You get what you pay for

USB-C technology used to be expensive. This is no longer the case as various brands are rapidly dropping the price of USB-C devices and accessories, including Choetech of Shenzhen, China.

The company’s 18W USB-C Power Delivery (PD) charger is one of the most affordable and widely used adapters on the market. But is it good? We’ll walk you through the pros and cons Android AuthorityChoetech’s 18W USB-C PD Fast Charger Review.

See also: The best accessories for phone charging

What you need to know about the Choetech 18W USB-C PD Fast Charger

• Choetech USB-C charger 18W: $ 12.99 / € 12.99 / £ 12.99 / Rs. 1,899

Choetech’s 18W USB-C charger is an affordable option for those looking for an easy replacement phone charger. With USB PD 3.0 and Quick Charge 3.0 standards supported through a single USB-C port, you should be able to charge most of your devices with this adapter.

18 W of power is not an enormous amount for modern fast-charging standards and is certainly not enough for fast-charging laptops and larger tablets that require at least 45 W. However, 18W will cover many fast-charging and USB-C devices, including phones and the Nintendo Switch. The supported power modes at 5 V 3A, 9 V 2A and 12 V 1.5 A.

The Choetech USB-C charger 18W is available in black and white depending on the region. The US model measures 45 x 26 x 68 mm, including the prongs. It’s a nice and compact charger.

What is good?

At $ 12.99, you’ll struggle to find a cheaper charger on the market that will support a decent range of devices. If you’ve lost or need to replace a similarly specialized adapter, Cheotech’s offering is hard to beat when it comes to value for money.

The design is very compact and perfect as a travel companion. It’s sturdy for the price too. That little plug definitely feels like it could survive a drop or two. The plastic coating also won’t scratch easily if left in your travel bag.

What’s not so good?

The Choetech USB-C charger 18W works with any device you throw at it. However, when testing the speed of a number of high-end and cheaper smartphones over the past few years, it has been much more successful in hitting the full 18W.

Chotech 18W USB-C PD review	Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus	Apple iPhone 12 Pro max	Google Pixel 5	ZTE Axon 11	LG G8X	Huawei P40 Pro
USB performance test	13.9 W / 25 W.	17.8 W / 20 W.	16.8 / 18W	12.8 / 18W	11.7 / 21W	11.75 / 40W
Voltage current	8.88 V, 1.56 A.	9.05 V, 1.97 A.	9.06 V, 1.85 A.	8.95 V, 1.43 A.	4.91 V, 2.39 A.	9.11 V, 1.29 A.
Charging standard	USB PD 3.0	USB PD 3.0	USB PD 2.0	USB PD	Fast charging	USB PD
Electricity from the wall	18W	22.4 W.	21.1 W.	16.2 W.	16.2 W.	14.5 W.
Energy efficiency	77.0%, OK.	79.6%, OK.	79.4%, OK.	79%, OK.	79%, OK.	81%, good.

There is no USB PD PSS protocol for fast charging modern Samsung phones. USB PD devices like Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Pixel series reach near full power of 18W. These are definitely the best products to use Choetech with.

However, those who rely on Quick Charge or other standards will not come close to their rated speed. These devices only hit about 12 W from the plug. I don’t think the port supports Quick Charge 3.0 as an independent standard, but rather that it is backwards compatible in some form or another. This is not uncommon with USB PD ports, but it’s worth mentioning as Choetech is announcing Quick Charge 3.0 support on the box and only has a single port available.

The 18W charger on the Choetech USB-C charger isn’t as efficient at converting power from the wall to your phone either. 79% averages below what we’ve seen from USB-C GaN chargers, which are becoming increasingly popular in the market.

Choetech 18W USB-C PD Fast Charger Review: Should I Buy It?

Choetech’s 18W USB-C PD Fast Charger is a solid charger that you’ll only want to turn on USB PD devices that don’t use more than 18W. This only covers a handful of gadgets, including the Google Pixel 5 and Nintendo Switch.

Choetech’s charger is a good buy if you are on a budget and want to charge a handful of very specific devices.

Newer smartphones benefit from slightly more powerful chargers, and Galaxy S21 owners want a charger that supports USB PD PPS. In the meantime, older quick chargers can get faster speeds from another charger with a compatible USB-A port. These products will continue to charge, but not as quickly as you might expect.

At $ 12.99, Choetech’s tiny charger would never have all of the bells and whistles. It’s a great buy if you’re on a budget and want to charge a handful of very specific devices. Anyone looking for a universally more powerful, future-proof USB connector should look elsewhere.