Chargeasap Zeus 270W is the only GaN charger you need [Review]

You’ll find plenty of multiport GaN chargers in the market. Unfortunately, most of them will struggle to charge your MacBook Pro at full speed alongside other devices.

When traveling, this could force you to carry an extra power brick. This is where Chargeasap’s Zeus 270W USB-C charger comes in. It packs enough power to charge multiple devices simultaneously. As a result, it’s become my go-to travel charger on road trips and vacations.

Chargeasap Zeus 270W review

• Ports and power: Three USB-C, one USB-A and an astonishing 270W
• A GaN charger that’s safe, compact and built for travel
• A built-in OLED screen offers useful info
• Chargeasap Zeus 270W final thoughts
• Pricing

I take a lot of road trips, and I depend on wall chargers that use semiconductors made of gallium nitride, aka GaN. Chargers utilizing GaN generate less heat, enabling smaller form factors that still pump out plenty of power.

Usually, I carry two or three GaN chargers to charge all my devices. This is because none of the power adapters can top up my 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021), iPad and other USB-C devices at full speed.

Almost all of them drop the charging speed down to 65W for the MacBook Pro and around 10W to 15W each for other connected devices. This means topping the batteries to full will take an excessive amount of time. This is a real problem when in remote places with limited electricity supply, or when I only have a little time and a gazillion devices to top up.

One charger to rule them all: 4 ports, 270W

This is no longer true, thanks to Chargeasap’s Zeus 270W charger. This portable power adapter can push a combined 270W across all its ports — a rarity among GaN chargers. This is good enough to charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro at its full speed (140W) alongside two other 13-inch MacBook Pros at their full speed. No other portable power adapter in the market can currently do this.

For output, the Zeus 270W charger provides three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. So, you should never fall short of USB-C ports to charge your devices. And the USB-A port ensures you don’t need to carry another power brick to charge your older accessories.

Below is how the Zeus distributes power across its four ports, as seen in the image above:

• C1 = 140W
• C2 or C3 = 100W
• A1 = 36W [supports Quick Charge 3.0, VOOC, fast charging]
• C1 + C2 or C3 = 140W + 100W
• C1 + C2 + C3 = 140W + 65W + 65W
• USB C1 + A1 = 140W + 36W
• C1 + C2 or C3 + A1 = 140W + 65W + 36W
• All four ports used simultaneously: 140W + 65W + 12W + 12W

The best part is that irrespective of the devices plugged in, you can rest assured that your laptop is charging at full speed if you plug it into the USB-C port labeled C1. Or you can always use the C1 port to top up any other important device at full speed. The Zeus 270W’s power distribution also means you can simultaneously charge your MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch and any other accessory at their full speed.

If you use an Android phone from OnePlus, Oppo or any other Chinese manufacturer, you will find the USB-A port handy. It supports almost all possible fast-charging implementations, with a maximum power output of 36W.

None of the problems of some other GaN chargers

I have noticed a temporary drop in power on some GaN chargers when multiple ports are used due to power recalibration. On the Zeus 270W, the recalibration time for the C1 and C2 ports is almost nonexistent. For C3 and A1, it is a mere 0.5 seconds.

The plastic shell of the Zeus gets a bit warm when you use all four ports at once. But it does not get excessively hot, and should not cause any concerns. The form factor of the charger also ensures that it does not block other switches and power plugs nearby. This has been a major issue with many GaN chargers I have tried. Less thoughtful designs can make nearby switches or power sockets inaccessible, negating the GaN charger’s space-saving benefit.

Despite being able to output so much power, the Zeus 270W is more compact than Apple’s 140W USB-C adapter. The Zeus’ foldable prongs make the charger easy to carry in your backpack. Plus, Chargeasap bundles four travel adapters with the Zeus, so you won’t have to use another converter while traveling.

However, at 11.29 ounces (320 grams), the power brick is not light by any means. So don’t hope to carry it around in your pocket.

A very handy display

Besides its stellar power output, a built-in 0.96-inch OLED screen also helps set the Zeus 270W apart from the competition. It displays the charger’s real-time power output to all connected devices. You will find plenty of GaN chargers on the market, but hardly any feature an OLED screen to display the power output in real time.

Do not dismiss this screen as a gimmick. If you love to know how much power your devices are receiving at any moment, you will appreciate the OLED display. It will let you quickly determine if your devices are charging at their full speed, which is useful given the confusing mess of USB-C and various charging standards.

The screen displays the power output in watts, volts and amps. This data is updated every second, making it that much more helpful. Admittedly, the screen’s novelty will wear off after a few weeks, but you’ll appreciate its usefulness whenever you plug in a new device or use a new cable.

Chargeasap Zeus 270W final thoughts

If you are always on the move or are just frustrated with having to carry multiple power adapters, Chargeasap’s Zeus 270W is the perfect replacement for them. This is especially true if you have multiple MacBook Pros you want to top up at maximum speed.

This powerful GaN charger can replace three other power adapters in your bag, which justifies its heft and size to a great extent.
★★★★☆

Pricing

The Chargeasap Zeus 270W is currently available through Indiegogo and is listed for worldwide shipping starting in May 2023. However, based on my previous experience with Chargeasap’s products, you might have to wait a few months longer than that. As for price, the Zeus 270W will retail for $219. But if you back its Indiegogo campaign, you can get it for as low as $129.

Chargeasap provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.