Choosing the best phone charging accessories is not an easy task today, due to the various standards and protocols used for fast charging. But getting acquainted with the charging accessory industry is increasingly important, as high-end smartphones start to be sold without a charger in the box.
If you are looking for an adapter to connect your latest Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone, the official accessories are the logical starting point. With 45 W of power, Samsung’s Super Fast Charging 2.0 travel adapter is capable of charging any Galaxy smartphone and more. It is also suitable for tablets and even laptops. Let’s dive in Android Authority Review of the Samsung 45W travel adapter.
$ 49 0.99
Samsung 45W Super Fast Charging Travel Adapter
Buy now
$ 49 0.99
What you need to know about the Samsung 45W travel adapter
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
- Samsung SuperFast Charging 2.0 travel adapter (45W): $ 50 / £ 39 / € 50 / Rs. 2,999
As an official accessory, the Samsung 45W Travel Adapter comes in a selection of plug variants for use worldwide. It is available in black and white options (in selected regions). The adapter does not have an interchangeable plug type, so it is fixed to the region of purchase.
Samsung includes a one meter USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, which is built to support up to 5A of current for fast charging. Although the charger is slightly larger than previous low-power models, it is eminently portable for a 45W product.
Read More: USB power supply explained
The most important feature of this specific adapter is support for the USB Power Delivery Programmable Power Supply (USB PD PPS) charging standard. This is a requirement for charging the Samsung Galaxy S21 and other recent generation Galaxy devices at full speed. Chargers that do not support USB PD PPS are limited to 15 W slower with the latest Samsung phones.
| USB power delivery Programmable power supply modes |
USB Power Delivery 3.0 Modes | |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung 45W travel adapter Supported USB PD modes |
3.3 V – 11 V, 5 A 3.3 V – 16 V, 3 A 3.3 V – 21 V, 2.25 A |
5V, 3A 9V, 3A 15V, 3A 20 V, 2.25 A |
We tested the various charger modes to check for compatibility. In addition to three PPS modes up to 21 V, the adapter can also power USB Power Delivery 3.0 devices that require 5 V, 9 V, 15 V or 20 V configurations. In other words, this charger supports all USB Power devices Delivery that requires up to 45W of power. This includes Samsung smartphones of the previous generation and devices from a wide range of other manufacturers.
What is good?
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The Samsung 45W travel adapter supports the latest USB Power Delivery PPS specifications. Making it an excellent future-proof purchase for Samsung Galaxy phones, other smartphones and even chargeable USB-C tablets and some laptops. To ensure compatibility, we loaded the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, Microsoft’s Surface X Pro tablet and the Honor MagicBook Pro laptop. The results are very good.
| Samsung 45W Travel Adapter Test | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | Microsoft Surface Book X | Honor MagicBook Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB power test | 25W / 25W | 18.7 W / 20 W | 41W / 60W | 41.8W / 65W |
| Voltage and Current | 8.91 V, 2.82 A | 8.95 V, 2.09 A | 19.8 V, 2.06 A | 19.8 V, 2.11 A |
| Charging pattern | USB PD PPS | USB PD 3.0 | USB PD 3.0 | USB PD 3.0 |
| Wall power | 30.8 W | 22.4 W | 47.9W | 48.9 W |
| Energy efficiency | 81.6%, good. | 83.5%, good. | 85.2%, very good. | 85.4%, very good. |
You’ll get fast charging speeds with traditional USB Power Delivery devices, including the iPhone 12 series at 20W and up to about 42W for more powerful electronics. This makes the Samsung 45W Travel Adapter suitable for smartphones and tablets, as well as some smaller laptops. However, 45W will take a few hours to fully charge large capacity laptops, so you may prefer a 60W-100W charger.
Still, if you are looking for a charger that can power a wide selection of the latest USB-C devices, the Samsung 45W Travel Adapter is an excellent choice.
See too: This is the best Samsung Galaxy S21 charger you can buy
What’s not so good?
With the latest charging technology and fast speeds on board, the only complaint I have about Samsung’s 45 W charger is the price. $ 50 is a little more than you would spend on a rival product with the same specifications. Take the Elecjet 45W USB PD PPS charger much cheaper, for example. It is true that quality chargers with the right specs for Samsung’s Galaxy flagships are not yet common. But unless you can get the charger at a discount, you’re definitely paying for a premium Samsung here.
The lack of interchangeable regional plugs, increasingly common in rival products, is also a notable disadvantage. Especially for a plug with the mark of a “travel” adapter.
Likewise, about $ 50 will usually earn you two USB ports for third-party products. The ability to charge two phones at the same time would take full advantage of the 45 W capacities of the charger. If you plan to charge just a single smartphone from the Galaxy S21 series, the Samsung 25W Travel Adapter offers the same coverage for half the price. If you don’t need USB PD PPS support to charge your gadgets, a multiple charger will also offer a better value for money.
Review of the Samsung 45W travel adapter: Should I buy it?
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
If you are looking for an official Samsung charger suitable for more than just smartphones, then this is the product for you. The Samsung 45W Travel Adapter features the latest charging standards to quickly charge the entire portfolio of Galaxy devices, smartphones from other brands, tablets and even laptops.
If you need a charger for USB-C devices that consume a lot of power, the Samsung 45W Travel Adapter is an excellent choice.
However, the 45W model is overkill just to charge most smartphones. Samsung’s more affordable 25 W model may be more suitable for Galaxy S21 customers. Likewise, anyone who wants to charge high-powered laptops or multiple devices at the same time can find more suitable products on the market for the same price. Like the 65W Pioneer RavPower 4-port charging station.
Samsung 45W Super Fast Charging Travel Adapter
With 45 W of power, Samsung’s Super Fast Charging 2.0 travel adapter is capable of charging any Galaxy smartphone and more.
Top questions and answers about the Samsung 45W travel adapter
Q: Does it quickly charge the Samsung Galaxy S21?
A: Yes, the Samsung 45W travel adapter charges the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra at their fastest speeds of 25W. The adapter also quickly charges other Samsung Galaxy S and Note smartphones of the previous generation at 25W and 45W for some models.
Q: Is it possible to charge my laptop or tablet?
A: Yes. As long as your laptop supports charging via a UBS-C port and USB Power Delivery. It will charge up to 45W, which is reasonably fast for a tablet and suitable for smaller laptops.