20W of micro GaN power

Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology is driving a revolution in small, efficient, low-temperature USB-C chargers. You will be hard pressed to find a more compact GaN charging companion than the Spigen PowerArc 20W ArcStation Pro wall charger.

Choosing the right charger for your devices obviously depends on how much power you need and what standards are supported for fast charging. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of this adapter Android Authority Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro Review.

See also: The best accessories for phone charging

What you need to know about the Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro

• Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro 20W: $ 29.99

At an MSRP of $ 29.99, Spigen’s PowerArc 20W ArcStation Pro is a bit pricey at a glance. However, you can now regularly pick it up at various retailers, including Amazon, for less than $ 20. At this price point, it’s an affordable option for those looking for a compact replacement phone charger.

With up to 20 W power supply via USB Power Delivery 3.0 via a single USB-C port, you are protected with this adapter when charging most modern devices. The supported power modes are 5V, 3A, and 9V, 2.22A. There is no 12V option that a small number of other devices may require.

The Spigen PowerArc 20W is available in black and white and is only available in the US. The tiny charger measures 39.5 x 34.5 x 27.7 mm and weighs only 42 g. It’s the smallest charging adapter I’ve ever seen.

What is good?

The ultra-compact design is the main reason to buy the Spigen PowerArc 20W ArcStation Pro. It’s very small and light, making it the perfect travel companion or just an elegant replacement for an older, bulky USB-C adapter. If anything, there is a real risk that this little plug at the bottom of your laptop bag could be lost.

Thanks to the GaN technology, the Spigen PowerArc 20W stays nice and cool even when charging. With an average energy efficiency of 80%, it’s not the most energy efficient model on the market, but it certainly isn’t bad either.

Spigen PowerArc 20W ArcStation Pro	Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus	Apple iPhone 12 Pro max	Google Pixel 5	ZTE Axon 11	LG G8X	Microsoft Surface Pro X.
USB performance test	14.3 W / 25 W.	19.5 W / 20 W.	18 / 18W	12.7 / 18W	7.1 / 21W	18.1 W / 60 W.
Voltage current	8.76 V, 1.63 A.	8.93 V, 2.18 A.	8.93 V, 2.06 A.	8.97 V, 1.42 A.	5.05 V, 1.41 A.	8.94 V, 2.02 A.
Charging standard	USB PD 3.0	USB PD 3.0	USB PD 2.0	USB PD	USB DCP	USB PD 3.0
Electricity from the wall	17.8 W.	24.1 W.	22.7 W.	16.0 W.	9.3 W.	22.4W
Energy efficiency	80.2%, OK.	80.8%, OK.	81.0%, OK.	79.6%, OK.	76.6%, OK.	80.6%, OK.

Despite the compactness of this charger, small USB devices are operated for power supply with up to 20 W, for which most smartphones are suitable. We tested the Google Pixel 5 (18W), Apple iPhone 12 Pro (20W), and Nintendo Switch (18W) to get essentially full speed with these devices. Spigen draws clean power from its plug to keep it charging steadily, and that’s definitely the case in my experience. 20W is obviously not good for quickly charging larger USB-C laptops, although it will work in an emergency.

What’s not so good?

Spigen PowerArc 20W does not have the USB PD PSS protocol which current Samsung phones can be charged at full speed. The charger also does not support fast charging standards used by some older devices, such as the battery charger. B. Qualcomm’s fast charging or Samsung’s adaptive fast charging. Phones using these standards will continue to charge, but at 15W or less depending on the model. As such, it may not be a universal replacement for all existing wall plugs.

The charger is also still quite expensive when bought direct from Spigen, where it costs $ 29.99. At this price, you can get some more future-proof USB-PD-PSS plugs and even multi-port hubs. Definitely look out for discounts from other retailers. At less than $ 20, the Spigen PowerArc 20W is much better value, especially since it doesn’t come with any cables or international adapters.

Spigen PowerArc ArcStation Pro Review: Should I Buy It?

The Spigen PowerArc 20W ArcStation Pro is a solid micro-charging package for turning on USB Power Delivery devices. 20 W power with USB Power Delivery is an ideal companion for Google Pixel phones, the Nintendo Switch, Apple’s iPhones and a good selection of other USB-C devices.

You won’t find a product that is slimmer and lighter than Spigen’s PowerArc ArcStation Pro.

Of course, 20W is too limited for many USB-C tablets and laptops. It’s also not really future-proof as it doesn’t have USB PD PSS support. Again, there is no support for Quick Charge or other proprietary standards. These and other USB products will continue to charge, but not as quickly as you might hope.

For me, the real selling point of this connector is its compact design. If you’re looking for an ultra-portable smartphone plug that can power your handheld devices on the go, you won’t find a product that is slimmer and lighter than Spigen’s PowerArc ArcStation Pro wall charger.