My backpack is full of gadgets. But the accessories that frustrate me the most are usually the ones meant to keep them charged. Chargers are bulky, power banks are heavy and both add unnecessary weight when I’m traveling. Worse, magnetic power banks make phones heavy and awkward to hold.
Ugreen tackles those problems with its new Nexode Air charger and MagFlow Air power bank. After using them for a few weeks, here’s what I think about them.
Ugreen’s latest charger and power banks prove smaller is better
It’s tough to get excited about chargers and power banks these days. There are countless options on the market, and most offer similar functionality. Thanks to GaN technology, USB-C chargers have become smaller, lighter and more powerful than ever before.
Power banks face a similar problem. Whether you need a compact 10,000mAh battery pack or a larger 20,000mAh option, there’s no shortage of choices.
That’s what makes Ugreen’s latest accessories interesting. Instead of chasing higher charging speeds or larger battery capacities, the company is focusing on making its products thinner, lighter and easier to carry. And honestly, I think it’s a great idea.
Table of contents: Ugreen’s latest charger and power banks prove smaller is better
- Nexode Air 65W: The charger I barely notice in my bag
- MagFlow Air: A MagSafe power bank that doesn’t turn your iPhone into a brick
- Pricing and availability
Ugreen Nexode Air 65W: The charger I barely notice in my bag
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
I’ve reviewed a lot of chargers over the years. But the Nexode Air 65W was the first one in a while that made me go “wow.” The Air 65W is genuinely small for the power it can deliver.
What’s ridiculous is that the UK plug on the charger is bulkier than the charger itself. The US variant with foldable prongs is more compact.
At first glance, you may think that the Air 65W is a 30W charger. That’s how compact it is. But as the name suggests, it can output up to 65W of power to the connected device.
That’s good enough to fast charge an iPhone or iPad. And almost enough for the M3 or newer MacBook Air, which requires a 70W power brick for fast charging.
The Nexode Air’s biggest selling point is its size. I carry a 16-inch MacBook Pro every day. I can’t give up its large display, but I definitely feel its weight. To keep my backpack as light as possible, I usually carry only one charger.
Until recently, that was the 45W Ikea Sjöss USB-C charger. The Nexode Air has since replaced it, delivering more power in an even smaller form factor. I can easily slip the charger into a pocket of my backpack and be done with it. Yes, there’s only one charger, but for most use cases, that’s more than enough.
That single-port design does come with a compromise. If you regularly need to fast-charge multiple devices at the same time, the Nexode Air 65W probably isn’t the right charger for you. But if your setup revolves around a MacBook Air, iPad or even a MacBook Pro alongside a phone, its combination of portability and power makes it an easy recommendation.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Ugreeen Nexode Air 65W: Performance testing
In my testing spanning several weeks, the Nexode Air 65W worked flawlessly, charging an array of devices. It even topped up my 16-inch MacBook Pro just fine. While it cannot supply enough power to fast charge the laptop at full speed, it comfortably handled my needs, which primarily involved dozens of Chrome tabs, Slack, Mail app and Meet calls.
The charger does get warm when charging such devices, but not more than other GaN chargers I’ve used. Plus, given its small size, the generated heat never felt excessive or concerning.
Chargers typically come in boring black or gray. Ugreen offers the Nexode Air 65W in several colors, including Starlight Blue, White and Orange. This helps the charger stand out in a sea of otherwise forgettable accessories. Plus, if you own an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air, the color pairing will make for a nice look.
My only gripe with the Nexode Air 65W is that there is no 2-port version. I would love to see a similar-sized GaN charger with two USB-C ports. As it stands, I still have to decide which device gets plugged in overnight.
Despite the single-port limitation, I prefer carrying the Nexode Air 65W over other multi-port chargers when traveling for its compact size and weight. That same advantage extends to Ugreen’s MagFlow Air power banks as well.
The Ugreen Nexode Air 65W is among the most compact 65W GaN chargers on the market. It comes with a 5-foot USB-C cable and can fast charge your MacBook Air/Neo/Pro, iPhone 17 16, Galaxy S26/S25, and iPads.
- Super-compact design
- Up to 65W power output
- Can get hold under full load
MagFlow Air: A MagSafe power bank that doesn’t turn your iPhone into a brick
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Newer iPhones and other smartphones now deliver all-day battery life, so I don’t need a power bank unless I’m traveling or expect to click a lot of photos and videos. The problem is that most MagSafe power banks are too thick and bulky. For something that I only use occasionally, I don’t want to carry a brick in my pocket or backpack.
