Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger review: The most power comes with a high price

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Power at a price

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger review: The most power comes with a high price

This $180 charger is one of the most expensive out there, but information technology's likely the best for frequent travelers who need the about ability.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

Reviewing USB travel chargers is not on my list of fun things to practise, but when a visitor brings something new to the table, I'm all ears. That'due south how I felt about Razer's new USB-based travel charger that can output an impressive 130 watts combined. Most travel chargers peak at 110 watts, which is fine for many, but not enough for those with a power-thirsty laptop and maybe three other devices.

Of course, Razer sets the bar loftier at $180, making this charger only for those who demand the power and don't mind dropping some extra bling for the privilege.

Here'due south what you need to know.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger

Bottom line: Razer'southward new GaN charger appears to be the nigh powerful on the marketplace. Information technology includes adapters for travel, a long Type-C cable, and a very high sticker price worth it for some, just not others.

The Good

Highest output of any travel charger
Includes regional ability adapters, nice Type-C cablevision
Excellent, meaty design

The Bad

Absurdly expensive
Unstable wall mount

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger: Price and availability

Source: Razer

Currently, the Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger is only sold directly through Razer.com. Information technology is priced at $179.99. Stock availability varies.

At that place are two colors available, including black or white.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger: What's adept

Razer'south charger with included U.One thousand. and Eu adapters (default is U.S.). Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

The Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger has a standard design existence a solid square-ish block. Information technology's pretty dumbo for its size weighing in at 283 grams (0.62 pounds) without any cables. So, while y'all can fit information technology in your pocket, you'll also certainly observe it in your pocket too.

A fancy 2-meter Type-C to Type-C cable is included. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

But that weight is worth it. Most travel chargers can only tiptop at around 100 watts of total output. This charger hits 130 watts. That power is thank you to the Gallium Nitride (GaN) materials used instead of traditional silicon. GaN started hitting consumer products in 2022, and then it'southward relatively new (and more expensive), but its ability to withstand higher electric fields and carry electrons more effectively than silicon lets it achieves these higher numbers in a small parcel.

Razer tosses a 2-meter (6.5-foot) Blazon-C to Type-C cable with textile rope design in the box. While the charger has U.Due south. prongs built in (that collapse for travel), Razer also includes two adapters that fit U.K. and Eu outlets. These adapters slot into the charger if you need them and assist justify the toll a scrap.

While the total output for this charger is 130 watts, at that place are four ports, which suspension downward appropriately for wattage ability:

Port i USB-C (Programmable Power Supply): 100W max shared with port two
Port ii USB-C: 100W max shared with port 1
Port 3 USB-A: 18W shared with port four
Port iv USB-A: 18W shared with port iii

130+ watts confirmed. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

The 100 watts peak is shared between the two Type-C ports. In my tests with a beefy 17-inch gaming laptop using Type-C charging, the max output was 65 to 70 watts — typical for Type-C chargers these days. However, on an HP Envy 14, the Type-C/Thunderbolt 4 port could depict in a peak of fourscore watts (oftentimes bouncing between 65 and 75 watts). On the Dell XPS 17 (2021), information technology could reliably pull in 91 watts from that Type-C port.

In other words, power depict abilities depend on how the OEM fabricated the port.

The remaining Type-A ports can go a max of 18 watts per port or be shared between both.

Razer isn't fibbing about total output, either. Although wattage is rarely consequent from devices every bit they tend to draw based on peak CPU usage and demand, I was able to become 132 watts top when all 4 ports were engaged from two laptops (i gaming, i Ultrabook) and 2 smartphones.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger: What'due south non good

Source: Razer

There are two complaints about the Razer USB-C 130 GaN charger — ane obvious, one not so much.

The first 1 is cost. Paying $180 for a travel charger is a new record. Sure, it uses some new technology (GaN), has the highest top output of any charger I've come up across, and it ships with a lovely cable and 2 travel adapters, making it a complete package. Simply that'southward notwithstanding a ton of coin when you tin purchase two chargers with fewer options.

The second is blueprint. While I appreciate the dual-folding prongs (and the lack of a basis), that same selection makes this charger very unstable when four devices are plugged in at the same fourth dimension (in U.Due south. fashion; Eu and U.1000. adapters are ameliorate). It is very easy to have the charger autumn off the wall when adding or removing plugs to the ports especially if you have a loose outlet. Razer could add an extension cable, which is less elegant, but solves that, or think of a new clever way to stabilize it.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger: Competition

If you have a loose outlet the Razer GaN charger can be wobbly. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Travel chargers are a dime a dozen on Amazon. Some from well-known brands, other fly-by-nighttime, rebranded Chinese designs that could have some risks. That said, the savings are substantial.

For $60 or one-3rd the price of Razer's, there is the Powergence Pro, which claims 110 watts with five ports (3 Type-C, two Type-A). It uses the extended cable so that it won't fall out of the wall, comes with a carrying case, is physically bigger, and weighs more than at 369 grams (vs. 283 grams). Its primary Type-C port can only peak at threescore watts and not (the nearly) 100 watts from the Razer.

Well-known accessories maker Anker has a 100-watt charger with two Type-A and two Type-C. It's still not cheap at $99, is physically larger and heavier, but it is nevertheless almost half that of Razer's.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger: Should you buy it?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

You lot should purchase this if ...

You want the smallest, almost potent travel charger on the market place
Price is not an outcome
Y'all want a complete travel kit
Yous demand to charge many things at in one case

You shouldn't buy this if ...

You want the best deal
An extra xx watts is not worth the extra $100

I'one thousand mixed on the Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger.

On the one hand, it's the smallest, lightest, and well-nigh powerful travel charger you tin get right now. Information technology looks great, and it really can output 130 watts. That departure can matter for some who travel with many accessories and detest losing output when more than things are charging. Its principal Type-C port draws over xc watts (from the proper devices), more and then than near competitors I'm aware of on the marketplace.

And in that sense, the Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger is a success. It does a agglomeration of "firsts."

But the unstable pattern and specially that $180 request price is but and then much for some minor gains. Aye, the Powergence Pro "only" has 110 watts output, is bigger, and a flake heavier, simply you lot tin literally buy 2 of them and still have $60 leftover to buy half-dozen more than cables for all your gear (it comes with two). Sure, the Type-C port maxes at just sixty watts, just for some people, that'due south simply fine.

I guess that's where the value from Razer'due south charger comes into the flick. Just how much are y'all willing to pay for 130 watts of output in a tiny charger? How badly practice y'all need 90+ watts from a single Blazon-C port? For some, I can run across the justification, merely that loftier asking price is simply besides high for near people, which is a shame.

Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger

Bottom line: Razer'south new GaN charger appears to be the most powerful on the market. Information technology includes adapters for travel, a long Blazon-C cablevision, and a very loftier sticker price worth it for some, only not others.

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Daniel Rubino

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft hither since 2007 back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, laptops, and mod computing. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/razer-gan-130w-charger-review

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Razer USB-C 130W GaN Charger review: The most power comes with a high price