Acefast is a Chinese language accent model that is aware of tips on how to seize consideration with its merchandise. Its T8 earbuds have a see-through design that is attractive, and so they mix a very good design with nice sound and inexpensive pricing. The model carried the see-through aesthetic to its Crystal 65W GaN chargers, providing distinctive designs with enticing colours and three charging ports at simply $25.
The Z4 218W charging station builds on that heritage, and whereas it does not have a completely clear design, you get an acrylic window on the entrance that exhibits off the circuitry behind the charging ports, and that simply seems to be plain cool. However what I like essentially the most is that the Z4 has a 1.3-inch LCD display screen that exhibits real-time charging data.
I am obsessive about USB-C energy meters and seeing how briskly devices cost in real-world use, and having a display screen on the charging station itself is a terrific transfer — I am unsure why extra established manufacturers have not considered doing so already.
Anyway, the Z4 is simply as value-focused as Acefast’s different merchandise, and this 4-port charging station that has a complete energy finances of 218W prices simply $80 on Amazon. I used UGREEN’s Nexode 200W because the go-to charging station for the higher a part of the final 18 months, and whereas it has two further ports, it prices $199.
Acefast included three USB-C ports together with a USB-A port on the Z4, and that is the perfect configuration for a charging station. The USB-C ports are labeled — C1, C2, and C3 — and so they go as much as a most of 100W over the USB PD 3.0 protocol, with the USB-A port hitting 18W.
I am going to get to how the charging station holds up in real-world use a bit under, however first, I wish to speak concerning the design. The Z4 stands out fairly a bit due to the display screen and the clear design up entrance, and it jogs my memory fairly a little bit of the Sharge 170 energy financial institution. The remainder of the charging station is made out of sentimental contact plastic, and it does not choose up a lot mud. There’s an Acefast brand up prime, however aside from that, the design is in any other case clear.
The construct high quality is on par with the finest GaN chargers, and the rubber ft on the backside make sure the Z4 stays planted on a desk. The unit is pretty small for a charging station, however it’s heavy, and it is not fairly suited to portability — that is one thing you may want to make use of in your desk. On that observe, Acefast makes use of a removable energy cable, and the cable itself is 1.5 meters.
There is a button subsequent to the display screen, and that is used to alter the facility modes. Whereas most different charging stations change the facility finances dynamically primarily based on variety of gadgets linked, Acefast offers you the power to decide on the wattage that goes to every port. There are 4 modes in complete, and you may principally change off energy to a port when you’re charging two gadgets that want 100W on the identical time. You do not get this stage of customizability on different charging stations, and it is nice to see.
Here is a rundown of the modes, and the facility finances out there with every:
- Mode A (213W Whole): USB-C1 (100W) + C2 (65W) + C3 (30W) + USB-A (18W)
- USB-C1 (100W Max): 3.3-21V/5A (PPS, 100W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/5A (100W)
- USB-C2 (65W Max): 3.3-11V/5A (PPS, 55W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/3.25A (65W)
- USB-C3 (30W Max): 3.3-11V/3A (PPS, 30W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/2.5A (30W), 15V/2A (30W), 20V/1.5A (30W)
- USB-A (18W Max): 5V/3A (15W), 9V/2A (18W), 12V/1.5A (18W)
- Mode B (213W Whole): USB-C1 (65W) + C2 (65W) + C3 (65W) + USB-A (18W)
- USB-C1/C2 (65W Max): 3.3-11V/5A (PPS, 55W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/3.25A (65W)
- USB-C3 (65W Max): 3.3-21V/3A (PPS, 30W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (345W), 20V/3.25A (65W)
- USB-A (18W Max): 5V/3A (15W), 9V/2A (18W), 12V/1.5A (18W)
- Mode C (218W Whole): USB-C1 (100W) + C2 (100W) + USB-A (18W)
- USB-C1/C2 (100W Max): 3.3-21V/5A (PPS, 100W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/5A (100W)
- USB-A (18W Max): 5V/3A (15W), 9V/2A (18W), 12V/1.5A (18W)
- Mode D (218W Whole): USB-C1 (100W) + C2 (100W) + C3 (18W)
- USB-C1/C2 (100W Max): 3.3-21V/5A (PPS, 100W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/5A (100W)
- USB-C3 (18W Max): 3.3-11V/2A (PPS, 18W Max), 5V/3A (15W), 9V/2A (18W), 12V/1.5A (18W)
Clearly, there’s numerous choices that the Z4 can be utilized in, and Mode A makes numerous sense if you wish to maximize the potential of all of the ports. Mode B is nice when you do not want 100W of charging energy, however need 65W unfold out over all of the USB-C ports. Modes C and D are nice if it is advisable to cost two gadgets at 100W concurrently, and you should use the opposite port to cost any accent on the identical time.
One of the best half is that the display screen exhibits all of this knowledge in real-time; you may see the utmost wattage assigned to every port in real-time. And like I mentioned in the beginning, it is simply nice to have the ability to see how a lot cost is being delivered to linked gadgets in real-time — I used the Z4 for the higher a part of two months now, and it does not get previous. Although the charging station has an LCD display screen of its personal, it does not draw any energy when idling, one other plus level.
I examined the Z4 with over a dozen gadgets over the course of the final two months, together with the Pixel 8 Professional, Galaxy S24 Extremely, Xiaomi Pocket book 120G, iPad Professional, Xiaomi 13 Extremely, iQOO 12, and a ton of equipment. It delivered a dependable cost all through, and I measured the on-screen knowledge with my very own energy meter linked to the opposite finish of the cable — a Chargerlab Energy-Z KM003C — and it was in keeping with what the facility meter confirmed.
The Z4 has a transparent edge in that it has a complete energy finances of 218W, and it’s a notably nice selection when you use Samsung telephones. It did not have any points charging two gadgets at 100W in Mode D, and whereas the charging station acquired a bit heat, it did not exceed 42 levels — in keeping with different chargers I examined just lately.
Total, Acefast did a superb job with the Z4, and this 4-port charging station has all of the options you want — it delivers a dependable cost, has a novel design, and the display screen is a giant differentiator. However the place it really excels is the worth; you are simply paying $80 for this charger, and that is a steal.
Acefast Z4 218W 4-Port Charging Station
The Z4 charging station has all the facility you want, and it has a novel design with a see-through window. You additionally get a 1.3-inch display screen that exhibits how briskly linked gadgets are being charged, and for what you are paying, you might be getting an insane worth.Â