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Alxum 10-Port USB Smart Charging Station & Organizer review

I really love products that help me to organize my house and thus when the Gadgeteer was offered the Alxum 10-Port USB Smart Charging Station & Organizer, I jumped at the chance to review it. I have a side table in the living room that has been functioning as my kids’ gadget depository (four iPad Mini’s, two phones, and three over-ear headphones) that sorely needed some organization and the gadgets needed charging. The Alxum 10-port charging station worked like a charm.

Package Contents

  • Alxum 10-Port USB Smart Charging Station & Organizer (AX-10 PCS031)
  • 5 large brackets
  • 6 small brackets
  • AC adapter and power cord
  • User Manual

Design & Build Quality

The Alxum 10-port charging station is made of matte black hard plastic and the brackets are made of a hard transparent gray plastic.

There are 10 USB-A ports in this smart charger which will detect your devices automatically and will provide up to 5V/2.4A each based on the demands of your devices (there are no Qualcomm Quick Charge ports). This charger provides a maximum of 108 W of power total and will charge up to eight iPads at their full rate simultaneously (and up to 10 less-demanding devices simultaneously)

The charger is equipped with intelligent power management technology that will place the charger in sleep mode when not charging. It also provides protection against over-voltage, overloading and short circuiting, and over-heating.

Each bracket has two tabs located along the lower edge that fit perfectly into slots on the top of the charger. The brackets are easily adjustable and at the same time stay in place such that when removing your device from the charger, they don’t come out.

The charger is about 9.375″ L x 5.25″ W x 3.25″ H with the large brackets installed (24 cm L x 13.5 cm W x 8 cm H).

Each side of the charger has vents to disperse heat and one side has a DC port to connect the power cord.

The bottom of the charger also has vents to disperse heat. In addition, it contains six rubber pads to help prevent the charger from moving around on furniture and from scratching the furniture as well.

Use

Here is the current setup of all the gadgets connected to the charger. We have two iPad Mini 4s, two iPad Minis, two Motorola Moto E (2nd gen) phones, and three sets of over-ear headphones – nine devices total. This setup is so much tidier and organized and now all of the devices can be charged at once (I did have to purchase the short 8″ cables separately).

When this iPad Mini 4 was connected to the Alxum 10-port charger via an OEM Apple Lightning cable, it was able to charge at 5.07V/2.02A/10.24W.

You’ll also notice that the charger has a blue LED light that is illuminated when the charger has been plugged in (illuminated LED does not mean that it is charging a device).

This is the same iPad Mini 4 as the previous one, only this time it was connected to the charger using an off brand Lightning cable. As you can see, the tablet was still able to charge at approximately the same high rate (5.07V/2.18A/11.05W) using this cable and charger.

This is another iPad Mini 4 that was connected to the charger. The charger was able to provide 5.07V/1.51A/7.655W. The difference between this iPad Mini 4 and the previous one already mentioned is the fact that this one’s battery started with a higher battery level than the previous one and thus charged at a lower rate than the other. NOTE: the smart charger alters (decreases) the amount of power to devices as the batteries of each approach full charge; this is typical when charging any device using their OEM chargers or smart chargers.

The charger was able to charge our Phiaton BT 460 headphones at 5.18V/0.19A/0.984W…

…and our House of Marley Liberate XLBT Bluetooth headphones at 5.17V/0.28A/1.447W.

When several devices were plugged into the charger and charging at the same time, the charger was still able to provide the maximum power to the device that it needed (above photo: iPad Mini charging at 5.04V/2.28A/11.49W; iPod Touch 6G charging at 5.13V/0.65A/3.334W).

There were a couple of potential drawbacks that we noticed about the Alxum 10-port smart charger. The charger has a large transformer in line with the power cord to convert AC power to DC before being connected to the charger. This may be cumbersome to some people. Also, my kids noticed a faint high-frequency sound being emitted from the charger at various times (not all the time). This appeared to occur when the devices were fully charged but still plugged into the charger. I did not notice the sound because of my high-frequency hearing loss so it must be over 15,500 Hz.

Final Thoughts

The Alxum 10-Port USB Smart Charging Station & Organizer did what I expected it to do. It organized my kids’ nine devices and allowed all of them to charge simultaneously at the rate that each device needed to charge. The power cord does have a transformer that may be considered cumbersome to some people and there is a faint high-frequency sound that the charger emits periodically when devices are fully charged but still plugged into the charger. Overall, we found the 10-port charger to be a wonderfully useful addition to our gadget accessories.

Source: The sample used in this review was provided by Alxum. Unfortunately, I cannot find this product on their webpage and it is no longer available on Amazon. I have contacted Alxum about when it will become available and if I hear back, I will let you know. At this time, the 96 W white version of this 10-port charger is available from Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $64.99
Manufacturer: Alxum
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Organizes up to 10 devices
  • Charges up to 8 iPads simultaneously (and up to 10 less-demanding devices)
Cons:
  • Emits high-frequency sound when devices are fully charged but still plugged in
  • Has large transformer in line with the power cord

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Reviews

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Alxum 10-Port USB Smart Charging Station & Organizer review originally appeared on on April 14, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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Satechi’s new USB-C travel charger juices up your MacBook and more

If you happened to catch my gadget diary post from yesterday where I was talking about buying a laptop dedicated to travel, you may have also seen where I said it will probably be a 12″ MacBook. If this happens, I’ll want a new travel charger to go along with my travel computer and the new USB-C travel charger from Satechi looks like a perfect choice.

