My New Favorite Universal Adapter For Traveling Has A Hidden Superpower (and On Sale)

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Wherever I spell -- whether I'm walking successful nan UK aliases overseas -- I bring a cosmopolitan recreation adapter pinch me. They're nan cleanable companion to support my gadgets charged up pinch their compact shape and action of ports.

Over nan past fewer weeks, I've been testing nan Baseus EnerCore CG11 6-in-1 cosmopolitan recreation adapter, and it's turned retired to beryllium nan best-engineered recreation adapter I've utilized truthful far.

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On first blush -- and this is what fooled maine initially -- nan EnerCore CG11 looks for illustration immoderate different recreation adapter. It's a palm-sized cube measuring 3.3 x 2.2 x 2 inches and weighing half a pound, pinch a fewer levers connected nan broadside and a assortment of ports. It is compatible pinch beautiful overmuch each powerfulness outlet worldwide and each voltage and wave you'll encounter. Whether you're successful nan US, Europe, Asia, aliases Australia, this portion has you covered.

The rating, 70W, is emblazoned connected nan front. That doesn't sound for illustration a batch successful nan look of chargers that spell to 140W and beyond, but it's good for nan mostly of devices and will complaint large devices for illustration MacBook Pros that are usually connected to beefy chargers, albeit astatine a slower rate.

Given that nan EnerCore CG11 uses nan latest GaN transistors, which are much compact and powerfulness businesslike than older silicon semiconductors, you mightiness wonderment why nan portion only produces 70W. The engineers near room for a USB-C cable.

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Yes, that's right. This cosmopolitan recreation adapter has its ain built-in, retractable 27-inch USB-C cablegram that comes retired of 1 broadside of nan unit. The cablegram is level and braided, very resistant to wear. The retractor has 5 magnitude presets, and it's wide very soft and reliable. It tin besides grip 70W maximum connected its own, cleanable for low—and high-draw devices.

The built-in cablegram intends nary 1 tin "borrow" it!

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On nan bottommost of nan portion are 3 much USB ports: 1 USB-C larboard pinch a maximum output of 60W, different USB-A larboard pinch a maximum output of 60W, and different USB-A larboard bully for 5W, cleanable for low-draw devices. Using each 4 ports, nan portion tin push retired a maximum of 60W.

USB ports galore!

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But that's not moreover everything. Most cosmopolitan recreation adapters I've tested person nan AC prongs coming retired of nan mediate of nan unit, which tin make nan portion top-heavy successful immoderate AC outlets (I'm looking astatine you, EU outlets). 

This tin besides origin nan portion to dangle from nan outlet, which tin consequence successful disconnections. Baseus solved this by putting nan prongs adjacent nan top, truthful it fits into nan ports better.

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The adapter is besides marketed arsenic "cruise approved," which intends nan portion doesn't person built-in surge protection -- a characteristic considered to beryllium a occurrence hazard connected cruise ships -- and is designed to fresh into low-clearance compartment outlets.

Perfect fresh successful each powerfulness outlet I've tried.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Surge-protection aside, nan portion is packed pinch information features, from a fused 10A proviso (it comes pinch a spare fuse), overpower, overvoltage, overheating and short-circuit protection, and is built from fireproof polycarbonate.

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Why I urge this product

First, nan value is right. Right now, nan Baseus EnerCore CG11 is only $36, which is simply a bargain for a cosmopolitan recreation adapter of this quality.

The EnerCore CG11 is besides conscionable truthful well-engineered and nicely put together. The location of nan AC prongs mightiness look for illustration a mini thing, but it makes a immense quality to nan usability of nan adapter. The retractable USB-C reel is besides ace handy, and it intends I've ever sewage a cablegram connected manus (and it's not 1 anyone other tin "borrow" and hide to bring back!). 

Overall, I urge this adapter for its thoughtful creation features, which make it guidelines retired among a oversea of recreation adapters.