From desk lamps, earbuds, and smartwatches to smartphones, tablets, and laptops, almost everything on your desk can be powered via a USB adapter. However, some high-powered gaming laptops still can’t draw enough juice over a USB-C port, so they still use a barrel plug for charging.
If you have a device like this, you likely have a bulky laptop charger that goes along with it. TheBaseus 240W Digital GaN Chargercan replace this and all your other USB chargers, too.
Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger
The Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger adds several smart features to the desktop charger. It connects to your phone via the Baseus app, allowing you to set timers, monitor charge status, and even remotely switch on or off individual ports.
Designed for Your Desk
The Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger weighs 620g (22oz) and has a footprint of 11.5 x 4.3 cm (4.5 x 1.7in). It’s also 6.8 cm (2.7in) tall, so it’s not the most portable of chargers. Nevertheless, it’s pretty compact for the power it can deliver, and its tiny footprint won’t take up a lot of space.
Its power cable is roughly 147.5cm or almost five feet long, so it can easily reach a nearby outlet when you place it on your work table. However, the cable is permanently attached to the charger, so it’ll be a minor hassle to pack and transport it. Aside from its long power cable, it also has a rubber base, so it won’t easily slide on your desk.
The Baseus 240 Digital GaN Charger also includes a 108.5cm (42.7in) 240-watt USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a 102cm (40in) DC to DC charging cable, and two 21.5cm (8.5in) DC adapters (one thin barrel plug and one square plug).
The charger has a matte black plastic finish around the body, but what’s most interesting is its glossy screen showing how much power is drawn along each port and in total, plus its touch-sensitive power control.
Touch-Controlled Power
you’re able to switch that charger on or off by touching the TOUCH label on the display screen for a couple of seconds. When it powers on, you’ll see five displays showing the watts each port delivers to your devices—DC, C1, and C2, which are at the back of the charger, are located at the top of the screen, while C3 and USB, situated in the charger’s front, are at the bottom of the display.
When you power the charger and the display cycles for the first time, you might notice a Bluetooth logo above the total watt output. We will cover this later, but you can connect this charger to your phone via the Baseus app.
How Much Power Can It Deliver?
The Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger can output 240 watts, but that doesn’t mean it can do it on all five ports. This is the maximum output you’re able to get on each port:
But once you start plugging in multiple devices, the charger will manage the maximum output of each power to ensure that it doesn’t exceed its capacity. This is how it divides the power when you plug in two devices:
you may pretty much fast charge two devices simultaneously with the Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger. But this is how the output changes with three plugged in.
These numbers still show a decent fast charging experience for most devices. You still get 140 watts from one port, while the other ports deliver 65 and 30 watts. While they might not be enough for high-powered gear, they should be sufficient for smartphones and tablets.
If you have four devices, you may still charge two devices quickly at 140 and 60 watts, while the others will have to settle for 20 and 18 watts, respectively. You still get 140 watts on one port if you charge five devices simultaneously. However, you only get 45 watts for one other device, while the rest only receive 18 watts.
This setup is ideal for charging while you’re working. You can plug your high-powered laptop into the DC port and charge your phone using USB-C1. You can then plug your other devices, like your tablet, smartwatch, and earbuds, into the other 18-watt ports and let them slowly power up while you’re busy.
A Highly-Efficient Charger
Two hundred forty watts is impressive for a single compact charger, but how does it deliver all that power efficiently? We tested the charger by plugging in two laptops and two smartphones that needed charging. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test the DC charger because the included DC charging cable and DC adapters were too loose to fit in my Acer Predator Helios 300 laptop. Although I could technically hold it in place, I didn’t attempt to do that in the interest of safety.
Nevertheless, I can test its output efficiency on my empty 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, my wife’s M1 MacBook Air with 68% remaining, my iPhone 14 Pro Max, and my Samsung Note10+, with both devices’ power levels sitting at less than 15%.
While charging all four devices, the Baseus 240W Digital GaN charger delivered 134.6 watts to all four devices. However, the smart plug that I plugged into recorded 164.4 watts, so the charger itself used up almost 30 watts. This equates to about 18% loss or 82% efficiency, a good number compared to other chargers I’ve previously tested. This efficiency was also reflected in the charger’s external temperature, which sat at around 45 to 48 degrees Celsius.
An App for Your Charger
The most unique feature of the Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger is its ability to connect to your phone via an app. You candownload the Baseus app via the Apple App StoreorGoogle Play Store. Once you’ve paired the charger to your phone via the app, you can see its status and control its functions.
The main screen shows the charger’s current total output and temperature. You can also switch off the display or even the charger via the app. You can also set a power on or power off timer via the Countdown button, which is perfect if you want to stop charging your devices after a set time.
But if you tap on the USB-C icon near the center of the app, you’ll head to the screen that shows the individual ports. From here, you may switch on or off a particular port, set a timer for one (or all) port, or even prioritize the output of one port over the others. You can also check each port’s temperature and power fluctuations, although it’s not that useful as it only keeps the last five seconds.
Should You Buy the Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger?
TheBaseus 240W Digital GaN Chargeroffers many features for a desktop charger. It doesn’t just let you see its current output, but it also allows you to control the device or even each port from your phone. And if you have a power-hungry laptop that charges via a DC port, you can keep its adapter in your bag and use this charger instead.
The charger retails for $169.99 on the Baseus website and Alibaba. While it’s not the most affordable charger out there, you get a lot of features plus fast charging capability. Its digital screen would also fit in the aesthetics of most desks, especially if you’re into clean workstation setups.
The three ports at the back allow you to keep your desk free from cable clutter, but it also has a USB-C and USB-A port to power other devices you carry with you. If you have a high-powered laptop and work with different USB-powered devices, the Baseus 240W Digital GaN Charger is the last charger you’ll ever need for your office desk.
