Anker’s new charger battles desktop clutter with retractable USB cables

The current trend in USB chargers isn’t adding more power or ports, it’s integrating charging cables that disappear when not in use. Anker was one of the first companies to release a charger with a built-in retractable USB-C cable last October, but its latest charger brings the same convenience to the desktop alongside three AC outlets you won’t need to climb under your desk to access.

Nearly a year ago Anker released a desktop charger with a dial on the side that could be used to adjust the power output of its six USB ports, but at $169.99 it was expensive and required you to supply all your own cables. Anker’s new 7-in-1 Nano Charging Station can only charge four devices over USB, but at $89.99 it’s cheaper and potentially more versatile as you can add additional USB ports by plugging other power adapters into the back of it.

The Nano Charging Station’s biggest selling point is its pair of 2.3-foot long USB-C cables that retract with a quick pull and keep their connectors securely stored using magnets. They’re joined by an additional USB-C and USB-A port on one side.

Another reason this charging station is almost half the price of Anker’s $169.99 option is that it offers less power output. The more expensive option can deliver up to 140W of power to a device, but the Nano maxes out at just 100W when nothing else is plugged in. If you’re charging two devices, the maximum power output drops to between 50W and 88W, depending on which ports are in use.

With devices connected to all four USB ports, the maximum power output is just 30W, which isn’t enough for a laptop. To help ensure you don’t find out the hard way your laptop isn’t adequately charging when it suddenly dies, the charging station includes a 1.3-inch LCD display that shows how much power is being delivered to each connected device.

Although the promises of a completely wireless world through technologies like Wi-Fi and Qi haven’t quite materialized yet, the recent proliferation of chargers and power banks with retractable cables is a suitable consolation prize while we wait for our truly cordless future to arrive.