Another problem is that such bulky power banks, when attached to the back of an iPhone, make it even thicker and harder to hold.
Ugreen’s MagFlow Air solves both problems. It comes in 5,000mAh and 10,00mAh capacities so that you can choose the model that best fits your needs. Both models support Qi2 and MagSafe wireless charging, with a maximum output of 15W.
Both power banks impress with their build quality. The Qi2 charging surface uses a soft-touch rubberized finish that prevents scratches and improves grip when attaching the power bank to the back of a phone.
The rear panel has a tough metal-like finish, giving the power bank a more premium look and feel than its price would suggest. Both variants come in several flashy colors, including Starlight Blue and Lunar White, which further help them stand out.
The slim design ensures the power bank sits flush against the back of the iPhone. Attached to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, the MagFlow Air 5,000mAh barely added any thickness or bulk. And it did not make the phone awkward to hold either.
For that reason, I found myself preferring the MagFlow Air over other power banks when traveling. It’s light and slim enough that I carry it every day in my bag as a “just in case” item. I prefer the 5,000mAh model for its smaller size. It outputs 15W power wirelessly and 20W over USB-C. When using both wired and wireless charging, speeds top out at 7.5W and 5W, respectively.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Ugreen MagFlow Air: Performance testing
The 5,000mAh capacity is not enough to charge newer iPhones from 0-100%. Its effective capacity is only about 3,000mAh, and that drops further when using wireless charging. Still, in my testing, it juiced up an iPhone 15 Pro Max by 40%, enough to make it through a long evening or night. And that’s all I need.
The 10,00mAh MagFlow Air is thicker and larger than the 5,00mAh model. But then it also offers double the capacity, which means it can fully charge newer Pro Max iPhones once and still have some juice left in the tank.
That’s what you should realistically expect since the power bank’s effective capacity is only about 6,250mAh. Once you factor in the power loss due to wireless charging and heat, the actual capacity drops even further.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
For longer trips, I preferred carrying the 10,00mAh model, especially since it comes with a built-in USB-C cable. There’s another USB-C port on the bottom, meaning I can charge two devices at the same time over a wired connection. Or three, if you count wireless charging, though speeds drop significantly.
Wireless charging still tops out at 15W, but the power bank can deliver up to 30W over USB-C. That’s fast enough to fast charge the iPhone 17 Pro, iPad and some other USB-C devices.
The built-in cable also means one less accessory to carry, making the 10,000mAh model a practical travel companion despite its larger size. Plus, it acts as a lanyard or carry strap.
I never had to worry about either power bank detaching unexpectedly. The built-in magnets are strong enough to keep an iPhone or heavier Android phones firmly attached through typical daily activities.
The four LED indicators on the power banks show the remaining battery life, while a dedicated LED lights up when wireless charging is active. You can tap the single power button on the side of the power bank to check the remaining battery capacity.
The Ugreen Magflow Air 5,000mAh power bank stands out for its sleek and lightweight design. Its a great everyday carry power bank can seamlessly slip into your pocket or backpack without adding bulk.
- Sleek and lightweight design
- MagSafe wireless charging
- Effective usable capacity is only 3,000mAh
This 10,000mAh, wireless portable charger with built-in USB-C cable keeps your gadgets going. It's a 30W fast-charging battery pack that offers 15W MagSafe-compatible charging for iPhone 17/16/15/14 Pro Max.
- Light and sleek design for a 10,000mAh power bank
- Built-in USB-C cable
- Can charge up to 3 devices
- Effective usable capacity is only about 6,250mAh
Pricing and availability
The Ugreen Nexode Air 65W and the MagFlow Air power banks are available for purchase on Amazon and Ugreen’s website.
The 65W USB-C charger is priced at $39.99 and comes with a 5ft USB-C to USB-C cable. It’s usually discounted by 20%, so you can get it for a much lower price.
The MagFlow Air 5,000mAh power bank retails for $59.99, while the 10,00mAh model is priced at $79.99. Again, you can usually get them at a lower price after discounts.
★★★★★
Buy from:
- Ugreen Nexode Air 65W: Amazon
- Ugreen MagFlow Air 5,00mAh: Amazon
- Ugreen MagFlow Air 10,00mAh: Amazon
Ugreen 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.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
You can reach out to him at mail[at]rajeshpandey.me.
