Anker Nano II review: The perfect pocket-sized Galaxy and Pixel charger

The increasingly bewildering Anker charging portfolio gets even more stacked. This time we’re looking at the Anker Nano II — an ultra-compact charger designed to power up the most modern smartphones and laptops.

There’s actually an entire Nano II series this time around, which comes in three different power flavors depending on your charging needs. For this Anker Nano II review, we’ve tested the 30W model. But rest assured that the hardware and charging protocols are the same on all three. It’s just the maximum power that’s different.

See also: The best wall chargers money can buy

What you need to know about the Anker Nano II

• Anker Nano II 30W: $33.99 / £29.99 / €34.99 / Rs. 7,999
• Anker Nano II 45W: $39.99 / £34.99 / €35.99 / Rs. 8.999
• Anker Nano II 65W: $54.99 / Rs. 11,999

Anker’s Nano II USB-C charger is an updated version of the ultra-compact PowerPort Nano III (aka the Anker Nano). Confusing naming scheme, I know. This time the plug sports the latest USB Power Delivery PPS charging specification along with three different power variants to choose from.

There’s a 30W model that caters to smartphones, a 45W one better suited to tablet charging, and a 65W version that will charge all but the most demanding of USB-C laptops. The US 45W and 65W versions also offer foldable prongs. We don’t see many manufacturers offering multiple SKUs for different customer needs, so take your pick.

See also: The best phone charging accessories

As for size, the 30W model measures just 31.5 x 30.4 x 37.8mm (1.25 x 1.2 x 1.5 inches) and weighs 60g. While at the upper end the 65W variant is 36 x 42 x 42mm (1.65 x 1.42 x 1.74 inches) and weighs 150g. Although EU and UK regional plugs are a little longer, these are very compact GaN chargers.

Anker doesn’t include anything else in the box except a small manual. You’ll need to supply your own suitable USB cable.

What’s good?

The Anker Nano II is compatible with the majority of popular charging standards, making it an ideal pick for virtually every gadget. It plays nicely with USB Power Delivery PPS to fast charge the Samsung Galaxy S21 series and Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. USB Power Delivery 3.0 has you covered for iPhones and other USB-C devices, and there’s Quick Charge 3.0 and 2.0 support for legacy smartphones and other gadgets too.

As you can see from the table above, the plug has no problems charging up anything we can throw at it. Although the 30W model we tested is perfect for phones and small tablets, you’ll want to spring for the 45W or probably the 65W model to charge up laptops quickly. But it’s great to have this flexibility at the point of purchase.

What’s equally impressive is that the Anker Nano II houses all this in an ultra-compact form factor that’s wonderfully portable. That’s thanks to GaN technology that helps the charger run efficiently too, ranging from 82 to 85% wall-to-device power transfer efficiency. If you’re looking for a discrete wall plug, you won’t find many more compact than this.

What’s not so good?

There’s not a lot to complain about in terms of the product, it does exactly what you’d expect from a cutting-edge charger. However, the 65W model isn’t available in Europe at the time of writing and is a little expensive elsewhere at $55. Especially as the Anker Nano II only offers a single USB-C port. Granted more ports mean a bigger size, which wouldn’t fit with the Nano ethos. But you can pick up Anker’s own 65W PowerPort III Pod ($39.99) or the three-port Elecjet X21 Pro ($37.99) as a charging hub alternative for less cash.

Similarly, the Anker PowerPort III 25W ($19.99) isn’t really any bigger than the 30W Nano II, boasts virtually identical specifications, interchangeable prongs, and yet it’s much cheaper. It’s the more budget-friendly option if you’re looking for the perfect Galaxy S21 charging companion.

The plug also runs a little hot when charging at 30W for a long period of time, such as when powering up a laptop. I imagine the 45W and 65W models will be even warmer. It’s not too hot to touch but is a small drawback to the ultra-compact design.

Anker Nano II review: Should I buy it?

Anker’s latest GaN charging products are smashing it out of the park and the Nano II is no exception. With the latest standards on board and plenty of power, there’s nothing this charger can’t handle. It’s also incredibly compact, making it the ideal discrete charger or travel companion, thanks to the fold-up prongs on the US model.

Importantly, with 30W of power onboard and USB PD PPS, the Nano II is perfect for fast charging your Galaxy S21 or Google Pixel 6 smartphone. If you need more power, the 65W model will have laptops catered for too.

However, the charging market is a competitive place and the Anker Nano II is a little more expensive than some rival models that offer similar specs. So unless you really need the very latest charging standard compressed into an ultra-compact design, you can save a few pennies by looking elsewhere — including Anker’s own simple yet effective PowerPort III.

Top Anker Nano II questions and answers

Q: Can it fast charge my Samsung Galaxy S21?

A: Yes, as it supports USB Power Delivery PPS. It will also fast charge the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro at full speed.

Q: Can it fast charge my Apple iPhone 13?

A: Yes, thanks to support for USB Power Delivery 3.0.

Q: Does it support Qualcomm Quick Charge?

A: Yes, Anker’s PowerIQ3 technology supports Quick Charge 3.0 and 2.0, as well as Apple 2.4A charging on this model.