You can get various chargers, a power bank, and even a USB-C hub that look like friendly little robots — some more expressive than others.
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Ugreen has a new collection of iPhone and USB accessories for IFA 2024 that really turn up the charm. The Uno line is a collection of GaN and Qi2 chargers, cables, a power bank, and a USB-C hub — each featuring tiny a screen solely for displaying robot-like emoji faces.
The most endearing ones by far are the $60 Uno Charger 100W four-port USB charger and $70 15W Qi2 magnetic power bank that sticks to MagSafe phones — each looks like a helpful little bot friend you’ve appointed to live on your desk and help with your charging duties. They’re also the most expressive, with their TFT screens showing up to half a dozen different faces to give some idea of the actual charge levels / rates of your device.
For example, the faces on the Qi2 power bank can greet you with a “Hi” message, look concerned when its battery level is below 20 percent, and get exceedingly joyous as it fills up — topping off with some loving heart-eyes at full charge. The 100W charger has similar multi-stage faces to indicate charging speeds.
Have I mentioned that the Qi2 power bank has a small kickstand that makes it look like it has skinny little arms to hold up your phone like a diminutive Atlas trying its best? Adorable.
There’s also the $70 Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger, which I got to try ahead of time and is sadly a bit more limited. It certainly charges your iPhone and AirPods — just like many options out there from the likes of Anker and other brands, and there’s a small charm to the endearing face on the screen.
But here, it seems Ugreen couldn’t find an effective way to indicate the charge level of two different devices through emoji faces alone. Instead, the 2-in-1 displays just two faces, one to proclaim “I’m plugged in and ready to charge,” and another that confusingly communicates “Hey buddy, your devices are charging. Or maybe they’re full? I don’t know man, why don’t you check? I just work here.”
The 100W-capable USB-C to USB-C cable I also tested also has a screen, but with even less to communicate. Its friendly face doesn’t show up until you plug in a device to charge, and then it has just one expression of closed eyes joyously smiling. (Or maybe it’s laughing at me? What is your deal, you little cable goblin?!)
It’s still about as cute as it gets for a charging cord, but more informational screens in cables and fun chargers do exist elsewhere.
Ugreen’s new Uno line has six accessories in total, which ever-so-slightly take the boring out of commoditized tech. One even tries to make a 6-in-1 USB-C Hub a little kawaii. They’re set to launch between mid-September and October. Here’s the price breakdown for each one:
- Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger 15W ($69.99)
- Uno Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W ($69.99)
- Uno Charger 100W ($59.99)
- Uno Power Bank 10000mAh 30W with built-in USB-C cable ($49.99)
- Uno USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W ($8.99 for 0.5m, $12.99 for 1m / 2m, and $15.99 for 3m)
- Uno 6-in-1 USB-C Hub ($19.99)
