Ugreen caught my consideration earlier this yr when it launched a brand new line of “Uno” equipment which can be geared up with LED screens that may show enjoyable emoji faces. The Uno vary has every little thing from wi-fi chargers to energy banks, and I’ve spent a number of months testing the merchandise to see how they carry out.
Every thing within the Uno line was designed with a “robot-inspired” aesthetic, based on Ugreen, which equates to a boxy model with an LED display screen that may show emoji-like faces. The emoji faces are amusing and produce some enjoyable to equipment which can be usually boring, however they’re additionally helpful and may change primarily based on energy stage and different elements.
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wi-fi Energy Financial institution
Priced at $45, the Magnetic Wi-fi Energy Financial institution seems to be like numerous different energy banks in the marketplace at first look, that includes an oblong design that mirrors the form of the iPhone. An LED display screen and an connected stand that occurs to seem like a set of headphones set it aside, although.
The ability financial institution is produced from a easy, metallic plastic materials, with a gentle silicone on the again the place it attaches magnetically to a MagSafe iPhone. It feels comparatively light-weight, however it’s a bit over 3/4ths of an inch thick, so it does add some bulk to the iPhone. It is available in black, which seems to be much like Apple’s house black, and a light-weight purple shade. Although it’s kind of thick, it’s pocketable, measuring in at 4.2 inches by 2.8 inches. The plastic materials feels a little bit low cost, nevertheless it’s gentle and I do not anticipate an excessive amount of extra for the value.
The LED show protrudes barely which does certainly give it a distinctly robot-like look, and it usually shows an emoji face that corresponds to energy stage. I say “often” as a result of numerous the time, it truly exhibits a % studying of the precise energy stage. I do not know what triggers the emoji face to indicate up, and I want there was a button to toggle between the facility % and the face.
You must flip the facility financial institution on by urgent the aspect button when it’s connected to an iPhone, which initiates charging. Greater than as soon as, I’ve connected it to my iPhone and forgotten to activate it, however having a sleep state appears to protect battery stage when it is not in use. The button has different capabilities as properly, and a single press will activate the LCD, whereas a double press will flip it off.
When the facility is on, it shows a “Hi” message, and when it is powering down, it exhibits a “bye” message. The emoji face that is displayed modifications primarily based on energy stage. At one hundred pc, the face exhibits coronary heart eyes, and at 99 to 80 %, it modifications to a contented face with smiling eyes. At 79 to 21 %, it is a pleased face with a extra impartial eye expression, and 20 % or beneath, there is a unhappy face. Every face animates barely, with the eyes and mouth altering place.
It is a Qi2 charger, so it will possibly cost MagSafe iPhones at as much as 15W. 15W is not the utmost charging pace as a result of iPhone 16 fashions assist 25W MagSafe charging, however it’s equal to the unique 15W MagSafe charging. It has a ten,000mAh capability, which is customary for smaller chargers lately.
In an hour-long take a look at, it charged my iPhone 16 Professional Max from one % to 39 %, and there was 67 % of the battery left. After charging my iPhone to 80 % (the utmost I’ve set), the facility financial institution had 20 % energy remaining.
I’ve examined a number of instances, and I’m able to reliably get one full cost of the 16 Professional Max from the facility financial institution, and I’ve had no points with it throughout my testing. My iPhone does typically get heat, nevertheless it does that with any MagSafe energy financial institution that I take advantage of.
Together with Qi2 charging, there’s a USB-C port that can be utilized for charging iPhones and different equipment, plus it is used for charging the facility financial institution. The USB-C port is 20W, so you will get sooner iPhone charging utilizing a USB-C to USB-C cable (included) or a USB-C to Lightning cable relying on which iPhone you’ve gotten. 20W also can cost an iPad at an affordable pace, nevertheless it’s not sufficient for quick charging. Passthrough charging is supported, so you may cost the facility financial institution by way of USB-C whereas additionally charging an connected iPhone.
There’s an included stand on the facility financial institution that flips down from the highest. It holds an iPhone in a great place for FaceTime calls or watching movies, and it is sturdy. The stand has a number of positions so the viewing angle is adjustable, and it may be utilized in panorama or portrait mode. When not in use, it folds up on the prime of the facility financial institution and appears like a set of headphones.
Ugreen Uno 30W Energy Financial institution
The $38 10,000mAh Ugreen Uno USB-C Energy Financial institution is much like the Magnetic Wi-fi Energy Financial institution in design, nevertheless it does not have wi-fi charging. As a substitute, it affords 30W charging over USB-C, and it has a built-in USB-C cable.
All of the emoji faces are the identical and the construct high quality is similar, however the energy financial institution is barely slimmer and taller at 4.6 inches by 2.8 inches. This mannequin is a little bit over a half inch thick, and doesn’t magnetically connect to an iPhone.
Whereas it has the identical headphone-like design on the prime, there isn’t any stand. As a substitute, one aspect of the “headphones” encompasses a energy button for turning the facility financial institution on and off.
Together with the built-in USB-C cable, there are further USB-C and USB-A ports on the prime, so a couple of system could be charged directly. The flat USB-C cable tucks right into a slot in the back of the charger, and it feels well-attached. I could not get it to budge by pulling on it, however there’s all the time a hazard that connected cables will break.
30W is quick charging for an iPhone, and my iPhone 16 Professional Max charged from one % to 54 % in a 30-minute interval when testing, which is in step with quick charging assessments utilizing customary 30W energy adapters. I used to be capable of get one full cost out of the facility financial institution earlier than exhausting the battery.
