Full marks for the aww factor, as this is one of the cutest chargers I have ever used. But while the robot design face is adorable, the screen could be more useful. There is also the issue of where to keep the legs when the charger is plugged in.
Pros
+
So adorable
+
65W fast charging
+
Decent selection of ports
Cons
-
Screen is limited to cuteness only
-
Legs are superfluous when in use
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Usually when I am picking the best charger for my phone or camera, I don’t put much consideration into how my charger looks, sure I want it to be compact and sleek, but at the end of the day, I care more about how functional it is at powering my devices up quickly.
That is until I was sent the Ugreen Nexode RG chargers, which might be the cutest chargers I have ever used...
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
Ugreen Nexode RG: Specifications
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Total ports
3 (USB-C x2, USB-A x1)
Total Output
65W Max
Size
63.6 × 55 × 67.7 mm / 2.5 × 2.17 × 2.67 in
Weight
181g / 6.39oz
Ugreen Nexode RG: Price
Despite the unique design and tiny screen, the Ugreen Nexode RG doesn’t actually come as much of a premium over more traditional (i.e. boring) 65w chargers from Ugreen, Anker, or even Apple. At the time of writing, there is even a slight discount on the RG that puts it cheaper than Ugreen’s regular 65w charger.
Ugreen Nexode RG: Design & Handling
The Ugreen Nexode RG charger resembles a little robot wearing headphones – and why not, it's fun and it's cute. There are two versions of the plug, one in black and grey, and one in white and pink. The white and pink model also has a little bow on the back.
When you plug the chargers in, you’ll immediately notice the robots also have a little face that lights up. This small screen displays three faces, one expression for no device connected, one for fast charging, and one for trickle charging/charging complete. The faces admittedly aren’t that different, or particularly obvious which one means which, and I quickly forgot, but they are very cute. The USB ports for charging are located along the headphone headband, with three ports consisting of two USB-C ports and one USB-A port.
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
The plug prongs are disguised under the robot’s lower half – you pull off the legs, or perhaps pull its trousers down, whichever you prefer, which exposes the plug. However, this does cause an issue of where to put the detached set of legs after they have been removed as there is no joint that keeps them locked onto the main body.
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
As well as all the cuteness, the charger also is packed with tech including the latest GaN (Gallium Nitrate) chips for cooler performance, and constant thermal monitoring so the plug doesn’t overheat. There is also a mention of the charger being made of skin-friendly materials, which is nice if you want to hug your little robot pal I guess.
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
Ugreen Nexode RG: Performance
The charger itself is capable of outputting a total of 65W, which breaks down as 45W+7.5W+7.5W when using all three ports, or you can get all 65W through the USB-C 1 connection. There are also a plethora of other combinations which I will post below.
Power output combinations for the Nexode RG's different connections. (Image credit: Ugreen)
65W is a very decent output for a charger of this size and I could comfortably charge and use my MacBook Air. I am sure it would be perfect for a Surface Laptop, or other Windows and Chromebook equivalents, although more power-hungry laptops with beefier graphics will struggle to draw enough power in use.
For charging cameras, phones, wearables, and other small devices though, this breakdown of outputs enabled me to top up several small devices at once. The 45W+20W combo charged my iPad Air and Pixel 8 Pro simultaneously at full speed using the two USB-C ports, and I had no issues charging up other devices like my Fujifilm X100VI.
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
Ugreen Nexode RG: Verdict
Whether you are buying this for a child or yourself as a full-grown adult, this is the charger to get if you love your tech to be adorable. The robot design is incredibly cute, while also managing to not be too kitschy.
There are just a few fumbles that stop it being perfect. The screen (or robot’s face) is a delight, but it could be more useful. There is also a big flaw in where to keep the legs once you detach them to get at the plug.
However these minor design issues aside, it is also just a very good charger, with quick speeds for small devices and even low-powered laptops.
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Features
Speedy charging for phones and other small devices
★★★★☆
Design
Come on, it looks like an adorable robot
★★★★★
Performance
Quick charging for small devices, although laptops and power hungry devices will need something more
★★★★☆
Value
Excellent value with no hefty premium for the cute design over similar but boring chargers
★★★★★
(Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World)
✅ Buy this if...
If you want to charge up your tech in style, this is a cute and unique design that makes charging a little less mundane
If you have several small devices, then this charger is the perfect travel companion for charging on the go, and its hidden plug won’t damage anything in your bag.
🚫 Don't buy this if...
If you have a powerful laptop then this charger won’t satisfy its more demanding power consumption
If you want to charge lots and lots of devices at once, the three ports will be limiting, and the total wattage split doesn’t go far
Alternatives
Anker Prime 100W charger
This is also a very compact charger and has folding prongs making it good for travel. It also comes in slightly more powerful. But it doesn't look like a robot… boring.
Ugreen Nexode 300W charger
If you never want to be short of power or ports then this charger has an abundance of both, although isn’t very portable, but makes a great permanent addition to a desk.
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Gareth is a photographer based in London, working as a freelance photographer and videographer for the past several years, having the privilege to shoot for some household names. With work focusing on fashion, portrait and lifestyle content creation, he has developed a range of skills covering everything from editorial shoots to social media videos. Outside of work, he has a personal passion for travel and nature photography, with a devotion to sustainability and environmental causes.
