The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) — that’s its actual name — is the smartest wall charger I’ve ever used. It recognizes my iPhone and iPad when I plug them in and even displays the device’s current battery level.
I can set it to quickly or slowly juice up my device, helping to protect its battery. Or order it to slow charge my handset overnight.
Here’s why I love Anker’s tiny new charger after testing it for several weeks.
Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) review
The days when all we expect a wall charger to do is pump out electricity are rapidly coming to an end. Now, good ones include a screen that shows you how much power is flowing.
The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) takes that to the next level, using the screen to show you that it knows exactly which iPhone or iPad is plugged in, and what its current battery level is, reassuring you that it’ll send the correct amount of power to treat your computer right. Oh yeah, it also tells you how much power is flowing.
The Anker Nano 45W smart display charger is designed for iPhone users who value both performance and design. The charger automatically recognizes supported iPhone and iPad models and delivers a tailored charging solution based on device needs and battery status.
An integrated smart display provides real-time visibility into charging power and battery level.
- Smart screen
- Clever rotating power prong design
- So small
- 45W maximum
Table of contents: Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) review
- Tiny charger with big features
- Screen shows the charger’s intelligence
- Fast or slow charging
- 45W performance
- Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) review: Final thoughts
- Pricing
Tiny charger with big features
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
I’m amazed that Anker managed to pack as much into this tiny accessory as it did. Considering the device measures just 1.6 inches by 1.3 inches by 1.4 inches, and weighs less than 0.2 pounds, the name of the Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) is larger than it is!
That “180° Foldable” bit in the name means that the fold-out power prongs open outward 90 degrees, and then they can flip another 90 degrees. This makes it easier to squeeze the charger into tight spaces. It also lets you arrange the charger so its screen points toward you, letting you track the charging status.
Screen shows the charger’s intelligence
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
When I plug my handset into the Nano Charger, a screen that measures 0.75 inch by 0.45 inch lights up and says “iPhone 17,” then shows my device’s current battery level and how much power is being transferred. The same trick works with my iPad, too.
These figures are accompanied by a happy little face that seems to show that Anker’s charger is very enthusiastic about juicing up my computers.
I’m fully aware that this screen isn’t really necessary. I could use a basic $10 wall charger to power my iPhone without being shown how much power is flowing. Nevertheless, I love having the information — it gives me a feeling that I have some control over how quickly my handset is charging.
And I especially enjoy having my iPhone’s battery level displayed on the charger’s screen. It’s often more convenient to look at it there than on the handset.
While a bit small, the display is colorful and bright enough to be easy to read. But it shuts itself off after a while. To light it back up, you simply tap a button on one side of the charger.
To be clear, the Nano Charger can juice up other devices and cooperates with them to send the right amount of power to replenish them without damaging them. All the screen can show is the amount of power flowing, though.
Fast or slow charging
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) lets me choose between fast charging and slow charging. Both have their uses.
Sometimes, I need to get power into my iPhone as quickly as possible. Like, I have a meeting in half an hour, and my handset’s battery is at 15%. But fast charging isn’t the best for the iPhone. It generates heat, and that ages the battery.
That’s why Anker built “Care” mode into the Nano Charger. Switch to this and your device will slowly charge — perfect for overnight.
Switching between fast and slow charging is as easy as pressing a button on the side of the accessory.
Just so there’s no confusion, no charger will pour loads of power into your iPhone as its battery approaches 100%. Anker’s product starts out in “Fast” mode when a battery is near 0%, then goes into “Steady” mode, and later switches to what it calls “Trickle” mode to avoid damaging the handset’s battery.
45W performance
Given that the name of this product is Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable), it surely doesn’t surprise anyone that it can put out up to 45 watts.
I tested it with my iPhone, and was able to raise the battery level by 60% in half an hour. That’s more than quick enough for Apple to call it fast charging. At the peak, the phone was taking in 31 watts, its maximum.
When I tested it with my 13-inch iPad Pro, the tablet’s battery went from 15% to 60% in half an hour. That’s a respectable rate — you won’t find a faster option because the Nano Charger puts out 43W, which is as much power as the tablet can take in.
But MacBooks support higher wattages. At 45W, the Anker Nano Charger can certainly power up your notebook, but it won’t be especially quick.
Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) review: Final thoughts
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
I love how smart this tiny wall charger is. I plug it into my iPhone 17, and it recognizes my handset and knows the handset’s battery level. There’s no risk of overcharging.
Any charger gets power into my devices. This one does that, while also showing me that nothing has gone wrong.
And the 180-degree power prongs are genius.
★★★★★
Pricing
The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) sells for $39.99. At the time of this writing, an Amazon sale knocks a sweet 25% off that cost.
The Anker Nano 45W smart display charger is designed for iPhone users who value both performance and design. The charger automatically recognizes supported iPhone and iPad models and delivers a tailored charging solution based on device needs and battery status.
An integrated smart display provides real-time visibility into charging power and battery level.
- Smart screen
- Clever rotating power prong design
- So small
- 45W maximum
Take note that there are other versions of the Anker Nano Charger. Make sure you’re ordering the model you want.
Anker provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