Satechi’s new USB-C charger has a sleek look with an aluminum shell that is currently available in silver and space gray, with a gold version being released in May.

This charger features two Type-A ports and one Type-C port. It can charge multiple devices at once, and is compatible with the new Samsung Galaxy S8, Google Pixel smartphone, MacBook 12″, MacBook Pro 13″ and more.

The silver and space grey versions of the Satechi USB-C travel charger can be purchased now for $39.99 at Satechi and even less at Amazon.

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, News

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Satechi’s new USB-C travel charger juices up your MacBook and more originally appeared on on April 7, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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myCharge RazorUltra 12,000 mAh portable charger review

Extra power in your hands, right when you need it?  Yes, please!  This myCharge RazorUltra 12,000 mAh portable charger delivers.  Not only is it tough, sturdy and reliable, but it looks great, too.  There are a lot of portable chargers out there, but I found that this device really delivered for me.  And it has a TON of great features!

I really thought the top and bottom form-fitted plastic packaging this item came in was outstanding.  It firmly holds all of the components in their place.  There’s no chance of the items moving around in the packaging during shipping, so there’s little chance of damage.  The box it comes in, too, is very sturdy and well built.  (See feature picture.)

This picture shows that the unit is a pretty standard size for a 12,000 mAh portable charger.  Fits well in the hand, feels solid, and fits easily in your pants pocket.  The smaller picture shows some of the specs on the back of the unit.  And check out this outstanding list of features – straight from the manufacturer’s website:

TECHNOLOGY

Smart-sense: ensures complete device compatibility

Hyper-charge: ultra-fast charging of your devices; up to 65% faster than competitors 

Power-stay: maintains battery power for up to 1 year

Max-power: maximum power transfer from powerbank to device

High-density battery: the smallest and lightest powerbank

Safe-cell: provides the highest level of battery safety

Rapid-recharge: powerbank recharges up to 50% faster than competitors

Pass Through Charging: will charge the powerbank and connected device simultaneously

The plug to charge the unit comes with handy fold-out pins that fit into any standard USA power outlet.

Something I really like about this portable charger are the “Power Remaining” indicators.  There are four of them.  Very intuitive, so four lights indicate 75-100% power remaining, three means 50-74%, two means 25-49%,  and one light means 24% or less power remaining.  They don’t stay on constantly, either; thus draining the battery for no reason.  How do you get them to light up, then?  You shake it!  (But don’t “shake it light a Polaroid picture”!  Unless you’re dancing… or you just can’t help yourself.)  Just give it a jostle, and they’ll light right up for you, then fade after about 3 seconds.  Pretty cool.

As you can see, the RazorUltra unit comes with a USB 2.0 micro Type B jack (cord included) for charging, and two USB 2.0 Type A ports to charge your devices.*

*myCharge sells a variety of chargers, each with different ports, options, and styles to meet your needs, including one that uses the latest USB-C technology, which can charge and run a laptop!

So let’s talk about practical application.  I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.1″ tablet. Starting with the RazorUltra fully charged, and my Galaxy S5 phone at 6% remaining power, the portable charger totally recharged my phone in exactly 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 17 seconds.  Now, AFTER the phone had been fully charged, I just attached the charger to my Galaxy Tab S and started charging it without recharging the RazorUltra.  The Tab S was also at 6% power remaining when I started.  The portable charger got my Tab S up to 96% after 5 hours, 24, minutes, and 16 seconds, and then it ran out of juice.  But the juice was pretty sweet. (Ha! See what I did there?)

All-in-all, I really like this unit, especially for the price of $59.99.  It holds its charge well and definitely stands up to other 12,000 mAh portable chargers out there.  I usually go for larger capacity chargers, but this is a really solid piece of equipment to have in your arsenal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by myCharge. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: myCharge
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Tough, anodized aluminum
  • 12000 mAh storage
  • Various models, options and colors
  • See ALL the features under the TECHNOLOGY section in the article, including:
  • Smart-sense
  • Hyper-charge
  • Power-stay
  • Max-power
  • High-density battery
  • Safe-cell
  • Rapid-recharge
  • Pass Through Charging
Cons:
  • Limited power storage.
  • Will only charge your device 1-3 time(s), depending on the device

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Reviews

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myCharge RazorUltra 12,000 mAh portable charger review originally appeared on on March 29, 2017 at 7:43 am.

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Seneo PA046 fast wireless charger 10W Qi wireless charging stand review

When I got my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ I embraced wireless charging.  I had been especially looking forward to that feature when considering the purchase of my phone, so I started looking for wireless chargers right off the bat.  I have reviewed several here on the Gadgeteer, and I now have a good idea of what I like and don’t like about wireless charging in general.  So what makes the Seneo different?  Is it better or worse than other wireless chargers I have?  Let’s find out.

