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UGREEN promises Hyperfast charging for up to three of your devices simultaneously. Harnessing the benefits of Gallium Nitride technology, the 3-in-1 multiport Nexode charger can provide up to 140W of power, in a device sized like the Apple 85W charger. Enjoy smart power output, thermal guarding, retractable type A wall prongs, USB-A and dual USB-C PD ports, all for under $140.

With more tech requiring USB charging, I know I am not alone in the struggle with the ever-expanding game of power cable Tetris. It seems that I over-utilize a few outlets while others remain essentially unused. For example, two outlets in my home office and one at my bedside charge my MacBook Pro 15″, Desktop PC, battery backup, modem, router, Synology Disk Station NAS, iPad Pro 12.9″, my children’s iPad Mini’s, Airpods Pro, Apple Watch, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and more. In fact, I have consulted a professional electrician to dedicate breakers and outlets to prevent overuse/overburden.

Unless you install USB-capable outlets, you must employ a USB HUB or a multiport charger like those from UGREEN. If you have not read my recent Nexode 45W Charger review, I invite you to peruse the link. The review discussed some of the benefits of the GaN technology, which is an essential factor in newer chargers like those in the Nexode line of chargers.

The UGREEN Nexode 140W charger arrived in a 5 3/8 inches wide by 5 3/8 inches tall by 1 11/16 inches tall retail package. I appreciated the use of a dark black background instead of the customary white color scheme and the use of light fonts against the black base. The white company name was listed along the upper left corner, while the golden/bronze Nexode 140W charger name was listed just beneath the UGREEN name.

The cover’s lower edge provided a white-colored 140W ink outline and a GaNFast icon. The main focal point of the cover had to be the central image of the UGREEN charger. Large, obliquely-angled, glossy, and slightly raised, the dark grey-colored Nexode charger provided a good visual lesson of the features: retractable type-A wall prongs, single USB-A 3.0, and double USB-C ports. The shadow/gradient of the image added an extra layer of allure to the overall presentation.  

The rear panel, like the front cover, benefited from the white font on the black background. The panel displayed the product specifications within a well-organized list: Input 100-240V-50/60Hz 2.0A Max, USB-C1 output 5.0V/3A 9.0V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 28V/5A 140W Max, USB-C2 5.0V/3A 9.0V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 28V/5A 100W Max, USB-A Output 5.0V/4.5A 4.5V/5A 5.0V/3A 9.0V/2A 12V/1.5A 22.5W Max, Total Output 140.0W Max.

Below the charger specifications list, you will find the cable specifications list: USB-C, 5.0A current, 1.5m length, 240.0W Max output. The lower edge of the panel displayed the manufacturer contact information (www.UGREEN.com address, and support@ugreen.com email), manufacturer labels, and the UPC barcode with CD289 model number.   Lastly, I greatly appreciated the blank space on the cover plus the side panels, and that the company had enough confidence in their product to leave entire panels blank. I have found that many companies over-complicated their packaging with redundancy and unnecessary images/text.  

I removed the tape on the back panel, removed the lid, and then the plastic-wrapped 140W Nexode charger from a plastic tray. Before disposing of the packaging, make sure to look under the tray for the User instruction manual (FCC/IC Statements), the nine-panel user manual, and the plastic wrapped, braided, 60 5/16 inches long USB-C to USB-C cable.

At each end of the cable, you will find a 1/4 inches long metallic USB-C prong, a 5/8 inches long by 7/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches thick dark grey neck segment with black “UGREEN” logo, and then a tapering 9/16 inches long by 1/4 inches wide black collar. The entire end segments measured 1 7/16 inches long each and left a robust 57 7/16 braided cable between the ends. To test the 1.9-ounce cable, I gripped the metallic prongs and bent them forward/backward 25 times each and then tugged against the braided cable/prong.

For the second test, I gripped the dark grey neck segment and black tapering collar segment and repeated the test. For the third test, grabbed the black collar segment and cable and repeated the test. Lastly, grabbed each of the neck segments and pulled outward. I was pleased with the robust design of the cable and with the quality of the product. 

Before plugging the 140W, 10.3 ounces, 3 inches wide by 3 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches thick Nexode into one of my wall outlets, I decided to peruse the instruction manual. Like the outer packaging, the company chose to utilize a dark background for its instruction manual. I liked the layout and found the white images popped against the dark base. The first two panels provided helpful labeled diagrams of the USBA port, dual USB-C ports, and suggested uses for the USB-A (Mobile/watch/headphone), and USB-C ports (Laptop/Tablet/Mobile).

The third panel provided a charger/cable specification tablet similar to the rear panel of the outer packaging, while the fourth panel provided a helpful power diagram. If just the USB-A port is used, you can expect 22.5 W max output. If the USB-A port and either USB-C port are used, you can expect 22.5W max output from the USB-A port and 100W from either of the USB-C ports. If both USB-C ports are utilized, you can expect 65W from each port. If all three ports are utilized, you can expect 22.5W from the USB-A port, 45W from the USB-C1 port, and 65W from the USB-C2 port. The rear panels listed some product-specific notes in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese, followed by a diagram of the package contents. 

I deployed the retractable type A wall prongs, plugged the 140W Nexode device into a standard 120V wall outlet, and then plugged a Klein Tools multimeter into each USB-C port. The multimeter remained blank until I plugged a USB-C to USB-C cable into the multimeter. At that point, the multimeter displayed 5.17V/0A. I repeated the test with a USB-C to lightning cable and found the same result.

