Anker 167.5W Nano Wins Best USB Car Charger Pick at $38

Q: Why are built-in car USB ports so weak, and can Anker's 167.5W charger safely power your laptop on the go?

Built-in car USB ports are usually weak because many were designed mainly for data connections such as CarPlay or Android Auto, or for light trickle charging, not modern fast charging. In many vehicles they deliver only about 0.5A to 1A at 5 volts—roughly 5W to 12W—which is often barely enough to maintain a phone’s battery while navigation, music streaming, and a bright screen are in use. Even some newer rear-seat or “charging” ports remain limited unless the car specifically supports high-wattage USB-C Power Delivery. Yes, Anker’s 167.5W Nano can safely power many laptops on the go, provided your car’s 12V outlet and fuse can handle the load and you use a proper USB-C PD cable. WIRED’s testing found its 100W USB-C port charged a MacBook Air to about 50% in roughly 25 minutes, while also handling phones and other devices. The review also said it stayed cooler than some rivals and includes overheat protection, broad device compatibility, and other safety features expected from a reputable brand. The practical advantage is that a dedicated charger plugged into the 12V accessory outlet can tap far more power than the weak factory USB ports. But drivers should still check their vehicle’s outlet rating, especially in older cars with 15-amp circuits, because a high-output charger running several devices at once can approach that limit. The safest setup is a certified charger from a trusted brand, a cable rated for the wattage, and reasonable ventilation to manage heat.

Q: Does fast-charging a laptop in your car risk blowing a fuse, or has GaN technology finally solved mobile power limits?

Fast-charging a laptop in your car can still blow a fuse, but a good GaN USB-C charger makes it much less likely by using power more efficiently and managing heat better. GaN has improved mobile power a lot; it has not repealed the limits of a car’s 12-volt electrical system. The real bottleneck is the car outlet and fuse, not just the charger label. A typical 12V accessory socket on a 15-amp fuse can theoretically supply about 180 watts, but in real use some of that is lost to voltage variation and conversion inefficiency. That means a 100W laptop charge plus other devices can be fine on a quality charger, yet a cheap charger, poor cable, loose socket, or multiple heavy loads can still trip the fuse or overheat. WIRED’s testing suggests the latest GaN designs are now practical for laptop charging in cars. Its top pick, Anker’s 167.5W Nano, charged a MacBook Air to roughly 50% in about 25 minutes and did not trip an older car’s 15-amp fuse while also handling phones and other gear. The key reason was not raw wattage alone, but stable power delivery, lower heat, and built-in protection. Drivers should not rely on weak factory USB ports, which are often only 5W to 12W. The safer route is a reputable, UL-certified USB-C PD car charger matched to the laptop’s wattage needs, plus a properly rated cable. If a fuse blows repeatedly, that points to an electrical fault, overloaded circuit, or bad accessory—not proof that fast charging itself is unsafe.

2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Aug 20

$38 Anker 167.5W Nano was named the top USB car charger after road-trip and instrument testing, standing out for its three-port setup, 100W USB-C fast charging and compact design.
100W output pushed nearly 7 amps in testing—enough to charge a MacBook Air to 50% in about 25 minutes—while Anker's PowerIQ voltage management and built-in cooling helped limit overheating.
15-amp older cars may be a constraint: drawing from all three ports can run close to fuse limits, though the reviewer said it handled a jump starter and phone simultaneously without circuit problems.
30W Anker 75W Fast Charger was the recommended tidy-cable alternative, while the $45 DeWalt 72W Front and Back Seat Charger was the best option found for families needing rear-seat power.
UL-certified, trusted-brand hardware was a key filter in the testing, with the review warning that cheap uncertified chargers and cables can overheat, short out or damage device batteries over time.