Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C Review

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C
Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C - Say aloha to this travel friendly charger

Summary

I took the Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C charger on a two week trip. It served as our only charger for all our devices. Being able to go down to one charger was nice for packing and island hopping.

Overall
4.8
  • Performance
    (4.5)
  • Design
    (5)
  • Safety
    (4.5)
  • Portability
    (5)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Pros

  • Fast charges iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel
  • Charges Switch while you play
  • Fits in most Switch carrying cases
  • Charges a 12-inch laptop
  • Travel friendly design
  • Includes a USB-C to USB-C cable
  • Charge three devices at once, but reduced rates on USB-A ports
  • Works worldwide with 100-240V power input (may need a plug adapter)

Cons

  • Won’t fast charge Quick Charge 3.0 enabled phones; but does normal charging
  • USB-A ports limited to 3A max
  • Glossy exterior shows smudges

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Inateck provided the product in this review.

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[wpcd_coupon id=9587]
Model: UCC3001
Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C specs

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C specs

Tech Specs:
  • Ports: USB-C, USB-A x2
  • USB-C Output:
    • 30W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 (5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A)
  • USB-A Output:
    • 12W USB (5V/2.4A)
    • 3A max total on both ports
    • Apple 2.4A
  • Input: 100V–240V, 1.4A, 50/60Hz
  • Size: 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.2 inches | 72 x 57 x 30 mm
  • Weight: 4.7 oz | 132 grams

Learn more aboutFast Charging.

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C box and contents

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C box and contents

Included In Box:
  • Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C
  • USB-C to USB-C 2.0 cable, 6.6 feet
Good For:
  • Additional charger for home or work
  • Travel
  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Power banks
  • Nintendo Switch (handheld)
  • iPad Pro
  • 12-inch laptop

First Impression

The Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C charger gets its name from its total output. The USB-C port offers up to 30W. The two USB-A ports offer up to 15W combined. That totals to 45W, hence the name.

Like other Inateck chargers it has a black, glossy exterior. It looks great out of the box. But will attract fingerprints and smudges. This charger is lighter and smaller than the Anker PowerPort II PD I had been using for travel. Though the difference is slight, I had to measure to be sure. The Inateck charger doesn’t have an LED light, which is nice in a hotel room.

 

Compared To Similar Chargers

ChargerInateck 45W 3-Port USB-C ChargerAnker PowerPort II PD

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AUKEY PA-Y13 46W PD Charging Station

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Obsidian Series 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger
PortsUSB-C, USB-A x2USB-C, USB-AUSB-C, USB-A x2USB-C, USB-A x2
Output30W USB-C PD30W USB-C PD

PowerIQ 2.0
45W USB-C PD

Quick Charge 3.0
15W USB-C
FeaturesTravel FriendlyUSB-IF Certified

Quick Charge 3.0 compatible

Travel Friendly
Quick Charge 3.0Travel Friendly
CableUSB-C to USB-C cableNo cableNo cableNo cable
Dimensions2.8 x 2.3 x 1.2 in
4.7 oz
2.7 x 2.7 x 1.1 in
5.3 oz
3.9 x 3 x 1.2 in
7.7 oz
2.9 x 2.2 x 1.2 in
4.4 oz
PriceNo products found.Price not availableNo products found.$13.38

Prices are from Amazon Product Advertising API, last updated on 2024-03-18.

 

You can see more USB-C chargers here.

 

Device Testing

Check with your device’s manufacturer to verify which charging standards it supports.

USB Power Delivery & Quick Charge 4+ Phones

  • Apple iPhone 8/X/XR/XS
  • Essential Phone
  • Google Pixel
  • LG ThinQ series
  • Razer
  • Samsung Galaxy S8/S9/S10
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 8/9
  • Xiaomi Mi 8/9
  • ZTE Axon Pro 9/10

Using an iPhone 8 for testing we find USB PD phones will fast charge over the USB-C port. iPhones will need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable, not included. And Android phones will need a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is included.

For iPhones the USB-A port supports Apple 2.4A. An older, but still functional fast charging standard. Older iPhones (4-7) can fast charge using USB-A. Newer iPhones will charge ~15 minutes faster using USB-C.

Quick Charge 3.0 Phones

  • HTC
  • LG
  • Motorola
  • Nokia
  • Samsung Galaxy
  • Sony
  • Xiaomi Mi 5/6
  • ZTE

 

Using a Moto G6 for testing we get normal charging rates. As no Quick Charge or compatible fast charging standard is supported that’s as fast as it goes. Still, 10W is a decent charge rate.

Nintendo Switch

 

The Nintendo Switch charges near its max rate, up to 17W. It’ll fast charge while you play. Its charge rate while sleeping is normal. But it won’t power a docked Switch. That requires a higher 15V output than this charger offers.

Learn more about charging the Switch.

