Chargers are not easy to review, unlike gaming mice or smartwatches, and the Razer USB-C GaN Charger works The question is whether it's worth the premium price of $180 Especially since every gadget you own will come bundled with the perfect means to charge it

Razer justifies the premium by offering a fast and durable charging brick with gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors: two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, and the USB-C port can certainly provide enough power to charge a laptop

Having used the GaN Charger for a few weeks, it is not without its charms This accessory can charge many gadgets at once, yet is very efficient It also has the potential to be quite useful for frequent travelers, office workers, and those with limited outlet space at home

First of all, "GaN" stands for "gallium nitride," as mentioned above Gallium nitride is a semiconductor that operates at lower temperatures than standard charger components such as silicon, for example Therefore, GaN chargers can have more ports in close proximity to each other and distribute power more efficiently

The Razer USB-C GaN Charger is a 30 x 24 x 13-inch, 12-ounce charging brick with two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports While this weight may not seem like much, it is quite hefty for its size In fact, when I tried to plug it into an airplane power outlet, it pulled right out If you buy this accessory, you will probably want to keep it in a stable outlet and in an easy-to-use location

Externally, the USB-C GaN is a black box with the Razer logo on both sides and green highlights on the USB-A ports It comes with UK and European adapters if the North American-style prongs don't work in your region; for Razer gear, it's downright plain

The big question, of course, is whether this straightforward gadget is really worth its high asking price Especially since you can get the equivalent on Amazon for about $50

Granted, Razer gear is usually a better investment than no-name gear, and my first week with the Razer GaN proved to be a perfect test bed for this device One day, while working remotely, the GaN powered my laptop and simultaneously charged my Nintendo Switch, my Google Pixel 3a, and my partner's Pixel 3 (Charging the laptop was slower than with a dedicated power brick, but not having to carry a cumbersome power brick was a boon in itself)

The RazN also provided power to my laptop and my partner's Pixel 3

It is worth noting that while the Razer GaN did indeed charge my USB-C devices a bit faster, the difference was not overnight For example, my Pixel 3a went from fully charged to fully charged in 15 hours using the Razer GaN and the included USB-C cable This is an excellent result, but with a standard charger it took 1 hour and 45 minutes The difference is enough for the long term, but probably won't have much of an impact on daily use

Otherwise, I charged everything with the Razer GaN, including phones, tablets, game consoles, e-readers, laptops, and mobile chargers, and encountered only two problems while using it: the first was the aforementioned airplane mishap; the second was the problem with the Razer GaN's battery being too weak to charge the battery The second was a mild shock when I tried to fold the prongs back in immediately after removing them from the socket However, attempts to replicate this problem (as safely as possible) failed

Another concern is that the Razer GaN may not work well with the Nintendo Switch Since shorting out the Nintendo Switch a few years ago due to a charging malfunction, the company has become paranoid about using third-party chargers with Nintendo's finicky handheld hybrid So far, the Switch and GaN have worked well together, but with the Brick capable of delivering up to 130W of power, it's unlikely there will be too many problems of any kind

We contacted Razer about both potential issues The company is investigating these issues and will update the article as soon as it responds

Ultimately, it is difficult to recommend the Razer USB-C GaN charger widely It has worked very well in my travels and I can see it becoming my go-to charger At the same time, I don't know if I would spend $180 for this product

If you have a lot of gadgets to charge and limited outlet space for them, the Razer GaN might be a good addition to your home, office, or travel bag If you're happy to charge only one gadget at a time, but still want to invest in Razer gear, you could spend $180 on a Razer Blackshark V2 Pro instead