First things first, the specs from the manufacturer:

  • Fast charge modes are ONLY available for the Galaxy devices – S6 Edge+, S7, S7 Edge, Note 5. All other Qi-enabled devices will charge at regular speed. Some devices may require an additional wireless charging power brick (Not Included).
  • Charging time from zero to full (Phone case is strongly suggested to be REMOVED while charging):
    • S7 (3000mAh): 2 Hours + 20minutes
      S7 Edge (3600mAh): 2 Hours + 55minutes
      S6 Edge+ (3000mAh): 2 Hours + 35minutes
      Note 5(3000mAh): 2 Hours + 30minutes
  • Phones can be charged either vertically or horizontally
  • Curved bottom in the cradle helps to accommodate phones with a curved bottom
  • Built-in over-voltage, under voltage, and short-circuit protection
  • In the box:
    1 x SENEO fast wireless charger stand
    1 x USB Power Cable (not including the AC adapter)
    1 x User Manual
  • Warranty: 45 days money back & 18-month warranty.

What I liked

I love wireless charging in general.  The convenience is awesome… just lay it down and it charges.  The Seneo does provide my phone with fast-charging, and just like the manufacturer suggests, removing the phone cover does improve the wireless charging experience slightly.  But honestly, it didn’t improve my charging enough to cause me to want to go through the effort to remove the cover.  So I don’t.

The main thing that I love about the Seneo is that it solves my biggest hassle with all wireless charging devices.  When your device is laid flat on a wireless charging device, you can’t really use it.  At work, I find myself constantly having to pick up my phone to answer text messages, make phone calls, etc.  So I have all but abandoned wireless charging at work during the day.  Until now.  That’s where the Seneo fits in my life.  Now I can wireless charge my phone as it sits up and I can use it while it charges.  Big win.

The one indicator light is across the bottom of the front of the charger, and it glows blue when not being used and glows green while charging your phone.  I tried it at home first and the light wasn’t too bad during the night.

What I didn’t like

Not much.  I don’t like the general trend in gadgets these days of not including a power brick, and there is no power brick with the Seneo, obviously to save cost.  That means I have to use a power brick that can handle fast charging.  I tried using an old power brick from an older device and not only would it not charge fast wireless, the Seneo wouldn’t charge at all.  So I would have been willing to pay $10 more for this charger to include a power brick.

Final thoughts

At $22.95 this charger is a bargain.  And as I mentioned, I would have been willing to pay more if it included a power brick.  Having the ability to charge my phone in the upright position at work has enabled to embrace wireless charging at work again.  I highly recommend this product.

The sample for this review was provided by Seneo. Please visit Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $22.95
Manufacturer: Seneo
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • A cellphone with wireless charging capabilities
Pros:
  • Great price
  • Dual-orientation charging
  • Fast-charging on some models
Cons:
  • No power brick

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Reviews

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Seneo PA046 fast wireless charger 10W Qi wireless charging stand review originally appeared on on March 28, 2017 at 12:00 pm.

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Charge your gadgets when you’re off the grid with 1 tablespoon of water

Portable backup batteries are handy to have when you’re away from an electrical outlet and need to charge your devices. But they are only good for a limited number of charges before they need to be recharged themselves. Solar chargers are another backup power solution that works great as long as you’re in an area with direct sunlight. Is there a backup power solution that doesn’t suffer from either of those limitations? The myFC Powertrekk fuel cell charger looks like it has potential.

What is it? The myFC Powertrekk is a hybrid charger that has a built-in 3800 mAh battery that can be charged from a USB cable and an AC adapter like traditional backup batteries, but the Powertrekk can also generate electricity from water and small fuel cells called Pucks.

One myFC Puck contains Sodium Silicide, Sodium Borohydride and 12 g Aluminum. When you add one tablespoon of water or liquid that contains water to the Puck, it will generate 1400 mAh of power.

Water reacts with sodium silicide to produce heat and an inert mineral called sodium silicate. Hydrogen from the water is unused in this process and is released for consumption by the fuel cell. The chemistry of the process is safe and the only bi-product from the fuel cell is a little water vapor. Expended PowerTrekk Pucks can be recycled as metal waste.

The myFC Powertrekk comes with one Puck and extra Pucks can be purchased in packages of 9, 12 and 15 for about $5.44 per Puck. I know that’s very expensive considering the Pucks are good for one use only. It should go without saying that the PowerTrekk wouldn’t be a backup power solution that you’d want to use all the time. But, it’s more of a niche product that would be good to include in a bug out bag or an emergency preparedness package since the Pucks will be ready to use at any time to generate power unlike a backup battery that will lose its charge over time even if it isn’t used.

You can read more about the Powertrekk at myfcpower.com and you can order one for $119.97 from Amazon.

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, News

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Charge your gadgets when you’re off the grid with 1 tablespoon of water originally appeared on on March 27, 2017 at 11:04 am.

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