A single USB port on a charger is just not enough these days, with many people wanting to recharge not only their smartphone, but also a tablet or a second work phone at the same time. While smartphone manufacturers still only bundle a single port charger with their devices (or increasingly no charger at all), a number of peripheral manufacturers have stepped in to make the products that we all actually need.
AUKEY are one of the manufacturers that have stepped into this chargers and battery market to rave reviews on Amazon and elsewhere, and with something we use as often as a charger – quality matters. So when AUKEY offered to send us their latest Quick charge 3.0 dual USB wall chargers for review – we were more than happy to oblige.
Specifications
- Qualcomm Quick charge 3.0 (backwards compatible with Quick charge 2.0)
- Input: AC 100-240V
- Output 1: 3.6-6.5V/3A 6.5V-9V/2A 9V-12V/1.5A&19.5W(Max)
- Output 2: 3.6-6.5V/3A 6.5V-9V/2A 9V-12V/1.5A&19.5W(Max)
- Dimensions: 64 x 63 x 28mm (LxWxH)
- UK 3-pin plug
- Weight: 116g
AUKEY’s dual charger is one of the first certified to use Qualcomm’s latest Quick charge 3.0 technology, that offers charging of the latest smartphones and tablets 38% faster than chargers using the older 2.0 technology.
The 3.0 technology is brand new and only a handful of smartphones currently support 3.0, but that number will increase in the coming months and most major smartphones do support the 2.0 Quick charge technology, with which it is backwards compatible.
Additionally, for phones and tablets that do not support Qualcomm’s tech, AUKEY has its own Aipower adaptive technology that tries to give all devices the maximum power they can handle up to 5V/2.4A.
Importantly, both USB sockets can fast charge at the same time, so there is no slow down just because you are charging two devices at once.
The plug is very solidly made out of a good quality matte black plastic, and contains no LEDs of other lights, which can be annoying if you’re charging your devices next to your bed. It is also quite large – sticking out 64mm from the wall, and nearly as wide – the width is no problem on a standard UK double socket, but can be a little tight if plugged into an extension lead.
Real-world use
What started off as a test device has quickly replaced the official Sony charger I was using to juice up my Xperia Z5 due to the speed at which it charges. The Z5 only supports Quick charge 2.0, but the device goes from nothing to well over 50% in 45 minutes – which is fantastic if you need to give your phone a quick recharge before heading out.
No-one in the TechFruit office has a Quick charge 3.0 device as their day-to-day smartphone, but a quick test with an HTC 10 did show the device charging even more quickly – reaching 50% in under 35 minutes.
Cost
Amazon lists the full retail price of the dual charger at £40.99, but at the time of review had it on sale for £14.99 – which makes it a very much recommended buy if you are in the market for a new charger for your devices.