This funny-looking charger is one of my favorite gadgets of 2024

Apple’s move to remove the charger from the box did at least one good thing: It spawned an entirely new competitive industry focused on super-fast chargers. While that also opened the floodgates to an overwhelming number of options, companies are now looking beyond the basics, like charging speed and number of ports, to differentiate themselves.

A great example of this phenomenon is the Acefast Z4, a GaN charger that outshines most chargers with features that go beyond fast charging. It has four ports and a total output of over 200W, meaning you can charge almost any phone, accessory, and even laptop with this charger. But its biggest selling point is its charming appearance, and I think it might just be the prettiest — and cheapest — charger I’ve ever used.

Have you ever seen a charger like this?

Looks are a big part of the appeal of this Acefast Z4 charger, so the first thing you’ll notice is its winning design. Its exterior is made of rigid plastic, but the titanium-colored finish makes it look like a brushed metal surface. While attractive, this titanium-inspired finish isn’t the main highlight of the design. Instead, three elements explore the charger’s aesthetic.

The first is the transparent panel on the front. Acefast goes all out, exposing the circuit board inside, and for a gadget geek like me, it looks great. For those who are more than interested in just looking at pretty pieces of technology and can understand what’s inside, resistors, capacitors and so on, it would certainly be more insightful. But to me (and, I’m sure, many others like me) it’s as mysterious as the Aurebesh writing. Still, it’s an endearing and unusual sight that catches your eye every time you look at it, no matter how many times you’ve looked at it before.

Four USB ports—three Type-C and one Type-A—extend from the charger’s circuit board through a transparent panel. While I think adding lighting around the ports would make it even more chic, the current aesthetic is better than most chargers I’ve had on my desk.

A display that will make you want to come back to it

The second visually intriguing feature is the colour display on the front. Displays are becoming more common on chargers and power banks, as they help indicate remaining power or charging rate. However, these are mostly limited to monochrome windows with uninspiring calculator-style text. Unlike these unsightly features, the Acefast Z4 has a colour TFT panel, which, while roughly the size of the Apple Watch display, is a bonus on a charger. It’s not particularly vibrant or sharp, but it’s good enough to grab anyone’s attention or be readable from a reasonable distance.

The display content is divided into six smaller rectangular areas. The top one is reserved for branding, and the bottom one displays the mode, which changes the maximum speeds on each port (I’ll discuss this below). The other four are color-coded and assigned to each of the four USB ports. Each of these colored boxes shows real-time charging and the maximum supported speeds on the ports. Other than the changes in charging speed, the content remains essentially unchanged.

In addition, the display has self-adjusting brightness to suit the ambient lighting. This undoubtedly helps when the charger is used in a dark environment, such as on a nightstand at night, and prevents the backlight from being pushed away.

I still wish there were options to customize the display or set a screensaver, like in this power bank. But considering that the existing functionality is clearly greater than what we get in other chargers, I can’t complain.

One-button control

The third aspect of the charger’s aesthetic is the large, square button nestled between the screen and the USB ports. This button serves two purposes: a single press cycles through different modes (changing the speed on each port), and a double press puts the screen to sleep—in case you find it distracting (a second press reactivates the display).

While the button itself is of little consequence to the aesthetics of the charger, it’s a useful feature — one that many other chargers lack. Most other multi-port chargers only operate at default speeds based on the number of ports engaged. This can often mean that the fast ports are not being fully utilized, while the low-speed ones are limited to lower than desired speeds. Having manual control therefore provides better usability and optimal performance across ports.

But is it a good charger?

While the Acefast Z4 easily stands out from other chargers in terms of aesthetics, it also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its main purpose (which, unfortunately, isn’t just about looking pretty).

Thanks to GaN (gallium nitride) technology, the charger supports a total output of 218 watts distributed over four ports. There are four configurations or charge dissipation modes, which can be switched using the button on the front. Here’s what the dissipation looks like in the different modes:

These power values ​​are enough to charge most portable devices that we use regularly. Acefast Z4 supports popular charging protocols, including USB-PD (Power Delivery) 3.0 and PPS (Programmable Power Supply). This means that you can charge most devices – not only mobile devices, but also laptops, portable game consoles, and even portable monitors.

For the past few months, I’ve consistently used it as my desk to charge my 13-inch MacBook Pro, 11-inch iPad Pro, the half-dozen or so phones I juggle throughout the day, countless earbuds, and pretty much anything else that can be powered by a USB connection. While fewer cables these days use USB-A tips, the port supports up to 18W of charging, meaning you can still use it to charge iPhones at top speeds, accessories like earbuds, wireless headphones, and the like — or PC peripherals like wireless keyboards, mice, and monitor lights.

Charges everything, everywhere

I’d say the Acefast charger has proven to be a reliable help, and even more so when travelling. It eliminates the need to carry multiple chargers, leaving no room for worrying about running out of battery on certain devices. Consistent fast charging on all ports ensures that no device gets left behind. Unfortunately, the exceptions here are Android devices that use proprietary fast charging technology and need very specific chargers – or my old iPhone 11, which unfortunately doesn’t have fast charging capabilities. Plus, if you’re using a heavy-duty gaming laptop, the 100W output might just be enough to keep it afloat.

Overall, you won’t miss having another charger, whether you’re using it in a stationary position or on the go. One thing to note is that the Acefast charger isn’t exactly lightweight — it weighs in at around 650 grams or around 1.4 pounds. That might seem like a lot on its own, but your concerns will immediately dissipate when you consider the combined weight and space taken up by four separate chargers with similarly fast charging speeds.

The company offers a 5-foot cable with options for almost every type of plug depending on your region, so you can access power outlets in the tightest of spaces. An organizational label on the cable makes life easier, whether you’re keeping your desk tidy or traveling compact.

Handsome, obvious candidate

The Acefast Z4’s good looks easily set it apart from the slew of similarly boring chargers. The informative display is also engaging if, like me, you’re concerned about whether your gadgets are charging at the highest possible speed. Even if they aren’t, the colorful elements add life to your desk or any flat surface you place the charger on.

The charger’s ability to quickly charge multiple devices at once, with a transfer rate of up to 100W per port, makes it quite reliable. What’s more interesting is the button to switch between different charging speeds on different ports, which helps to optimize them more efficiently.

But what really makes this charger an exciting deal is its price. You can pick up the Acefast Z4 for just $80. In comparison, similarly fast chargers with triple-digit charging speeds can cost significantly more. You probably won’t find a more powerful and better-looking charger at this price, and that makes the Acefast Z4 one of my favorite accessories that I’ve tested and used recently.