USB-C Laptops

 

Using a 13-inch MacBook Pro for testing we can draw ~28W from this charger. That’s expected, after accounting for efficiency loss.

Different model laptops have different power demands. But in general a 30W charger can support 12-inch laptops. It can power a larger laptop in a pinch. It will charge while sleeping. But may only extend runtime if used while the larger laptop is active.

Trip Report – Two Weeks In Hawaii

Shortly after receiving the Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C charger my wife and I went to Hawaii (Maui and Kauai). The trip offered a great field test of the charger. We would be staying in three different locations. So I wanted to take only one charger to support all our devices. Inateck’s offered me more ports in a travel friendly design. And small enough I didn’t mind it being in my backpack in case we needed it at the airport.

It ended up getting used in 3 lodgings, 2 airports, and 1 plane.

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in San Diego hotel

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in San Diego hotel

Our Gadgets:

  • iPhone x2
  • iPad
  • Nintendo Switch
  • Poke Ball Plus
  • AirPods
  • Bluetooth headphones (micro-USB charging)
  • Anker PowerCore+ mini (for the iPhones, kept in the daypack)
  • Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition (for everything on the flights)

Every flight had a 4 hour or more gap until the next. This allowed me to recharge the power bank as needed. If the flights had been back-to-back I would have taken a 20,000mAh model. As it turned out our two longest flights had in-seat power, which further reduced our reliance on the power bank.

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in Kauai Airbnb

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in Kauai Airbnb

Our Cables:

  • Lightning cable (regular USB-A) x2
  • USB-C to Lightning
  • USB-C to USB-C
  • USB-C to USB-A (not used with this charger)
  • micro-USB to USB-A
Kept Up With Our Daily Needs

The Inateck 3-port charger handled all our daily charging needs. We’ve used a 2-port charger on previous trips without issue. But the extra USB-A port reduced the need to decide what to charge first. The 15W limit on the USB-A ports didn’t matter when charging overnight. And with no device juggling we never had a phone below 100% when going out.

To be fair, we didn’t need to recharge everything everyday. The Switch and headphones were used on travel days. The iPad and Poke Ball Plus went days between charging. The iPhones were the only daily, full recharge.

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in Maui Airbnb

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C in Maui Airbnb

Bringing a USB-C to Lightning cable was important. It allowed the iPhones and iPad to all charge together, and kept the current up for each device. It also allowed either of the iPhones to fast charge via USB-C if needed. I did leave Inateck’s USB-C cable at home. I appreciate there are times a 6.6 foot cable is handy. But it was too long and heavy for my taste. For travel I use 3 foot cable in a dedicated travel kit.

If we had a Quick Charge enabled phone I would have gone for a different charger. The Inateck supported fast charging our iPhones, but not LG or Motorola phones.

If we had taken our MacBook Pros then I would think hard about this charger. It would pair well with a separate laptop charger. But as a “one charger to rule them all” the 30W is less than I’d want.

Summary

The Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C charger offers three USB ports in a package like most two port chargers. It does limit total output of the USB-A ports. And there’s no Quick Charge support. But for USB PD devices it offers fast charging.

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C ports

Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C ports

For phones it supports fast charing iPhone and Google Pixel. iPhone 8/X/XR/XS can fast charge via USB-C. And most iPhones can get a slower fast charge out of a USB-A port. Other models will see 9-10W charging.

For the Nintendo Switch it charges in handheld mode as fast as any other option. But it cannot power a docked Switch.

It can also handle the iPad Pro, new MacBook Air, or most 12-inch laptops with USB-C. It can work with larger laptops in a pinch, but it wouldn’t be my go to travel charger for those.

On a two week trip with a pair of iPhones, an iPad, and no laptop or Switch dock it met all our needs. And it did so without being bigger or heavier than my other options. If you only charge your phone overnight then lack of Quick Charge isn’t an issue. If taking a mid/large sized laptop or Switch dock then you’ll want to also bring a more powerful USB-C charger.

About Inateck

Inateck has U.S. based support (web, email, phone) and a 12 month warranty. They have been providing PC peripherals for IT professionals and consumers for years.

Bottom Line

The Inateck 45W 3-Port USB-C charger was a great travel companion that didn’t let me down. For active trips without a laptop or Switch dock it’ll be a go to charger. Lack of Quick Charge could be a problem if you need to fast charge a Quick Charge Android mid day. But if charging overnight it’ll work just as well for you as it did for me.

Buy if you:
  • Want to power a 12-inch laptop, a phone, and another USB device
  • Like to pack light, but have more than two devices to charge daily
  • Need a long USB-C cable to go along with your new charger
Don’t buy if you:
  • Think it is a 45W USB-C PD charger, it only offers 30W USB-C (45W in the name is all ports combined)
  • Need to fast charge a LG or Motorola Android phone
  • Only have two devices to charge on the go

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