The use ofgallium nitride (GaN)has continued to shrink the physical size of chargers, but theNomad 65W Slim Power Adaptortakes things to a whole new level. This thin charger is just about the perfect travel charger.
Nomad 65W Slim Power Adapter
The Nomad 65W Slim Power Adapter can provide enough power to at least slow charge your laptop and one extra device. It’s also slim and light enough to fit into almost any bag, making it perfect for travel.
A Charger the Size of a Zippo
When I first unboxed the Nomad 65W Slim Power Adaptor, my first impression was, “Wow.” I’ve been using ever-shrinking GaN chargers for years, but never have I used one that was so perfectly suited for travel. Its minuscule size and weight means I can throw it into my smallest tech pouch and forget it’s even in my bag.
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Before my review unit arrived, I traveled withNomad’s 130W Power Adapter. While its three USB-C ports and power output were more than enough to keep all of my devices fully charged, the charger itself is heavy and bulky. 0.73lbs (332g) doesn’t sound like much weight, but when it’s in a bag already stuffed with other electronics, the weight starts to add up.
With the decreased size, I could also use a smaller electronics pouch. I was previously using aPeak Design Tech Pouch. It doesn’t take up a ton of space, but now that everything from my iPhone to my laptop charges over USB-C, I have fewer cables to bring. Thanks to the slimmed-down Nomad power adapters, I can fit everything into theMoment Tech Organizer Miniwith room to spare.
The other benefit I found while traveling is that the flat design allowed me to plug the charger into more outlets easily. Hotels sometimes don’t offer enough plugs, and bulky bricks don’t easily fit behind the bed. Plus, since the USB-C ports are pointed up or downward when the flip-out prongs are plugged into an outlet, you don’t need to worry about bending and breaking your cables if there isn’t enough available space.
What Happens When You Plug In Two Devices?
As the name implies, this Nomad charger can output a maximum of 65W of power. That means if you plug a single USB-C cable into either of the ports and connect the other end to a large device such as a MacBook, all 65W of electricity will go to that laptop.
Now, if you were to use both USB-C ports simultaneously, neither would put out the full 65W. Instead, Nomad splits the output into 45W and 20W. Looking at the bottom of the charger, you’ll see that the port on the left is blue, and the one on the right is black. The company color codes the ports to help you identify which will provide more power: the blue port provides 45W.
In most cases, when charging larger items, you will want to keep the secondary port empty. 65W is usually the minimum requirement for slow charging a laptop. I typically only used the charger to its full extent at night, where the 45W/25W split didn’t have any difficulty juicing up my MacBook Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Apple Watch (with the assistance of aMagSafe Duo).
There’s Also a 35W Version
If you don’t need 65W of power, two USB-C ports, or this charger is somehow too big for you, Nomad also sells a 35W model. It’s a hair lighter and a smidge shorter, but the true differentiator is that it only includes one USB-C port.
The 35W model is about $30 cheaper, but I’d highly recommend spending the extra cash to grab the 65W version. Not only is the second USB-C port going to be helpful in getting all of your devices charged, but 35W won’t be enough to charge some of your larger devices. If all you’re traveling with is a smartphone and a pair of earbuds, Nomad’s smaller model will work perfectly for you.
Nomad doesn’t directly market the65W Slim Power Adapteras a travel accessory, but I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an on-the-go charger. The minimalistic design is perfect for any sized bag and fits in places where bulkier bricks won’t. This charger is an easy recommendation.
The Slim Power Adapter’s biggest “flaw” is its elongated design. While the charger works perfectly in most outlets, it can cover additional plugs when used withsome power strips. I never ran into this problem during my testing, but it’s one a coworker of mine identified.
Of course, you can always use Nomad’s Slim Power Adaptor at home, but it’s not the most cost-efficient option. As home chargers tend to be more permanent fixtures, I’d recommend a 200W-300Wpower supply from SatechiorUgreen, which can fast charge just about anything you plug into them.
