Aukey 18W USB-C Power Delivery Wall Charger
Pros
- Fast charging for all Power Delivery compatible Android smartphones, and iPhones, too.
- Has a very small form factor and the use of a retractable AC adapter makes portability with it even easier.
Cons
- The 18W Power Delivery charging is most helpful for charging smartphones, and not the best for USB-C laptops.
Power Delivery charging is now compatible with quite a lot of devices that use a USB-C port. It’s one of the main reasons that we find Power Delivery to be more useful than Quick Charge. As it can be used with other devices rather than just smartphones.
With that said, Power Delivery charging does have different ranges of power that it can output. In this review, we’re going to be taking a look at Aukey’s single port 18W Power Delivery wall charger.
This charger goes to show that Power Delivery is taking over the norm for charging.
Power
Output Charging:
Basically, everything about this charger is simple. This includes the design of the charger, to the charging power that we’re about to go over.
The single USB-C port on this Aukey wall charger features 18W of Power Delivery charging. An 18W charging rate in terms of PD is really where Power Delivery charging begins.
This amount of power is great for fast charging USB-C smartphones, such as a Samsung Galaxy S8 that we have shown in the photo above. It also fasts charge other Android smartphones on the market, too, as long as they have a USB-C port.
Also, remember to charge USB-C devices with this wall charger, you will need a USB-C to USB-C charging cable. Unfortunately, this wall charger does not come with one.
As for non-Android smartphones, like the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone XS, and iPhone XR, well, they are also Power Delivery compatible.
Yes, we know that the iPhone still uses a Lightning port, but you can actually fast charge these newer model ones with a USB-C Power Delivery port, so long as you’re using a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Design
Size and Weight:
One of the most notable parts of this charger and another reason that you should purchase it is because of its insanely small form factor.
The charger has a length/width of 1.4 inches and a has a 1.2-inch thickness. Literally no excuses on why you can’t take this anywhere you go.
Its use of a retractable AC adapter makes this charger into a cube which makes portability even easier.
Functional Components:
On the functional side, it’s like using any other wall charger. Just plug the wall charger into an AC outlet, and you’re ready to use.
The one negative part is that the charger doesn’t make use of an LED power light. The use of light makes it easier to find in the dark. At the same time, some might appreciate the lack of a power light as it can cause a disturbance during bedtime.
Build
Structure and Material:
The charger is made of plastic and brought together by two parts. Overall, it does have a solid build, and the AC adapter snaps out and right back into place.
Tech:
With its use of a single USB-C Power Delivery port that has an 18W charging rate, the charger doesn’t overheat at all.
Reliability
The reliability of this Aukey Power Delivery wall charger is definitely on the straight and narrow side. If you want a wall charger that you can use to fast charge your Power Delivery compatible Andriod smartphone or iPhone from the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and onwards, then this wall charger is a perfect choice.
It’s simple, small, and powerful enough to fast charge those types of devices.
As for charging larger, more powerful USB-C compatible devices such as laptops? Well, you’re going to need a wall charger with more charging power. We recommend with going for a PD charger that has a 30W Power Delivery charging rate or higher.
So think of this Aukey wall charger, as a PD charger for smartphones, but you can also get away with charging a USB-C MacBook with it, too. But that’s as far as we would take it.
Summary:
Power:
The charger only makes use of a single 18W USB-C port. A great charging rate for USB-C smartphones and also Power Delivery iPhones, too. Not so great for charging USB-C laptops, as it’s not enough charging power for most laptops.
Design:
The charger is the definition of simple. Only makes use of a single port, and the form factor is insanely small, that once you retract the AC adapter it becomes a cube.
Build:
The build quality of the charger is great, and it doesn’t overheat.
Reliability:
If you can make use of its single Power Delivery port with an 18W charging speed, then this wall charger is for you. Not so reliable for larger devices, but it’s definitely meant for smartphones.
| Aukey 18W USB-C Power Delivery Wall Charger Specs | |
|---|---|
| USB-C Power Delivery Port | 5V 3A | 9V/2A | 12V/1.5A (18W PD) |
| Input | AC 100–240V 50/60Hz |
| Size | 1.4 x 1.4 x 1.2 inches |
| Weight | 1.5 Ounces |
Conclusion:
With Power Delivery charging becoming more the norm and also with the USB-C port becoming the true standard, the availability of super simple Power Delivery wall chargers will become the norm.
This Aukey wall charger is an example of that and it does a great job.
Since 2016, Usman has flourished as an independent tech journalist, reveling in the evaluation of diverse tech gadgets, with a particular fondness for charging technology to ascertain product performance. Besides his journalistic endeavors, he helms the Charger Harbor YouTube channel, where he extends his tech insights to a broader audience.