I then plugged a USB-C to USB-C cable in between the multimeter and my iPad Pro 12.9″ fifth Generation and found the display showed 15.14-17V/2.33-2.35A. I removed the USB-C cable from the multimeter and plugged it into the multimeter attached to the USB-C2 (lower) port. With the setup, the display showed the same readings. I tried this with my iPhone 13 Pro Max and a USB-C to Lightning cable and the multimeter displayed 9.09V/1.06A for the 100W USB-C1 port and 9.17V/1.08A from the lower USB-C2 140W port.

There was a bit of fluctuation, but the values held relatively stable. I decided to run a test while charging my iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPad Pro 12.9″ simultaneously. I started with 3% power at 4:54 PM for my iPad Pro 12.9″ 5th Generation and 55% for my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I plugged the iPhone 13 Pro Max into the USB-C1 PD 100W port and iPad Pro 12.9″ 5th Gen into the USB-C2 PD 140W port).  

At 5:06 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 15% (15.26V/2.37A), while my iPhone 13 Pro Max was at 70% (9.10V/1.63A). By 5:16 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 23% (15.26V/2.35A), while my iPhone 13 Pro Max was at 78% (9.13V/1.12A). During the testing process, the surface of the GaN charger became warm to the touch.

I used a Nubee infrared thermometer to evaluate the surface temperature and found it to be 108.8 degrees. By 5:34 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 42% (15.31V/2.44A), while the iPhone 13 Pro Max was at 89% (5.19V/1.09A). By 6:00 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 68% power (15.34V/2.37A), while my iPhone 13 Pro Max was at 97% power (5.21V/0.58A). I retested the surface with my hand and noted an increased temperature of 121.8 degrees with the infrared thermometer). 

I removed the iPhone 13 Pro Max from the first USB-C port at 6:00 and plugged in my daughter’s iPad Air 2 at 24%. The multimeter displayed 5.14V/2.70A, while the multimeter attached to the iPad Pro displayed 15.35A/2.07A. To test the USB-A output, I plugged a DROK USB-A multimeter into the USB-A port and then a USB-A to lightning cable between my son’s iPhone 11 and the multimeter. Starting at 6:05 PM, my iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 72% (15.35V/2.13A), the iPad Air 2 was at 26% (5.15V/2.38A), and the iPhone 11 was at 26% (5.21V/1.43A). By 6:20 PM, the iPad Pro was at 82% (15.38V/1.74A), the iPad Air 2 was at 36% (5.16V/2.37A), and the iPhone 11 was at 35% (5.21V/1.36A). 

By 6:33 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9% was at 90% power (15.41V/1.41A), the iPad Air 2 was at 46% (5.16V/2.3A), and the iPhone 11 was at 45% (5.21V/1.22A). By 6:46 PM, the iPad Pro 12.9″ was at 95% power (15.45V/0.89A), the iPad Air 2 was at 56% power (5.16V/2.38A), and the iPhone 11 was at 54% power (5.21V/1.14A). By 7:04 PM, my iPad Pro 12.9″ was fully charged (15.45V/0.56A), the iPad Air 2 was at 67% (5.16V/2.34A), and the iPhone 11 was at 64% (5.20V/1.06A). When I removed the iPad Pro 12.9″ from the charger, I found the multimeter attached to the iPad Air 2 and iPhone 11 did not change (5.15V/2.31A and 5.20/1.06, respectively). 

While charging the iPad Air 2 and iPhone 11, I plugged a Nintendo switch into the multimeter attached to the USB-C2 port. The multimeter displayed 15.39V/0.95A, while the Switch started with 44% power (7:07 PM). By 7:19 PM, the iPad Air 2 was at 76% Power (5.15V/2.26A), the iPhone 11 was at 72% power (5.20V/1A), and the Nintendo Switch was at 52% power (15.4V/0.92A). By 7:30 PM, the iPad Air 2 was at 83% power ( 5.16V/2.17A), the iPhone 11 was at 78% power (5.20V/0.98A), and the Nintendo Switch was at 61% power (15.41V/0.86A).

I could not take each device to 100% as I was met with three pairs of sad, pouty, “Puss In Boots” eyes. It was at that point that I stopped charging the above devices and handed them back to my children. My middle son returned to his Smash Brothers Switch game, while my oldest son resumed his Diver O2/First aid training course on his iPhone. Lastly, my youngest daughter saw me charging the iPad and politely asked “Can I watch my iPad?” When she locks her baby blues upon you, finding the word “no” is a bit more challenging. 

With the above tests completed, I removed the UGREEN Nexode 140W charger from the wall, folded the type A prongs back into the device, and placed it into the lower section of my BUBM organizer bag. I was pleased with the output of the device and with the ability to power full-size iPads, a Nintendo Switch, iPhones, and more.

I have used the device to charge my Oculus Quest 2 (now Meta Quest 2), portable Bluetooth speakers, and several other portable devices. I even charged my MacBook Pro several times over at speeds of 20.42-20.53V/0.7-1.82A. Upon initial inspection, the charger may seem a bit large. However, when you compare the 140W GaN charger to the 85W single USB-C output Apple MacBook charger, the power of the Nexode 140W charger becomes more obvious.

The Apple charger is slightly taller than the Nexode 140W while the Nexode is slightly thicker than the Apple charger. Either way, it was impressive to see that UGREEN provided 64% more output in the same amount of weight/space.  

Learn more about the UGREEN Nexode and their family of GaN chargers. Follow UGREEN on Facebook and Twitter.

I am a father of 4, a full-time physician, movie-fan, Cub Scout Leader, part-time gamer and I have a touch of the prepper. I absolutely love science and tech. My goal is to ensure I get the best product and price. My kids and I love games on our Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Oculus Quest, Pokemon GO and anything superhero.

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