When I go on a vacation or business trip, I seem to always have issues charging all my USB enabled gadgets. I either forget to bring along a bazillion individual USB AC adapters or I have issues running out of USB ports on my laptop. Sometimes I don’t even want to bring my laptop on the trip. Then there’s the issue of what to do when I travel outside the US. To solve all these problems, I found a convenient solution – The AC to 5-USB Power Adapter from Brando.
Specs and Features
Package Contents
At first glance, the square White plastic adapter with rounded sides totally reminds me the AC wall wart for my 15″ Apple Macbook Pro.
But on the outside edge of this adapter, you find 4 female USB power ports…
While the opposite side has an interchangeable power plug port.
The plug adapter pops off semi-easily.
Plug adapters for UK, US, Asia and Australia are all included. Since I haven’t had the opportunity to travel outside good old Columbus, Indiana USA during this review, I only tested the standard 2-prong US adapter.
You might wonder why this product is called the AC to 5 USB power adapter when it only has 4 USB ports. Slide off the outside cover to reveal a mini USB cable wrapped and hidden inside. Nice!
Packing this power adapter is much more convenient than packing 5 different AC adapters. I tested it with several different devices and it worked flawlessly. The only weirdness that I noticed was a faint buzz or whine coming from the adapter when it was plugged in.
The only thing that would make this product better would be a small zippered pouch to hold the adapter and the individual plugs. Other than that, it’s a keeper.
Product Information
| Price: | $22.00 |
| Manufacturer: | Brando |
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| Cons: |
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Wow i like the look of it! Do they sell it in the UK yet?
It seems very good product, I will buy one.
once again a simple review with excellent photos and no vulgarity like those children over at Gi—–!
Congratulations!!
I will buy this product because of this review.
@Phillip Thanks! Let us know what you think of it if you do buy it!
The big question is whether it charges things as fast as if they were plugged in individually.
The real cost savings here is packing wall-wart adapters. The cables are still needed, but the bulk of the adapters and the need for outlet space can be avoided. I would say, though, that it would have limited use if it did not do a decently quick job of charging devices.
Thanks for the review!
@PaulsCity
Brando ship to the UK – I have bought a few of the multi card readers Julie has high regard for.
Thats the sort of gadget i’d use at home. I recently got a G1 and now have that, my iPod classic and my TomTom Sat nav to charge via USB – this is the best solution i’ve seen so far to reduce cables and adaptors!
Will it work with devices like the iPod touch, which is notoriously touchy about Mains to USB power adapters?
@Dave Bullock,
I bought one of these adapters on Julie’s recommendation – I can confirm that it will work with an iPod Touch – it supplies more than enough power to do so. This was done while other devices were simultaneously charging from the power adapter.