Review: The Satechi 75W Dual USB-C Travel Charger is a step towards the future
Whether you want it to or not, USB-C will take over as the port of choice for consumers, but the lack of chargers that sport more than one USB-C port stands in the way. The Satechi Dual USB-C Travel Charger packs two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports into a single package -- and it may just help adoption.
Satechi travel charger box
Just announced during the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, the new Satechi USB-C Travel Charger is one of only a very small handful of chargers to make it to market with more than a single USB-C port. With USB-C becoming more ubiquitous by the day, multi-chargers are vital to keeping all of our gear powered.
Those just add to the smorgasbord of USB-C devices we have to charge, including our Macs. While we can't charge all our USB-C devices at once, we are getting there.
USB-C and USB-A ports
On the Satechi Dual USB-C Travel Charger, we have a 60W USB-C PD port, an 18W USB-C PD port, and two USB-A ports. A 13-inch MacBook Pro can -- at max -- take 61W of power, making this a great solution to charge even a 15-inch MacBook Pro adequately, and even keep a 15-inch MacBook Pro from draining unless you're really slamming it with work.
The slower 18W port is great for an iPad Pro or fast charging an iPhone. That leaves two USB-A ports for ancillary devices, be it a pair of headphones, a battery pack, or an Apple Watch.
Satechi does only support a maximum of 75W, so if you have something extra power intensive -- like a MacBook Pro -- other devices will get a bit less power than the max. The power controller will intelligently distribute power based on device requirements, but it will never be more than 75W in total.
Mounting the charger under a desk
Another great option is mounting it under or behind a desk with command strips or velcro. This brings a medley of charging ports easily within reach, and if you use velcro, it can be quickly removed before hitting the road.
In a year or two, we may have more USB-C devices and will likely have more USB-C ports on our chargers. Until then, we've got the Satechi Dual USB-C Travel Charger to handle most of our needs in the near future.
Satechi travel charger box
Just announced during the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, the new Satechi USB-C Travel Charger is one of only a very small handful of chargers to make it to market with more than a single USB-C port. With USB-C becoming more ubiquitous by the day, multi-chargers are vital to keeping all of our gear powered.
USB-C expands
The most recent generation of iPad Pros ditched Lightning in favor of USB-C. By April, we will see dozens of new Lightning USB-C cables flooding the market.Those just add to the smorgasbord of USB-C devices we have to charge, including our Macs. While we can't charge all our USB-C devices at once, we are getting there.
USB-C and USB-A ports
On the Satechi Dual USB-C Travel Charger, we have a 60W USB-C PD port, an 18W USB-C PD port, and two USB-A ports. A 13-inch MacBook Pro can -- at max -- take 61W of power, making this a great solution to charge even a 15-inch MacBook Pro adequately, and even keep a 15-inch MacBook Pro from draining unless you're really slamming it with work.
The slower 18W port is great for an iPad Pro or fast charging an iPhone. That leaves two USB-A ports for ancillary devices, be it a pair of headphones, a battery pack, or an Apple Watch.
Satechi does only support a maximum of 75W, so if you have something extra power intensive -- like a MacBook Pro -- other devices will get a bit less power than the max. The power controller will intelligently distribute power based on device requirements, but it will never be more than 75W in total.
Home or away
These multi-chargers are great for road warriors. They negates the need to have a surplus pile of power bricks taking up space in your bag.Mounting the charger under a desk
Another great option is mounting it under or behind a desk with command strips or velcro. This brings a medley of charging ports easily within reach, and if you use velcro, it can be quickly removed before hitting the road.
A charger for now
We'd have preferred more USB-C ports, but the majority of people aren't quite there yet. They have a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro that needs charging over USB-C plus they have an iPhone they'd like to Fast Charge with a USB-C to Lightning port (for now). Or they have an iPad Pro plus an iPhone to charge with USB-C. This charger lets them do just that with some ports to spare.In a year or two, we may have more USB-C devices and will likely have more USB-C ports on our chargers. Until then, we've got the Satechi Dual USB-C Travel Charger to handle most of our needs in the near future.
Comments
Appleinsider, could you give your thoughts on heat generation a bit more?.