We’ve tested a bunch of chargers here at 9to5Toys, and while there are plenty of good ones that we continue to recommend, most of them fall short somewhere or the other – be it when it comes to the number of devices it can charge or the overall output it can deliver simultaneously. There are only a handful of charging stations out there on the market that can do it all, and the UGREEN Nexode 500W 6-port charging station we’re checking out today is one of them. This particular charger has been sitting on my desk as my main charger, topping off everything from my iPhone, AirPods, MacBook Air, and even my other everyday essentials like mouse and DualSense controller. Hit the jump to learn more about it and see if you want to pick it up for your charging needs, too.
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This is UGREEN’s latest multi-device charging station that recently hit the scene carrying a hefty $250 price tag as an upgraded model of the Nexode 300W charger. It only comes in one finish, and it’s currently discounted down to $219.99 shipped with a 12% markdown on its usual going rate.
The Nexode 500W is, without a doubt, one of the most ambitious GaN charging solutions the brand has put out to date. It’s also the most powerful one I’ve tested yet. This charger, as the name suggests, can deliver a total power of 500W, which is enough to top up all the devices an average user may have on their desk or use on a daily basis. What’s also great about this charger is that it can go up to 240W via the main USB-C port. That’s enough to top up even the most demanding machines like, say, a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
I’ve been using the Nexode 500W as my main charger for the past few weeks, and it’s helped free up several AC outlets that I was previously using to charge individual devices like my iPhone and MacBook. What I also love about this model is that it doesn’t take up too much space on my desk. No doubt it’s the biggest GaN charger I’ve used to date, but it’s still pretty compact for the kind of output it can deliver. It’s small enough to even fit in your backpack if you want to travel with it, but keep in mind that it weighs 3.75lbs and is meant to be used as a stationary charger on your desktop.
I’d say it’s got a very minimal design with a gunmetal grey body and a UGREEN logo on the side. All the USB ports are neatly arranged on the front, with just the main power connector at the back. This charger has a vertical design with rubber feet at the bottom, so it stays firmly planted on the desk without any issues. I would’ve liked it if UGREEN had included a few USB-C cables in the box, but that’s not the case here – an IEC power cable is all you get besides the charger itself. Another glaring omission here, at least in my opinion, is the lack of an LED panel. There are plenty of chargers out there from the likes of Anker, Baseus, and even UGREEN themselves that have a display to show you how much power each USB port is pulling, but that’s sadly nowhere to be seen here.
As far as the charging speeds are concerned, the main USB-C port on this unit can deliver up to 240W output, and the rest of the Type-C connectors top out at 100W each. The USB-A port, on the other hand, can deliver up to 20W of output. You can even use all ports of this charger to simultaneously charge as many as six devices, and the main USB-C port can still deliver up to 240W with the rest of the power being shared by the others. The main USB-C1 port really shines here by going up to 36V/5A (180W) and 48V/5A (240W), meaning it’s suitable to charge everything from gaming notebooks, power banks, and more.
I noticed the charger gets hot when all ports are being used, but that’s not really a surprise considering the kind of output it’s delivering at any given time. UGREEN tells me it has all the necessary overcharging and overvoltage protections in place to protect your devices, and I haven’t had any issues so far with my usage.
Overall, it is safe to say that the Nexode 500W is an absolute powerhouse of a charging unit that can sit front and center on your desk as the main charger to rule them all. It’s certainly not without its cons, though, and the lack of an LED panel to show you the output particularly feels like a glaring omission on a unit that costs as much as it does, but it works as advertised to keep all your devices juiced up at all times. I highly recommend picking this up if you happen to have too many devices to charge and find yourself jumping between various chargers and running out of ports for them.
It may not be an ideal portable travel companion, but it’s an ultimate desktop charging solution for power users, and it might be the only charger you’ll need for many years to come. You can snag one for $219.99 shipped right now with a $30 discount on its usual going rate, so be sure to cash in and snag one for your desk and say goodbye to all your charging headaches.
