Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
Apple’s move to remove the charger from the box has had at least one positive outcome: It’s spawned a whole new competitive industry focused on ultra-fast chargers, creating a sea of options that companies are now trying to differentiate themselves on beyond basics like charging speed and number of ports.
A great example of this phenomenon is the Acefast Z4, a GaN charger that surpasses other chargers in features other than fast charging. It has four ports with a total output of over 200W, meaning you can use it to charge almost any phone, accessory, or even a laptop. But its biggest advantage is its attractive looks, making it the best looking and most affordable charger I’ve ever used.
Have you ever seen a charger like this?
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
Appearance is a big part of the appeal of this Acefast Z4 charger, so the first thing that catches your eye is its attractive design. The outer body is made from hard plastic, but the titanium-colored finish makes it look like a brushed metal surface. While attractive, this titanium-like surface is not the main highlight of the design. Instead, three elements accentuate the charger’s aesthetics:
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First, the transparent panel on the front. Acefast went to great lengths to expose the circuit board inside, which for a gadget geek like me is a great look. It will undoubtedly be more insightful for those who can appreciate not just a glimpse of the cool looking tech parts, but also understand what’s inside, the resistors, the capacitors, and so on. But to me (and to many like me), it’s as enigmatic as the inscriptions of Aurebesh. Still, it’s a lovely, remarkable sight that grabs your attention every time you see it, regardless of how many times you’ve seen it before.
Four USB ports (three Type-C and one Type-A) emerge from the charger’s circuit board through a transparent panel, and while adding lighting around the ports would make it even nicer, the current look is better than most chargers I’ve had on my desk in the past.
A display that will make you want to visit again and again
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
The second visually interesting feature is the color display on the front. Displays are becoming increasingly common on chargers and power banks, as they’re useful for showing remaining charge and charging speed. But these are mostly limited to a monochrome window that displays unattractive, calculator-like text. Unlike these eyesores, the Acefast Z4 has a color TFT panel. It’s roughly the same size as the Apple Watch’s display, but having it on a charger is a bonus. It’s not super vibrant or clear, but it’s good enough to grab anyone’s attention and be readable from a reasonable distance.
The display’s contents are divided into six small rectangular areas. The top is reserved for branding, while the bottom displays a mode that changes the maximum speed of each port (more on that later). The other four are color-coded and map to each of the four USB ports. These colored boxes show real-time charging and the maximum speed supported across the ports. Aside from the change in charging speed, the contents remain essentially unchanged.
Additionally, the display auto-adjusts its brightness to suit the lighting around you, which is definitely useful if you’re using the charger in a dark place, like on a bedside table at night, and prevents the backlight from becoming irritating.
It would be nice if the power bank had the option to customize the display and set a screensaver, like the one on this one, but considering that the existing features are clearly better than other chargers, I can’t complain.
One-Button Control
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
The third aesthetic feature of the charger is the large, square button between the screen and the USB ports, which serves two purposes: press it once to cycle through the different modes (changing the speed of each port), and press it twice to put the screen to sleep (in case it gets in the way) (press it again to reactivate the display).
The button itself doesn’t add much to the look of the charger, but it’s a convenience feature — and one that many other chargers don’t have. Most other multi-port chargers only operate at a default speed based on the number of ports plugged in. This often means that high-speed ports aren’t used to their full capacity and low-speed ports are limited to lower speeds than you’d like. So manual control allows for greater utility and optimal performance across the various ports.
But is it a good charger?
Charging speeds for a 13-inch MacBook Pro, an 11-inch iPad Pro, a OnePlus 12, and wireless earphones. Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
The Acefast Z4 stands out from other chargers with its aesthetic appeal, but it doesn’t compromise on its main purpose (which unfortunately isn’t just about good looks).
Powered by GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology, the charger supports a total output of 218 watts distributed across four ports. There are four configurations or modes of charging distribution that can be toggled using the button on the front. The distribution in the different modes is as follows:
Mode A Mode B Mode C Mode D USB-C 1 100W 65W 100W 100W USB-C 2 65W 65W 100W 100W USB-C 3 30W 65W Off 18W USB-A 18W 18W 18W Off
These power ratings are enough to charge most of the portable devices we use on a daily basis. Acefast Z4 supports common charging protocols such as USB-PD (Power Delivery) 3.0 and PPS (Programmable Power Supply). With these covered, it can charge most devices, including not only mobile devices but also laptops, portable game consoles, and even portable monitors.
Over the past few months, I’ve been using it as my desk, charging my 13″ MacBook Pro, my 11″ iPad Pro, the half-dozen phones I carry around with me all day, countless pairs of earphones, and pretty much anything that can be powered by a USB connection. Though the USB-A end has fewer cables, the port supports up to 18W of charging, so you can charge your iPhone at top speed, as well as accessories like earphones or wireless headphones, or PC peripherals like a wireless keyboard, mouse, or monitor light.
Charge anything, anywhere
The 5-foot cord has an EU-type plug on the end. A US-type is also available. Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
The Acefast charger is a reliable companion and even more beneficial when traveling. It eliminates the need to carry multiple chargers and worry about some devices running out of battery. Consistent fast charging on all ports ensures that no device is left behind. The unfortunate exceptions are Android devices that use their own fast charging technology and require a very specialized charger, or my old iPhone 11, which unfortunately does not have fast charging capabilities. Apart from that, if you have a powerful gaming laptop, the 100W output may not be nearly enough to keep them afloat.
Overall, you won’t need a separate charger, whether you’re using it in a fixed location or while traveling. One thing to consider is that the Acefast charger isn’t particularly light. It weighs about 650 grams, or about 1.4 pounds. While that might seem heavy on its own, when you consider the combined weight and space of four similarly fast-charging chargers, that concern quickly disappears.
The company offers a 5-foot-long cable with options for nearly any plug type, depending on your region, so you can access a power outlet even in the tightest spaces, and the cord comes with an organizer tag to make your life easier, whether you want to keep your desk neat or carry it compactly.
Handsome without any thought
Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends
The Acefast Z4’s beautiful looks make it easy to distinguish it from the crowd of similarly drab chargers. The information-rich display will appeal to anyone, like me, who worries about whether their gadgets are charging as fast as possible. If not, the colorful elements will liven up any desk or flat surface you place the charger on.
This charger is quite reliable as it can fast charge multiple devices simultaneously with transfer speeds of up to 100W per port, and what’s even more interesting is that it has a button to switch between different charging speeds between different ports for better optimization.
But what really makes this charger attractive is its price. The Acefast Z4 can be purchased for just $80. By comparison, chargers with similarly fast, triple-digit charging speeds are significantly more expensive. You probably won’t find a more efficient, better-looking charger at this price. That makes the Acefast Z4 one of my favorite accessories I’ve tested and used recently.
