Anker PowerPort III 25W review: The only phone charger you need

Anker’s PowerPort charging range is expansive, with plugs to suit virtually every use case from laptops to multi-device charging. But somehow the company’s portfolio has been missing a dedicated phone charger with support for the latest and greatest mobile charging standards.

As 2021 marched on, Anker sought to fill that hole with its compact PowerPort III 25W adapter. Let’s dive into the specifics to find out if this charger has everything you need in this Anker PowerPort III 25W review.

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What you need to know about the Anker PowerPort III 25W

• Anker PowerPort III 25W: $19.99 / £17.99 / €19.99

Anker’s PowerPort wall charger range is increasingly hard to decipher but this latest model slots somewhere between the ultra-compact PowerPort III Nano and more powerful PowerPort III Pod. With up to 25W of power on offer, this version is designed with smartphones specifically in mind. It also offers enough power to charge small tablets too but this isn’t a laptop class product.

The Anker PowerPort III 25W includes a single USB-C port that’s compatible with the latest USB Power Delivery PPS and Qualcomm Quick Charge standards. Anker’s PowerIQ3 technology also supports legacy charging protocols, including Apple 2.4A and Quick Charge 3.0 for older smartphones.

The UK model of the PowerPort III 25W I tested comes with a removable adapter that simply slides on and off from the foldable prongs. If you regularly travel to countries that use US-style plugs, you’re covered without the need for an additional power adapter. Anker doesn’t include anything else in the box, such as a USB-C cable or carry pouch.

The plug measures 43.8 x 40.9 x 28.5 mm and weighs just 63.5 grams. The Anker PowerPort III 25W is available in the UK and US exclusively in black.

What’s good?

Anker is a little late to the USD PD PPS charging party but it’s a case of better late than never, and the company has arrived in some style. The brand’s PowerIQ3 port sports the latest universal power standards used by the top smartphone brands. And 25W is just enough power to max out what any current smartphone is able to draw using these standards.

As such, the plug passed our device charging tests with flying colors. It’ll fast charge the finicky Samsung Galaxy S21 series, iPhone 13 range, Google Pixel 5, and even older smartphones that don’t use the latest standards, all at full speed. There isn’t a phone that this plug can’t charge. Unlike some other Anker chargers I’ve tested, I didn’t experience any problems obtaining maximum power from the handsets I tested.

I’m also a fan of Anker’s compact design. This plug takes up less space than official and other third-party chargers. It is small enough to throw in your laptop bag or even your pocket. The foldable prongs are a nice touch, as is the elegant UK adapter plug supplied with my unit. Anker has thought of pretty much everything here.

See also:  The best phone charging accessories

What’s not so good?

There are no major issues with the Anker PowerPort III 25W. However, it’s worth bearing in mind what this plug is and isn’t capable of.

For instance, there’s no USB-A port to charge older gadgets. You’ll need an adapter of some kind. 25W isn’t a lot of power for more demanding devices, although it might just about do the trick for some smaller tablets. While it will charge up USB-C laptops in a pinch, this plug certainly won’t do it very quickly.

The plug’s compact design, unfortunately, means it becomes a little warm while fast-charging at 25W for anything longer than a short top-up. It’s not problematic from a safety or handling perspective but it’s just something to be aware of. Particularly for a charger that’s only rated at 25W.

Anker PowerPort III 25W review: Should I buy it?

Anker has (finally) knocked this one out of the park. Thanks to an array of supported standards, the Anker PowerPort III 25W is the ideal smartphone charging companion for handsets new and old.

It’s well built, well designed, and fairly priced too. It costs the same or less than Samsung’s own 25W USB PD PPS plug ($19.99) designed to fast charge the Galaxy S21 series. Anker’s option is also more compact in size and sports a wide range of standards.

Of course, we wouldn’t expect a 25W plug to offer two USB-C ports, so you’ll want to look elsewhere for a charger that handles multiple gadgets at once. If that’s what you need the Elecjet X21 Pro ($37.99) is a solid alternative. If you’re after a more powerful laptop-grade charger, Anker’s own PowerPort III Pod ($39.99) is a suitable upgrade that has you covered with robust smartphone charging specs too.

Top Anker PowerPort III 25W questions and answers

Q: Does it fast charge the Samsung Galaxy S21?

A: Yes. At a maximum speed thanks to support for USB Power Delivery PPS.

Q: Does it fast charge the Apple iPhone 13?

A: Yes. At a full speed thanks to support for USB Power Delivery.

Q: Does this come with a USB-C, Lightning, or adapter cable?

A: No, you have to supply your own cable.