This one small feature makes this travel charger my favorite for business trips

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I’m amazed by how compact powerful chargers have become. You can now get a 65W charger that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, something that wasn’t possible a few years ago. 

This miniaturization is thanks mostly to the switch from silicon transistors to gallium nitride (GaN), which allows manufacturers to produce smaller units that are more robust. Adding more ports is the most obvious move, but lately we’ve seen a new trend built-in retractable cables.    

Also: The best GaN chargers you can buy

The new Ugreen Nexode 65W fast charger is one such unit, and it has it all: three output ports and a cool retractable cable system, so you’ll never come back to find that your cable has been “borrowed.” 

Note that in the photos I’m using the UK version, but the specs I’ll be giving are for the US version.

The cable — which can expand out to 27-inches and is made from a tough, table-resistant polymer — can push out up to 60W of power, while the USB-C port is capable of 65W max, and the legacy USB-A port is good for 22.5W. Use all three ports and the cable can push a maximum of 45W, which the two ports are limited to 7.5W each.

The charger supports both 45W and 25W PPS, as well as 65W PD protocols for fast charging. 

Also: My favorite travel charger is a power user’s dream – and works in over 220 countries

I am quite wary of retractable reels on products, but Ugreen claims this has been tested to withstand over 25,000 retractions, and based on my testing, I think it’s not going to be a problem.

Ugreen have also paid attention to small details, here. For example, the end of the cable parks itself in place magnetically after retraction, so the connector is not flapping in the breeze.

I’ve done my usual tests on this unit, including running it at maximum output on the cable and all three ports, and this charger stayed nice and cool throughout. 

Also: I drove a tractor over this $45 power bank – it didn’t skip a beat

As far as safety goes, Ugreen added all the protection features you’d expect into the charger, including overvoltage, overcurrent, undervoltage and short-circuit protections. The charger has also been tested to meet or exceed the UL 62368-1 safety standard for electronic devices.

One thing to bear in mind is that it’s a rather heavy charger. Weighing 6.9 ounces (0.4 pounds), it won’t exactly weigh down your bag, but it is something to consider if space is limited while traveling. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

This Ugreen Nexode 65W fast charger is an ideal piece of kit for modern life. Its built-in cable is especially handy if you live or work somewhere where cables are always going walkabout, and it has three outputs, so you could charge your phone, and trickle charge your earbuds and small power bank.

The price is also very good, especially on sale for $33 on Amazon.