The best USB charger 2018
Desktop chargers, multi-port USB chargers or whatever you want to call them may not be the sexiest tech gadgets we can think of, but beyond our core mobile computing devices - our laptops, our tablets, our smartphones - we can't think of a more useful gadget to have around the home. It's not so much a question of why would you want a desktop charger, but why wouldn't you want one?
Desktop chargers let you charge multiple phones, tablets and other USB-powered devices from a single mains outlet, and are great for freeing up some suitcase room on your travels.
When choosing a desktop charger it's important to consider the number of USB outputs it offers, the rating of each, and the total output of the device. A 10-port desktop charger is of little use if it can simultaneously support only three of those ports at full-speed. That said, it isn't unusual for a desktop charger to be unable to run all its ports at maximum power at once.
Many of the desktop and travel chargers we review here support intelligent technology that lets them recognise the attached device and automatically deliver the correct amount of power. Others will offer slow- and fast-charging ports for your phone, tablet or other USB devices. Also see our round-up of the best power banks and best charging cables.
The Tronsmart Titan Plus is the best desktop charger we've come across, faster and with more Quick Charge ports than any other, and for roughly the same amount of money as its rivals.
With a name like Titan Plus, the size of this thing shouldn't be underestimated. At 300g and 159x81x29mm it's a beast, and roughly twice the size of the other desktop chargers in our chart. But the Titan is designed to sit on your desk and stay there, rather than go with you on your travels as a compact multi-charger.
The design is functional, a matte black box with flashes of gloss at the edges. Lying flat on the desk a Tronsmart logo is visble from the top, and around the back is a dedicated power switch that lets you turn off the charger without unplugging it from the mains - this will prove attractive to those who worry about trickle-charging devices munching away at their electricity bills.
From the front you can see five USB ports, each with a green plastic prong inside. In the world of charging green (or blue) is used to signal speed. And this desktop charger from Tronsmart has loads of it to hand.
We've seen desktop chargers that support one or two USB ports compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge. All five ports on the Titan support the technology, plus there's VoltIQ intelligent device recognition for phones and tablets that do not, allowing the Titan to deliver an optimum charge to suit the device.
The Plus offers Quick Charge 3.0 (now superceded by Quick Charge 4.0) but it'st the most common form of the technology. The main addition is is INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage), which allows for a more optimised charging cycle.
When compared to other desktop chargers the Tronsmart Titan also has the highest maximum power output. Rated at 90W, it can deliver a full 18W to each of its five USB ports simultaneously. This means it will be as efficient with one phone plugged in as it would with five.
If, like us at Tech Advisor, you're a bit of a gadget hoarder, a device that can simultaneously charge five phones or tablets at high-speed is a must-have. You won't find a better one than the Tronsmart Titan.