Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 ports) review: Complete charging control

Macworld

At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros6 ports140W PD 3.1 chargingCustom port control modesVisual charging displayClock ModeConsClock Mode lacks alarmOur VerdictIf you crave precise optimization of your charging ports, this classy Anker Prime desktop charger gives you a lot of control and visual feedback, plus six -top-end charging ports and a healthy 250W total power output potential.

The 6-port 250W Anker Prime Charger offers a tidy way to charge multiple devices, plus customizable options to fine-tune what devices get charged fastest and an easy-to-read display showing how much power is going to each device.

All digital devices require a charger, either integrated or via an external power supply, but most often they use a wall or desktop charger. Wall chargers plug straight into a power socket, and you connect it to your device using a charging cable (usually USB-C). Desktop chargers connect to the wall socket via a standard power plug and cable and are more convenient when charging multiple devices in the same place.

While there are many great wall chargers with multiple charging ports, if you want more than three or four ports you are going to need a desktop charger, such as the Anker Prime Charger. A desktop charger means less table cable clutter, keeping everything charged using just one wall power socket.

Anker Prime Charger: Design

The Anker Prime Charger does resemble a bedside alarm clock, so it’s appropriate for it to have a Clock Mode. Sadly, the charger’s Clock Mode only shows the time and date and lacks any alarm functions.

Built using the latest GaN technology, the device is incredibly small and compact for something with so many ports and features. It measures 4.18 x 1.58 x 3.64 inches (10.6 x 4 x 9.3cm) and weighs 22.58oz (640g).

Anker Prime Charger: Power display

The Anker Prime Charger has a large 2.26-inch LCD at the front that gives you visual feedback on the charging status and speed of each USB-C port. When you aren’t charging or don’t need to know the precise details, you can set the charger’s display to show a clock in three different formats, with date and time on show. A Wi-Fi connection is necessary for Clock Mode to work.








Anker

Anker


Anker

Anker Prime Charger: Ports

The Anker Prime Charger boasts six charging ports: four USB-C conveniently placed at the front and two old-school USB-A on one side.

The first USB-C port (C1) can output 140W, which makes it perfect for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which can be fast-charged (to 50 percent full battery in just 25 minutes) at this speed when using Apple’s MagSafe 3 cable. It is also fine for charging any other lower-powered device, even your AirPods charging case, but it is best suited to laptops that require a PD 3.1 (up to 240W) power source. The other three USB-C ports (C2, C3, and C4) are rated at 100W charging potential.

The two USB-A ports can each output 22.5W.

Maximum power output is 250W so you could fast-charge a 140W laptop and still have over 100W for another laptop and a smaller device.








Anker

Anker


Anker

Anker Prime Charger: Customization

You can customize charging priorities and energy output using the unique twist smart control dial next to the USB-A ports. You rotate the knob to switch the cursor and press it to confirm your selection.

In Port Priority Mode, you can manually set power priority for one or two ports as you require. When setting C1 as the Priority Port you can use all six ports in this configuration: 100W, 45W, 45W, 45W, and 15W shared between the two USB-A ports. Other power configurations could include 70W, 70W, 45W, 30W, and 15W shared and 65W, 20W, 20W, 20W, and 15W shared.

There’s also a Dual-Laptop Mode to make sure that the laptops are at the front of the charging queue, and a Low Current Mode to preserve the battery life of phones and low-power devices.

Or you can leave it in the default AI Power Mode, where the charger itself works out the optimal prioritization of output by port–identifying device power requirements (high, medium, or low), and adjusting power distribution accordingly for optimal charging efficiency.

You can also adjust the screen brightness using the dial.

If you prefer, you can use the custom controls using the Anker app on your phone or tablet rather than twiddle the dial.

Anker Prime Charger: Price

The Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 Ports, GaNPrime) is priced at $169.99 in the U.S., £169.99 in the U.K., and €159,99 in the E.U. There are cheaper desktop chargers but none with 140W PD 3.1 and such precise port controls.




Despite all its functions and six top charging ports, the Anker Prime 250W Charger has a space-saving design.



Despite all its functions and six top charging ports, the Anker Prime 250W Charger has a space-saving design.Foundry

Despite all its functions and six top charging ports, the Anker Prime 250W Charger has a space-saving design.Foundry


Foundry

Anker Prime Charger: Competition

We have tested the best MacBook chargers, including a fine selection of desktop chargers. None has the level of control over port prioritization as the Anker Prime 250W, and if that appeals to you we highly recommend this charger.

Other 140W-capable PD 3.1 desktop chargers include the similarly priced Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger, which has one fewer ports (four USB-C and one USB-A) but a higher overall power output: 300W compared to Anker’s 250W.

If you need more than four USB-C ports and don’t give a fig about USB-A, consider the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger that boasts six USB-C ports but has a lesser 200W maximum power output.

If you don’t need the level of customization or visual feedback, Anker’s own Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports, GaN) has the same range of ports but no prioritization, no display, and 50W less maximum power output, but at $79.99 / £79.99 is significantly cheaper.

Should you buy the Anker Prime Charger?

If you crave precise optimization of your charging ports, this classy Anker Prime desktop charger gives you a lot of control and visual feedback, plus six -top-end charging ports and a healthy 250W total power output potential.