Most of my personal electronics now charge over USB: laptops, phones, watches, tablets and a growing collection of accessories. With USB-C becoming the dominant connector, a high-output multi-port charger can replace several separate power adaptors. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W Smart GaN Fast Charger with Retractable USB-C Cable takes that idea unusually far.
It combines a 160W total power budget, four simultaneous outputs, a built-in cable, a rotatable smart display and app-based controls. That is far more technology than most people expect from a wall charger. After using it, I found some of those extras genuinely useful, while others sit firmly in enthusiast territory.
Design and ports: one charger for four devices
The first thing I noticed is that this is a large, heavy charger. UGREEN uses what it calls GaNInfinity technology and claims efficiency of up to 93%, but fitting a 160W power supply, four outputs, a display and a retractable cable into one body still results in substantial weight and depth.
Alongside the built-in USB-C cable are two additional USB-C ports and one USB-A port, so the charger can power as many as four devices at once. It identifies connected devices and distributes the available 160W total budget among them. Users can also select charging behaviour and priorities through the charger and app.
The foldable UK plug helps with storage. These two views show how the pins tuck towards the body and extend for use.
The retractable USB-C cable is the star feature
The integrated 70cm retractable USB-C cable is the feature I appreciated most. It extends when needed and winds back into the charger afterwards, which makes cable management easier and leaves one less cable to forget.
More importantly, the included cable is designed for the charger's high-power output. UGREEN rates both the built-in cable and USB-C1 for up to 140W when either is used individually. That removes the uncertainty of packing a cable that cannot carry the power the charger can deliver.
In daily use, the mechanism felt intuitive and genuinely useful. UGREEN says the built-in cable is rated for more than 10,000 retraction cycles. I have not performed a long-term cycle test, so that durability figure remains a manufacturer claim.
A display that makes charging visible
The rotatable smart TFT/touch display shows the charger's activity without requiring a phone. UGREEN says it can report real-time wattage, voltage, temperature and charging-protocol information. In my testing, the live output readings were especially reassuring: I could see that a device was actually charging and how much power it was receiving.
With several devices attached, the display also breaks down output by port. That visibility is helpful when the charger is sharing its 160W budget rather than delivering the full amount to one device.
Charging modes balance speed, heat and priority
Adaptive Power handles distribution automatically. Thermal-safe Charging reduces output to manage temperature, while Priority Charging gives a selected device priority. There is plenty to adjust, although I expect most people will leave it in its default adaptive mode and simply plug in their devices.
UGREEN also promotes ThermalGuard, graphene-assisted heat dissipation and a nine-layer protection system. Those are the company's claims; this review did not independently validate the internal protection architecture. I did, however, see the charger report that thermal control was active.
The mobile app is unusually comprehensive
The idea of installing an app for a charger feels both excessive and interesting. Pairing is supported over Bluetooth or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, allowing nearby setup as well as network-connected control.
Once connected, the app shows real-time voltage and output information, including readings for individual ports. It lets me switch each output on or off and inspect power use on a graph.
There are controls for screen brightness, screen timeout, auto-rotation, clock-screensaver layout, time format and charging-protocol support. Some labels were truncated in the Android app I tested, making this otherwise detailed interface look less polished.
OTA updates are strange for a charger — and potentially valuable
The app supports over-the-air firmware updates. Firmware for a wall charger sounds bizarre, but it could be valuable for fixes, compatibility improvements or added functions. It contributes to the impression that the charger could remain useful for years, provided UGREEN maintains it well.
The app displayed a Custom Power option, but it was greyed out and unavailable during testing. If eventually enabled, configurable USB-C output could be useful to engineers and other technical users conducting USB-C power tests. For now, that remains a possible use case for an unavailable feature, not something buyers should count on.
Real-world compatibility still has limits
USB-C makes this charger broadly useful, but a high headline wattage does not guarantee every device will reach its proprietary maximum. My Xiaomi phone uses Xiaomi's own fast-charging protocol. It did not charge at its fastest proprietary rate here and instead fell back to a slower speed.
Firmware might improve compatibility in some cases, but there is no promise it will add Xiaomi proprietary fast charging. Hardware, protocol and licensing requirements may limit what software can change. Buyers who depend on proprietary charging should check compatibility rather than assume the 160W total rating applies directly to their handset.
The travel drawback: size, weight and leverage
The extra weight is manageable in a bag, but a universal travel adaptor adds another mechanical joint between the charger and the wall. Combined with this unit's weight and depth, that leverage could make the stack sag, tip or fall out of a loose socket.
That does not erase the convenience of replacing several chargers and one cable, but it is an important practical trade-off. I would be more confident using it in a firm wall socket than hanging it from a loose outlet through a bulky universal adaptor.
Who is it for?
For an ordinary user charging one phone and perhaps a watch, this is overkill. Most people do not need port-level graphs, selectable priorities, protocol toggles or firmware updates from a wall charger.
Power users are different. If you routinely charge a laptop, phone, tablet and accessory together, four-device capability can consolidate a desk or travel kit. The display is useful for monitoring, the integrated high-power cable removes one uncertainty, and the app exposes controls simpler chargers hide.
Verdict: more than most people need, but genuinely useful
The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W Smart GaN Charger is convenient, capable and almost excessively feature-rich. Crucially, its extras do not obstruct plug-and-play use: I can ignore the app, leave Adaptive Power selected and use it like a normal charger.
Its size and weight are the clearest drawbacks, especially with travel adaptors or loose sockets, while proprietary charging compatibility remains a real limitation. The unavailable Custom Power option should be treated as unfinished potential rather than a reason to buy.
Even so, the retractable 140W-capable cable, four-device support, informative display, extensive app controls and potential for ongoing firmware support make this feel like a charger that could serve for many years. It is too much charger for most people, but for power users and anyone with specific multi-device or monitoring needs, that excess is exactly what makes it compelling.
Official specifications and manufacturer claims were checked against the UGREEN Singapore product page. Hands-on observations, app behaviour and compatibility findings are the author's own.
