There are two Ugreen power adapters sitting on my desk. Both carry a list price of $38, both hit the shelves this month, both come from the same manufacturer. One of them does 20 watts more, ships with a cable, and fast charges phones the other one cannot fast charge at all. And yet the weaker of the two is the more interesting device – because it has a display that writes down in real time exactly what is going on.
I’m talking about the Ugreen Nexode Pro with 45 watts. And the question I ask in the video, the one I still have no good answer to, is this: why would anyone build something like this in 2026?
- 45W GaN II Fast Charging & Smart Battery Health Protection: UGREEN USB‑C charger utilizes upgraded GaN II for 45W max fast charging that charges iPhone 17 Pro to 70% in 30 mins. Its intelligent 3‑stage trickle charging dynamically tunes power to prevent overcharging, heat buildup and battery aging, allowing safe overnight charging and longer battery life for phones, tablets and USB‑C laptops
- 180° Rotatable Touch Screen & Real‑Time Charging Monitoring: Equipped with a 180° rotatable touch screen in ergonomic 45° tilt for flexible viewing angles, its high‑sensitivity always‑on touch interface displays real‑time power, voltage, current, temperature and protocol data. A standby emoji visualizes charging progress, solving blind‑charging issues for an intelligent charging experience
- Multi‑Layer Safety & GaN Heat Dissipation: Featuring a smart temperature‑control chip with full safety protections, the optimized GaN design enables low‑temperature stable 45W continuous fast charging for device protection, and it holds TÜV Rheinland certification for trusted safety performance
- Mini Compact Body & Anti‑Scratch Foldable Plug: 45% smaller than bulky conventional chargers, this ultra‑portable charger has a foldable AC plug to avoid scratching bags and gear. Its streamlined mini footprint saves socket space for travel, business trips, outdoor and desktop charging (Size: 1.57 x 1.73 x 1.50 in)
- PD & PPS Dual‑Protocol Wide Compatibility: This 45W wall charger supports PD and PPS fast‑charging protocols for broad compatibility with iPhone 17/16/15 Pro Max, Galaxy S26/S25/S24, iPads, MacBook Air, USB‑C laptops, Steam Deck, Oculus Quest and other USB‑C devices to satisfy home, office and travel charging needs
The display is the real reason to look
Chargers with a wattage readout are nothing new. This one goes a step further: it also shows the voltage in volts, the current in amps and – this is the clever part – the charging protocol in use. So you don’t just see that it’s charging, you see what it’s charging with.
Hold the button for two seconds and you reach the menu, which offers exactly two settings: PPS priority and a permanently enabled always-on display. That’s it. Build quality is flawless, the size is ideal for travel, and the display is honestly the best I have seen on a charger in this price range.
The cross-check: how accurate is that readout?
A readout is only worth as much as its accuracy, so I put the adapter up against my $120 power meter. The setup: the 3 amp cable Apple includes with its devices, an iPhone on the end of it, the meter in between.
The result is encouraging. On voltage, both read exactly 14.9 volts. On current they’re effectively level, just under three amps on the charger and 2.8 amps on the meter. On power there are a few watts between them, with the charger reporting slightly more. So if you want to know how fast your phone is actually charging, you get a usable measuring tool thrown in for $38. And if you want to check that without buying hardware at all, you can run my free Charge Check right in your browser.
And this is where it falls apart
Here comes the part that makes this a strange product. The iPhone 18 Pro Max draws up to 54 watts – but only if the adapter supports AVS. This one doesn’t, and it only does 45 watts anyway. For Apple’s newest generation it is simply the wrong device.
Samsung looks much the same. The Galaxy S26 Ultra charges at 60 watts over PPS. The Ugreen does support PPS – but only up to 45 watts. Right protocol, wrong power.
Both of those phones landed in stores in the very same month this adapter did. So if you just bought yourself a new flagship, this is the wrong pick. And if the new phone is already in the house, it’s worth looking at the rest of the kit too – I’ve worked my way through the current crop of iPhone 18 Pro cases as well as the tempered glass options for the same model.
- Advanced AVS Fast Charging for iPhone 18 Pro Series: Supports multiple fast-charging protocols, including the latest AVS protocol for dynamic power adjustment. Charge your iPhone 18 Pro Max to approximately 50% in just 15 minutes, making it an ideal charging companion for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ultra-Compact and Effortlessly Portable: Measuring just 1.22×1.30×1.59 inches, this charger features an ultra-compact design with foldable prongs for convenient travel. It fits into your pocket without feeling bulky, making it ideal for everyday carry. Whether you're commuting, traveling, or on a business trip, it ensures you can conveniently charge your devices anytime, anywhere
- GaN Technology – Small Yet Safe: UGREEN's tiny cube charger features the latest-generation GaN chip, making charging safer than ever. Thermal Guard technology prevents overheating, so you can enjoy fast charging with complete peace of mind. Plus, 8 active and passive protections (over-temperature, short-circuit, over-voltage, etc.) ensure worry‑free use
- Sleek finish and practical: This charger features a sleek, minimalist design with a starry silver-gray matte finish. The USB-C port panel is covered in translucent frosted glass, while the lower section is precision-engraved with 24 fine ridges—enhancing grip and adding a touch of sophistication. It’s more than a power adapter; it’s a desktop ornament that elevates your space
- One for all: This single charger powers nearly all your devices — from iPhone 12 through 17, Galaxy S23 to S26, Galaxy A and Z series, Pixel 7 to 10, to iPad Air/Pro, AirPods, MacBook Air/Neo/Pro, Steam Deck, and countless other USB-C gadgets. One power source. All covered
The punchline
And now the best bit, and I mean this without any malice: this is the only charger where you get to watch, live, everything it cannot do. You plug in your new iPhone and that bright, beautiful display tells you in real time: no AVS. It shows you its own limit. To two decimal places.
When nothing is plugged in, by the way, it shows cats. Those work flawlessly.
Pros and cons
✓ Best display I’ve seen on a charger at this price
✓ Shows watts, volts, amps and the charging protocol
✓ Readings matched a $120 power meter in my test
✓ Excellent build quality, compact travel size
✓ PPS on board
✗ No AVS – the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max won’t charge at full speed
✗ Only 45 watts, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra wants 60
✗ No cable in the box
✗ The same maker sells considerably more power for the same money
Who should buy it – and who shouldn’t
Buy it if: you’re charging an iPhone 17 or 17 Pro, an iPad or an Apple Watch and you want a small travel charger with a readout. 45 watts is plenty for those devices, and nothing else at this price has a display like it. That’s money well spent.
Skip it if: you own an iPhone 18 Pro, an 18 Pro Max or a Galaxy S26 Ultra. In that case take the Ugreen Nexode Air with 65 watts for the same money: same manufacturer, same $38, 20 watts more, AVS on board, and a 100 watt cable in the box. You lose the display – but there’d be nothing left on it to watch going wrong.
Verdict
The Ugreen Nexode Pro 45W is not a bad charger. It’s a genuinely good charger for 2025. Build, size and display are beyond reproach, and a year ago 45 watts was the number that was enough. It’s just that something happened this year, and this adapter didn’t come along for the ride.
I fully expect Ugreen to drop this display into a stronger model sooner or later. That will be a device you really can charge everything with. Until then: wait it out, or take the Air.
And if your next phone is already on the shopping list: for the folding model I’ve started testing the first cases for the iPhone Duo, and I’ve also put the screen protection for the iPhone Duo through its paces.