Let's face it, on the one hand we understand the position of Apple that from this year has removed the power supplies from all the packs of the iPhone for environmental impact reasons, on the other hand this choice has given us one more problem. In the face of a thinner box and the contribution we make to reducing electronic waste, we now have to hunt for a charger that is worthy of our new phones. In reality, the hunt is not that complicated: just go to Amazon and buy the Anker Nano (which is also called PowerPort III Nano) in the new 20W version. We say this after having had in our hands this charger of what was and remains probably the best company in the sector of accessories such as chargers, cables and batteries and that with this small power supply makes a great miracle.
PowerPort III Anker Nano nameplate data
The right charger
In the past we have already reviewed the Atom PD1 which reached 30W, then the Anker PowerPort III Nano which was a smaller version, with the ability to deliver up to 18W, the maximum possible for a new generation iPhone. It is from the latter that Anker started to create the Anker Nano which is in fact a PowerPort III Nano with greater output power. Dimensions, shape, structure, technologies are the same. Inside we find the now well-known components of Gallium Nitride , a semiconductor that allows you to create very small chargers. Gallium Nitride-based transistors are 10-25% more efficient than silicon-based transistors heat up less, so they are suitable for placing in products that have a small case.
When we say small, it means that the Anker Nano is really small. The dimensions are comparable to those of Apple's old 5W charger, that is to say of an accessory that generated a quarter of the power of the Anker Nano. If we look at the size of Apple's 18W charger (which today has become 20W) we are halfway through. The biggest advantage of this little charger is right here, in its size.
In the photos from the left the “infamous” Apple 5W charger, in the center the 20W charger and on the right the PowerPort III Nano
Anker Nano how it works
Plastic and shape are the same as the Anker PowerPort III Nano but there is a difference. The previous model provided 18W, the current one 20W. If you think that 2W does not deserve to be mentioned it is because you have not read that 20W is the only useful power to allow Magsafe to provide the 15W of maximum output it is capable of. In addition, you must also know that to get to 15W the Magsafe needs to be combined with a charger compatible with the Power Delivery 3 protocol. Otherwise, regardless of the power of the charger, the Magsafe will not work at its maximum performance. Anker Nano is one of the very few Power Delivery 3 chargers on the market today and is therefore completely comparable to Apple's 20W charger.
We specify that having a few Watts less may not be a serious problem; on the Magsafe an 18W charger like there are so many offers lower performance only until it reaches about 45% charge. In this first phase three or four minutes are probably gained; subsequently the performance of an 18W and a 20W charger become identical. As if to say that in the end there is no real difference.
Magsafe aside, Anker Nano offers its best when connected to a Lighting cable on USB-C, then directly to the iPhone without resorting to Magsafe. In this case the performances are remarkable and even if not comparable to those of some Android phone, useful to make us recharge the phone very quickly. The gain compared to an 18W charger is however also minimal here: indicatively an iPhone 12 Pro Max goes from 0-100% in 1.35 minutes instead of 1.45 minutes. Most of the benefit comes as in the case of connecting with the Magsafe during the first part of charging. In practical terms we will be able to send an iPhone 12 Pro Max from zero to 47% in half an hour in half an hour and 75% in an hour. In an hour and a half we will be at 93%. In the last part up to 100% of the recharge the Anker Nano travels around 3W.
The 20W PowerPort III Nano compared to Apple's 
The 20W PowerPort III Nano is the same size as Apple's 5W charger ; it's just a little thicker
Why buy it
However, the discussion must not be focused on performance but on the entire “package”: performance, price, size, technology and then consider the alternatives. In our opinion, if you need an iPhone charger, the Anker Nano is virtually unrivaled. It does not differ in any way from Apple's charger, but compared to the latter it has an advantage not only in size but in price. It is also much smaller than many competing chargers that offer 2W more power. This is not a decisive step but it is exactly the same power recommended for the Magsafe.
Anker Nano costs € 24.99 and can be bought on Amazon
