UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger Review – The Fast and the Furious
Everyone these days owns at least one smartphone and in all likelihood a laptop and even a tablet too. Unfortunately, with bundled chargers going the way of the dodo, juicing all this gear is becoming a problem, one that the new UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is able to resolve in a handy fashion. Here’s our UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger review where we put it to the test!
What’s so special about the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger?
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The updated successor to the original UGREEN 65W GaN Fast Charger that we tested last year, the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger has a mostly similar form factor that’s slightly larger, weighs a tad bit more at 235g and is roughly the same size with the same combination of ports that consists of a trio of USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
The overall build quality is excellent and our UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger review sample used a durable polycarbonate chassis that repels fingerprints. It’s tough enough to survive extended jaunts in a backpack being toted about hither and yonder for work. Granted, it’s about 70g heavier than its predecessor the 65W GaN fast charger but you get much faster charging which is well worth the tradeoff.
While it’s a tad heavier, it employs Gallium Nitride (GaN), an exceptionally efficient semiconductor material that can conduct higher voltages to charged devices versus a conventional silicon charger. The key upgrade here is that the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is capable of much higher 100W charging in a compact form factor.
The most obvious difference between the new UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger (right) and the older 65W model (left) is the smoother surface versus the knurled finish of the older charger. That and a huge 100W symbol slapped on the side.
Externally, the biggest difference is that the older 65W charger has slight knurling on the casing while the newer 100W charger features a smooth matte dark grey finish.
Like its predecessor, the new charger has a fixed plug design so you’ll need to purchase the right one for use as you can’t swap it in or out. At present, UGREEN does have versions with the UK-style plug which we use in Malaysia, the two-prong type that is native to Europe and the flat US-style ones though they sell out fast so you’ll need to check their online stores on Shopee and Lazada itself to see what versions they have in stock at a given moment.
One thing to note is that it does not ship with any cables so you’ll have to buy or use your own to make full use of it though UGREEN makes a vast range of very affordable cables for sale.
Specifications
On paper, the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger has the following specifications
| Price | MYR169.90 |
| Input | 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 2.3A Max |
| Total power | 100W |
| Single port charging | USB-C1/C2 – 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/5A, 100W Max USB-C3 – 5V/3A 9V/2.5A 12V/1.88A 22.5W Max USB-A – 4.5V/5A 5V/4.5A 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A 22.5W Max |
| Supported charging protocols | USB C1/C2 – PD3.0/PD2.0/PPS/QC4+ USB C3 – QC3.0/FCP/SCP USB A -QC3.0/QC2.0/SCP/FCP/AFC/Apple 2.4/BC1.2 |
| Size/Weight | 69 x 69 x 33mm / 235g |
UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger Review – Performance
The business end of the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger hosts a total of three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port. On paper, the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger has a combined maximum output of 100W with the first two USB-C ports each individually capable of up to 100W maximum charging while the third USB-C port is capable of 22.5W charging. The sole USB-A port is capable of up to 22.5W charging.
While it’s able to safely charge four devices simultaneously without overheating, it’ll do so at a slower rate versus as it has to distribute the load.
To date, the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is able to support charging on almost all major laptop brands that employ a USB-C port including the MacBook Pro.
It also supports fast charging on Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi tablets. Unfortunately, it’s still not able to support OPPO’s proprietary VOOC fast charging protocol though it can still charge their gear, albeit at normal charging speeds.
For the purpose of our testing benchmarks, we charged several devices individually to determine the capabilities of our UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger review sample under optimum conditions.
To ensure standardisation of results, we used a UGREEN USB-C to USB-C cable capable of power delivery fast charging versus the provided cables with each device in the primary C1 USB-C port for optimum performance. Officially speaking, UGREEN claims that the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is able to charge an iPhone 12 to 60% in 30 minutes.
| Device | Power (Battery capacity) | Time to charge to 100% with UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger |
| Samsung Galaxy Note10 | 3,500mAh/25W Fast Charge / USB P.D 3.0 | 1 hour 18 minutes |
| Huawei Mate30 Pro | 4,400mAh/ 40W Huawei Super Charge | 1 hour 47 minutes |
| ASUS ExpertBook B5 Flip | 66Wh, 4-cell polymer | 2 hours 10 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 | 4,400mAh Li-Po / 25W Fast Charge | 1 hour 29 minutes |
Over the course of charging multiple devices in sequence, our UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger review sample only got slightly warm, average at 31.5°C when tested with a temperature gun, even under consistent charging loads.
As our review samples usually rotate in and out of our test labs on a regular basis, we did not have the same laptops and samples to test when we tested its predecessor barring the Galaxy Note10 and Huawei Mate30 Pro.
For these two samples, there were modest improvements in time, especially with the Mate30 Pro which shaved a good 22 minutes off the charging time. Naturally, multiple factors can affect charging speeds outside of a test lab but it’s safe to say that performance is notably improved and a bit faster compared to its predecessor the UGREEN 65W GaN charger.
UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger Verdict
The UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger works as it says on the tin, providing safe, powerful and efficient charging for laptops, smartphones and tablets alike across the majority of popular brands in the market.
In an age where bundled chargers are increasingly becoming rarer accessories and where phones and other tech are increasingly requiring faster and more powerful chargers, the UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is becoming a highly necessary accessory. This is well worth the money and should be tops on your list of additional gear to buy if you own a phone or USB-C powered laptop.
UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger Review unit courtesy of UGREEN. Available for purchase online at the following links:
Buy in Lazada: https://bit.ly/3yRRzeK
Buy in Shopee: https://bit.ly/3DYf2hS
UGREEN Official site: https://bit.ly/3jS1a0P
UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger
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Performance
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Design
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Value
UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger
The UGREEN 100W GaN Fast Charger is a highly compact and powerful means to charge all manner of laptops, phones and tablets in a safe, swift and effective fashion. If you’re looking to get just one tech accessory this year, this should be at the top of your list.
Pros
Compact and sturdy build quality Can safely and rapidly charge multiple devices
Cons
Fixed plug design Doesn’t ship with any cables
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