Vratislav Holub Chargers are literally an indispensable accessory for today's electronics. Although many manufacturers no longer add them to the package (including Apple), it does not change the fact that we simply cannot do without them. We may encounter a minor obstacle in this. When we are going somewhere on the road, we can fill up the free space with chargers quite unnecessarily. We need an adapter for every device – iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, Mac, etc. – which not only takes up space as such, but also adds weight.
Fortunately, this whole problem has a simple solution. We received a rather interesting novelty in the form of the Epico 140W GaN Charger adapter, which can even handle powering up to 3 devices at the same time. In addition, as the name implies, the charger supports so-called fast charging with a power of up to 140 W, thanks to which it can handle, for example, lightning-fast charging of an iPhone. But how does it work in practice? This is exactly what we will now shed light on in our review.
Official specification
As is usual with our reviews, let's first focus on the official technical specifications given by the manufacturer. It is therefore a powerful adapter with a maximum power of up to 140 W. Despite this, it is of reasonable dimensions, thanks to the use of so-called GaN technology, which also ensures that the charger does not overheat even under high load.
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As for the output ports, we can find exactly three of them here. Specifically, these are 2x USB-C and 1x USB-A connectors. Their maximum output power is also worth mentioning. Let's take it in order. The USB-A connector offers a power of up to 30 W, USB-C up to 100 W and the last USB-C, marked with a lightning icon, even up to 140 W. This is thanks to the use of the Power Delivery 3.1 standard with EPR technology. In addition, the adapter is ready for the latest generation of USB-C cables, which can transmit power of just that 140 W.
Design
The design itself is definitely worth mentioning. One could say that Epico is playing it safe in this direction. The adapter pleasantly pleases with its pure white body, on the sides of which we can find the company logo, on one of the edges of an important technical specification, and the trio of the mentioned connectors at the back. We must not forget about the overall dimensions. According to the official specifications, they are 110 x 73 x 29 millimeters, which is a huge plus given the overall capabilities of the charger.
We can thank the already mentioned GaN technology for the relatively small size. In this respect, the adapter is a great companion, for example, on the already mentioned trips. It's easy enough to hide it in a backpack/bag and go on an adventure without having to bother carrying several heavy chargers.
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GaN technology
In our review, we have already mentioned several times that the GaN technology, which is also mentioned in the product name itself, has a large share in the efficiency of the adapter. But what does it actually mean, what is it for and what is its contribution to the overall performance? This is exactly what we will focus on together now. The name GaN itself comes from the use of gallium nitride. While common adapters use standard silicon semiconductors, this adapter relies on semiconductors from the aforementioned gallium nitride, which literally sets the trend in the field of adapters.
The use of GaN technology has several indisputable advantages that put such adapters in a significantly more advantageous position. In particular, it is not necessary to use so many internal components, thanks to which GaN adapters are slightly smaller and boast a lower weight. They immediately become a great companion for trips, for example. But it doesn't end there. To top it all off, they're also slightly more efficient, which means more power in a smaller body. Security is also often mentioned. Even in this area, the Epico 140W GaN Charger surpasses its competition, ensuring not only high performance and low weight, but also overall better safety. Thanks to this, for example, the adapter does not heat up like competing models, despite its greater efficiency. All of this can be attributed to the use of GaN technology.
Testing
The unanswered question remains how the Epico 140W GaN Charger performs in practice. We can already tell in advance that it definitely has a lot to offer. First of all, however, it is necessary to set the record straight one very important fact. As we have already mentioned several times above, the adapter offers three connectors with a maximum power of 30 W, 100 W and 140 W. However, this does not mean that it is possible to use all of them to their full potential at the same time. The maximum output power of the charger is 140 W, which it can intelligently divide between the individual ports according to the user's needs.
However, the adapter can easily handle the power supply of practically all MacBooks, including the 16" MacBook Pro. In my equipment, I have a MacBook Air M1 (2020), an iPhone X and an Apple Watch Series 5. When using the Epico 140W GaN Charger, I can easily get by with a single adapter, and I can also power all devices to their maximum potential. As part of the testing, we also tried to simultaneously power the aforementioned Air + 14" MacBook Pro (2021), which normally use a 30W or 67W adapter. If we again consider the maximum performance of this adapter, then it is more than clear that it will have no problem with this at all.
The question is also how the Epico 140W GaN Charger actually knows which device it should supply how much power to. In this case, an intelligent system comes into play. This is because it automatically determines the required power and then also charges. Of course, but within certain limits. If we wanted to charge, for example, a 16" MacBook Pro (connected to a 140 W output connector) and a MacBook Air alongside it along with an iPhone, then the charger would focus on the most demanding Mac. The other two devices would then charge a little slower.
Summary
Now we have no choice but to start the final evaluation. Personally, I see the Epico 140W GaN Charger as a perfect companion that can become a valuable helper - both at home and on the go. It can significantly facilitate the charging of supported electronics. Thanks to the ability to power up to 3 devices at the same time, USB-C Power Delivery technology and an intelligent power distribution system, this is one of the best chargers you can buy right now.
I would also like to highlight again the use of the popular GaN technology. As we have already mentioned in the paragraph dedicated to the design, thanks to this the adapter is relatively small in size, which in some cases can play a very important role. In all honesty, I was very pleasantly pleased with this product with its stylish design, unmatched performance and overall capabilities. So, if you're looking for a charger that can charge up to 3 devices at the same time and offer you enough power to power up to a 16" MacBook Pro (or other laptop with USB-C Power Delivery support), then this is a fairly clear choice.
You can buy the Epico 140W GaN Charger here
