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    Acefast Z4 218W review: This 4-port charging station has a unique feature I’ve always wanted

    Acefast is a Chinese accent model that is aware of the right way to seize consideration with its merchandise. Its T8 earbuds have a see-through design that is attractive, and so they mix a great design with nice sound and reasonably priced 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 would not have a wholly clear design, you get an acrylic window on the entrance that reveals off the circuitry behind the charging ports, and that simply appears to be like plain cool. But what I like essentially the most is that the Z4 has a 1.3-inch LCD display that reveals real-time charging data.I’m obsessive about USB-C energy meters and seeing how briskly devices cost in real-world use, and having a display on the charging station itself is a terrific transfer — I’m undecided why extra established manufacturers have not considered doing so already.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Anyway, the Z4 is simply as value-focused as Acefast’s different merchandise, and this 4-port charging station that has a complete energy funds 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 extra ports, it prices $199.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)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.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I’ll 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 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 would not choose up a lot mud. There’s an Acefast emblem up high, however apart from that, the design is in any other case clear.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The construct high quality is on par with the very best GaN chargers, and the rubber toes 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 fitted to portability — that is one thing you will want to make use of in your desk. On that be aware, Acefast makes use of a removable energy cable, and the cable itself is 1.5 meters.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There’s a button subsequent to the display, and that is used to vary the facility modes. While most different charging stations change the facility funds dynamically primarily based on variety of gadgets linked, Acefast offers you the flexibility to decide on the wattage that goes to every port. There are 4 modes in complete, and you may principally swap off energy to a port in case you’re charging two gadgets that want 100W on the identical time. You do not get this degree of customizability on different charging stations, and it is nice to see.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Here’s a rundown of the modes, and the facility funds obtainable with every:Mode A (213W Total): 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 Total): 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 Total): 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 Total): 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 quite a lot of choices that the Z4 can be utilized in, and Mode A makes quite a lot of sense if you wish to maximize the potential of all of the ports. Mode B is nice in case 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’s good to cost two gadgets at 100W concurrently, and you should use the opposite port to cost any accent on the identical time.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The better part is that the display reveals all of this information in real-time; you will 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 would not get outdated. Even although the charging station has an LCD display of its personal, it would not draw any energy when idling, one other plus level.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I examined the Z4 with over a dozen gadgets over the course of the final two months, together with the Pixel 8 Pro, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Xiaomi Notebook 120G, iPad Pro, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, iQOO 12, and a ton of equipment. It delivered a dependable cost all through, and I measured the on-screen information with my very own energy meter linked to the opposite finish of the cable — a Chargerlab Power-Z KM003C — and it was in step with what the facility meter confirmed.The Z4 has a transparent edge in that it has a complete energy funds of 218W, and it’s a significantly nice alternative in case you use Samsung telephones. It did not have any points charging two gadgets at 100W in Mode D, and whereas the charging station bought slightly heat, it did not exceed 42 levels — in step with different chargers I examined lately.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Overall, Acefast did an excellent 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 is an enormous differentiator. But the place it actually 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 that reveals how briskly linked gadgets are being charged, and for what you are paying, you might be getting an insane worth. 

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