charger — it costs a number of units rapidly and safely, and there’s not lots to complain about with the way it does so.

One factor that could possibly be improved could be illustrating the facility distribution possibility on the charger itself. Understanding what mixture of ports was going to ship what energy provide is an train in trial and error till you memorize what every combo does. It’d be higher to have a chart just like the one above printed instantly onto the aspect of the charger for future variations, as an illustration.

And whereas this isn’t a fault of the Alxum system itself, we’d nonetheless encourage readers to make use of fast-charging strategies sparingly. Whereas the requirements are protected, their overuse might be identified to have an effect on the lifespan of batteries.

It’s value noting to that when you have a 16-inch MacBook Professional, and are used to fast-charging it with Apple’s 140W USB-C energy adapter, you’re not going to get the identical outcome.

Alxum

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch/ iMore)

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: Competitors

There’s plenty of competitors beginning to develop within the GaN charger area, however the Alxum mannequin right here is among the many finest. You will get equally spec’d chargers from Spigen and Ugreen for the same worth, however for essentially the most half you’re simply aesthetic variations in relation to manufacturers you belief.

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: Do you have to purchase it?

Purchase the Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger if…

You may have a number of units you need to cost without delay
You want 100W of energy
You need to cut back the variety of energy bricks you’re taking with you when charging

Don’t purchase the Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger if…

You don’t have units that profit from 100W output
You don’t have to cost multiple system without delay
You don’t have USB-C units.

Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger: Verdict

The Alxum 100W 4 Ports GaN charger is simply the kind of no-nonsense charger we’re into. Reasonably priced, quick, properly spec’d and versatile sufficient to deal with a menagerie of units, it’ll safely hold all of your devices, from iPhone to MacBook, topped up with energy.