Anker’s new Nano Charger shows the power of iterative improvement and the extent that the smartphone supply chain has made everything from silicon to displays incredibly inexpensive.
- It’s tiny — 47% smaller than an Apple 45W charger. 45W is enough to charge any phone, any tablet, and most consumer laptops.
- The wall plug folds in for transport and can be positioned outwards facing out or to the side, making it easy to charge — and see the display — even on a crowded power strip or wall outlet.
- Like the premium brands its chargers connect to, Anker doesn’t skimp on safety certifications and the packaging is eco-friendly.
- There’s an animated color display with a basic tap-based (not touchscreen) user interface. This charger doesn’t just provide a readout of the wattage being output, it identifies most recent iPhones and iPads**, lets you see what percentage of the battery is charged, and it allows you to choose whether to charge the device quickly or on a slower curve that keeps the battery and charger cooler, which could prolong battery lifespan.The display also has an animated smiley face, which is charming, and AI badging which is ridiculous. I’m not clear if “AI” refers to Anker having used machine learning to identify the devices that are plugged in, or the three-stage charging curve it uses, or something else entirely, but adding “AI” to the display is not adding value.
Thankfully, the smiley face is not a chatbot, there is no microphone or camera on the charger, and the inclusion of a display adds value without adding too much cost to what is still just an accessory.
Critically, Anker has managed to sell the charger for $40. MSRP on the 45W charger is $50 to establish perceived value, but even at launch there is a $10 coupon automatically applied on Anker.com and as a checkbox on Amazon. $40 is double the price of other inexpensive 45W chargers on Amazon and $14 more than Anker’s non-display 45W charger. However, it is still inexpensive enough to be an impulse buy if you value any of the features – the dual-rotating plug, the display that lets you know it is charging optimally, or the different charging modes. Anker still sells basic chargers without displays and with higher wattage ratings, but I highly recommend the upcharge for this one.
Disclosures: Anker sent over the 45W charger for review. Devices View does not accept paid posts, does not participate in affiliate link programs, and Anker did not have any editorial control over this article. This post started out as a quick post for Devices View, then got expanded with additional analysis for Techsponential. Anker is not a Techsponential client.
