This Anker travel adapter is my only charger I recommend when flying out (and it's cheap)

Source: ZDNet

Review

I like to travel as light as possible. If I can pack what I need into a sling bag and a small rucksack and avoid having to trundle a huge block of luggage about, I’ll do that. But that means cutting everything down as small as possible.

With tech, that can be a challenge—especially when going abroad, because on top of my regular kit I need a travel adapter. These devices are usually pretty bulky affairs. Not anymore! The Anker Nano 5‑port universal travel adapter is the tiniest universal travel adapter I’ve ever tested.

It’s essentially a tiny rectangle with four different power plugs—Type A, Type I, Type G, and Type C—covering over 200 countries, along with dual USB‑C and USB‑A ports and a pass‑through AC socket that supports Type A and Type C (US and European) plugs. When I say it’s tiny, I mean it: a palm‑sized 3.4 × 2.0 × 1.0 in and 3.8 oz.

• A single USB‑C port can output a maximum of 20 W.
• A USB‑A port can push out 12 W maximum.
• When multiple USB ports are used simultaneously, they share a maximum output of 15 W.

This makes the Nano 5‑port travel adapter ideally suited to smaller items such as smartphones, tablets, power banks, and earbuds, as opposed to laptops.

Two USB‑C and two USB‑A ports. — Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET

The best way I used it while traveling was to charge a power bank through the adapter, then connect my other devices to the power bank overnight. This meant everything was fully charged by the morning.

The different plugs pack into the travel adapter very well. Two little sliders deploy the UK (Type G) and US/AU (Type A/I) prongs, and the EU (Type C) prongs fold out. It’s a neat design, even down to the ribbed texture on the outside.

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The whole unit is made from fire‑resistant materials in case things go wrong, and there’s a safety shutter over the AC outlet to prevent fingers or random metal items from touching the live connections. A self‑resetting fuse kicks in if the unit is overloaded.

In short, the unit features all the protections you’d expect from a modern charger: short‑circuit, over‑current, over‑voltage, and over‑temperature protections, so it’s as safe as possible.

The way the prongs all pack away into such a small adapter is genius. — Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET

Another feature I really appreciate is the light on the front, which offers a clear visual indication that the adapter is plugged in properly and on (if the socket is switched, as they are in the UK). I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve not plugged a travel adapter in properly and come back to find my stuff hasn’t charged.

The indicator light on the front is a neat touch, telling you if it’s plugged into the socket properly. — Adrian Kingsley‑Hughes/ZDNET

A note about universal power adapters

This adapter does not change the voltage or frequency of the electricity. It simply passes the voltage and frequency from the power source (the wall outlet) through to your device.

Many modern electronics (like phone chargers, laptops, etc.) are designed to work with a wide range of voltages (e.g., 100‑250 V and 50‑60 Hz). These are often labeled as “universal power” devices and will work fine with this adapter. However, if your device only works with a specific voltage, it will not work safely in a country with a different voltage unless you use a separate voltage converter.

The adapter has a maximum power limit based on the voltage of the country you’re in:

• 100‑125 V (e.g., the USA): maximum load 750 W
• 220‑250 V (e.g., any European country or the UK): maximum load 1,380 W

Exceeding these limits can damage the adapter or your devices.

ZDNET’s buying advice

For $26, the Anker Nano 5‑port universal travel adapter is a great bit of kit. Yes, the power output is limited, so laptop users will need either a separate charger or a more powerful travel adapter such as the TESSAN Universal International Charging Adapter.

For lightweight travel, it’s a winner, combining innovative design with an eye for what consumers actually need—something Anker has been excelling at for over a decade.