Customer Reviews
This review is from: PowerGen® Black 2.4-Amp (12 Watt) Dual USB Wall Charger w/flip down Plug Designed for Apple and Android Devices (Wireless Phone Accessory)
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** Sept 2013 update. The updated model has the ports marked. The new swing-away prongs are nice for travel. The price is now usually $10. I have changed my review from 4-stars to 5-stars.
- - - Speed Matters- - -
Sometimes you need to charge in a hurry. Even if a charger "works with your device" it may be painfully slow. Get one that will charge your devices at full speed (like the one that came with your device). This is not so simple. Product info is often unclear. Reviewers are often unclear.
For starters, the "Amps" need to be high enough. That's usually 1 Amp for smartphones, about 2 Amps for tablets. (A higher amp charger is always OK.)
The messy part is, Apple devices use their own rules to decide charging speed. A designed-for-Apple charger may be slow to charge non-Apple devices, and vice versa, even if its Amp rating is high enough.
- - - About this PowerGen Wall Charger - - -
PowerGen gets it right by optimizing one port for Apple products (including iPad) and the second port for non-apple products. The two ports make it versatile, even if you never charge two devices at once.
- - - Pricing - - -
In April 2012, PowerGen dropped from 13 to 10. Nice.
PROs:
* Fast charging for Apple and non-Apple devices (see Note 1)
* Nice Price
* Doesn't block other outlets (see Note 2)
- LED power-on indicator (dim blue, not obnoxious)
OKs:
- Compact
- 12-month warranty
- Branded product. Amazon reviews apply to this exact item.
- Energy efficient (see Note 3)
- Feel, fit and finish are fine
- No cable included
CONs:
- None
- - - Alternatives - - -
- Anker® 18W / 3.6A Dual-Port Wall Charger
- PowerGen White Dual USB Port 2.4A Wall Charger w/Swival Plug <-White version of this
- - - Disclosure - - -
The manufacturer gave me this product for review. I believe my review is impartial.
- - - Notes - - -
Note 1: Charging speed - I tested using a 3-month old iPhone 4S while on/locked. These results do not apply to other devices. I did not test tablets or other phones.
30-50%. . . 50-70%. . . 70-90%. . . Avg . . . Charger
--------- . . . --------- . . . --------- . . . ------ . . . ---------
18min . . . . 18min . . . . 23min . . . . 1.02 . . . Apple
18min . . . . 18min . . . . 23min . . . . 1.02 . . . PowerGen (Apple port)
34min . . . . 35min . . . . 41min . . . . 0.55 . . . PowerGen (Non-Apple port)
20min . . . . 22min . . . . 26min . . . . 0.88 . . . HTC U250
35min . . . . 35min . . . . 39min . . . . 0.55 . . . Computer USB port (.5 amp)
Avg is "percent per minute" overall -- from 30% charged to 90% charged.
Note 2: Blocking other outlets. Seems like small thing, but it can be a hassle. Unplugging lamps, alarm clocks, etc to charge your phone? Just say no (or carry an extension cord).
Note 3: Energy efficient: With no load, charger stays cool, and my Belkin energy monitor says zero watts. While charging iPhone, charger gets warm, but not hot. Consumes 6.7 watts, most of which transfers to the iPhone.
About the reviewer: I try to be impartial and directly compare other products. 30% of my reviews are 5-star reviews. For reviews of free samples from manufacturers: 12% are 5-star reviews.
~~~ Comments & questions welcome ~~~
** Sept 2013 update. The updated model has the ports marked. The new swing-away prongs are nice for travel. The price is now usually $10. I have changed my review from 4-stars to 5-stars.
- - - Speed Matters- - -
Sometimes you need to charge in a hurry. Even if a charger "works with your device" it may be painfully slow. Get one that will charge your devices at full speed (like the one that came with your device). This is not so simple. Product info is often unclear. Reviewers are often unclear.
For starters, the "Amps" need to be high enough. That's usually 1 Amp for smartphones, about 2 Amps for tablets. (A higher amp charger is always OK.)
The messy part is, Apple devices use their own rules to decide charging speed. A designed-for-Apple charger may be slow to charge non-Apple devices, and vice versa, even if its Amp rating is high enough.
- - - About this PowerGen Wall Charger - - -
PowerGen gets it right by optimizing one port for Apple products (including iPad) and the second port for non-apple products. The two ports make it versatile, even if you never charge two devices at once.
- - - Pricing - - -
In April 2012, PowerGen dropped from 13 to 10. Nice.
PROs:
* Fast charging for Apple and non-Apple devices (see Note 1)
* Nice Price
* Doesn't block other outlets (see Note 2)
- LED power-on indicator (dim blue, not obnoxious)
OKs:
- Compact
- 12-month warranty
- Branded product. Amazon reviews apply to this exact item.
- Energy efficient (see Note 3)
- Feel, fit and finish are fine
- No cable included
CONs:
- None
- - - Alternatives - - -
- Anker® 18W / 3.6A Dual-Port Wall Charger
- PowerGen White Dual USB Port 2.4A Wall Charger w/Swival Plug <-White version of this
- - - Disclosure - - -
The manufacturer gave me this product for review. I believe my review is impartial.
- - - Notes - - -
Note 1: Charging speed - I tested using a 3-month old iPhone 4S while on/locked. These results do not apply to other devices. I did not test tablets or other phones.
30-50%. . . 50-70%. . . 70-90%. . . Avg . . . Charger
--------- . . . --------- . . . --------- . . . ------ . . . ---------
18min . . . . 18min . . . . 23min . . . . 1.02 . . . Apple
18min . . . . 18min . . . . 23min . . . . 1.02 . . . PowerGen (Apple port)
34min . . . . 35min . . . . 41min . . . . 0.55 . . . PowerGen (Non-Apple port)
20min . . . . 22min . . . . 26min . . . . 0.88 . . . HTC U250
35min . . . . 35min . . . . 39min . . . . 0.55 . . . Computer USB port (.5 amp)
Avg is "percent per minute" overall -- from 30% charged to 90% charged.
Note 2: Blocking other outlets. Seems like small thing, but it can be a hassle. Unplugging lamps, alarm clocks, etc to charge your phone? Just say no (or carry an extension cord).
Note 3: Energy efficient: With no load, charger stays cool, and my Belkin energy monitor says zero watts. While charging iPhone, charger gets warm, but not hot. Consumes 6.7 watts, most of which transfers to the iPhone.
About the reviewer: I try to be impartial and directly compare other products. 30% of my reviews are 5-star reviews. For reviews of free samples from manufacturers: 12% are 5-star reviews.
~~~ Comments & questions welcome ~~~
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