As a result of it has a built-in USB-C cable, this mannequin is greatest for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 fashions which have USB-C ports, however because it has an additional USB-C and USB-A port, it may be used with a Lightning cable, too.
For charging at quick speeds, the USB-C Uno energy financial institution is the higher choose over the Qi2 mannequin, and it is good to not have to hold a USB-C cable round.
100W USB-C Charger
Ugreen’s $48 100W USB-C Uno Charger might be my favourite of the bunch, and it has probably the most robot-like design. It is a square-shaped charger however there’s an LED show that exhibits emoji faces, a headphone-like band on the prime, and a set of ft that cowl the plug on the backside.
The ft detach so to plug the Uno Charger into an outlet, and it is best suited as a desktop charger due to the place of the prongs. For those who plug it into an ordinary wall outlet, the face will likely be both up or down, however it will possibly positively be used that manner. I have never misplaced the little ft but, they usually do have a magnet inside that may connect to a laptop computer when the charger is plugged in if it is getting used whereas on the go.
This charger is surprisingly compact and heavy, and it is produced from the identical black plastic materials as the facility banks.
When plugged in, the LCD face is regularly energetic. I’ve the charger on prime of my desk, and it sits and blinks at me all day. When you have this in your line of sight, it’d get annoying. When one thing is charging, there are three faces, together with one with shining eyes and an consuming face. When a tool is absolutely charged, there is a face with sun shades.
There are 4 ports on the prime of the charger, together with three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Since this can be a 100W charger, it will possibly cost a 16-inch MacBook Professional and something beneath that. To get the quickest charging with a MacBook Professional (the total 100W), you may must plug it in by itself in one of many prime two ports.
With a number of units charging, the facility is break up up between the ports. When two units are plugged in, the break up is 65W/30W with the USB-C ports, or 65W/22.5W with one USB-C and one USB-A port.
The three port break up has 45W/30W/20W, 45W/30W/22.5W, and 80W/7.5W/7.5W choices, whereas 4 ports in use will break up the facility to 45W/30W/7.5W/7.5W. The handbook that comes with the charger has extra particular info on how energy is split to every port.
Ugreen says that the charger has overvoltage, overcurrent, overload, and temperature protections, and I have never run into any points utilizing the charger.
There’s additionally a 65W model that is available in white/purple and blue/pink shades, and it is good to see choices that are not the usual black.
USB-C Cable
Ugreen has an $8 Uno USB-C to USB-C 100W PD cable that has little emoji eyes on it, and it is a good companion to the 100W charger. It is braided nylon and seems like an excellent high quality cable.
The bottom cable is 1.6 ft, however there are costlier 3.3 foot, 6.6 foot, and 10 foot fashions. For knowledge transfers, it helps speeds as much as 480Mb/s.
2-in-1 Wi-fi Charger
Ugreen’s $49 Uno 2-in-1 Wi-fi Charger can be Qi2, with assist for as much as 15W charging on MagSafe iPhones. It has a fold-out design with a charging puck for the iPhone and a second 5W charging house for the AirPods Professional. The iPhone charger could be adjusted to totally different angles, and an iPhone could be positioned in both panorama or portrait mode, so you should utilize StandBy.
The square-shaped 2-in-1 Wi-fi Charger seems to be like the opposite Uno merchandise, and it is produced from the identical black plastic materials. It has an LCD face on the entrance, and the headphone-style design on the prime. The face is not as animated as different fashions, nevertheless it does present two pleased eyes when turned on and in standby mode, and a contented face with a mouth when a tool is charging.
Ugreen features a USB-C cable that plugs into the again, however you may want to produce your individual energy adapter. You too can purchase an optionally available Apple Watch charger so as to add to the aspect so you may cost three units directly.
The charger is comparatively compact, so it does not take up a lot house on a desk in any respect, nevertheless it’s weighted so it is not going to tip over.
Uno 6-in-1 Hub
Ugreen’s ultimate product within the Uno line is the 6-in-1 USB-C Hub, which is $18. It is a low cost hub, nevertheless it’s serviceable for passthrough charging and connecting equipment to your Mac. Design sensible, it has the black plastic that Ugreen makes use of for a lot of the Uno line, and an LCD face that shows totally different emoji animations.
The construct high quality of the hub feels low cost, and I wasn’t impressed with it. It is the identical plastic as Ugreen’s different merchandise, however the hub feels so light-weight and virtually flimsy. The emoji faces had been additionally much less helpful on the hub, that includes solely separate idle faces and charging faces.
There are three USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI port that helps as much as 4K/60Hz. It affords 85W passthrough charging for a Mac, with 15W obtainable for connecting peripherals. 85W is usually tremendous for all Mac notebooks, however you are not going to get most charging pace for the 16-inch MacBook Professional.
I’ve had some points with knowledge transfers utilizing this hub, with a switch stopping within the center. I am undecided why, however a number of ports had been affected. I doubt this can be a downside with all fashions, however I do not like the dimensions or the utility of this hub, and I believe there are higher choices on the market.
Backside Line
For those who’re searching for an adjunct that is brings a little bit extra enjoyable to your desk than the usual energy adapter or energy financial institution, I believe Ugreen’s Uno line is properly price trying out. I particularly favored the 100W USB-C charger and the Qi2 Magnetic Wi-fi Charger, although every little thing however the hub carried out properly.
Ugreen’s Uno merchandise additionally make for enjoyable presents, and I believe an influence financial institution with a little bit emoji face would go over properly with anybody that has an iPhone. I do need to observe that the Qi2 Charger appears to be iPhone solely, as among the opinions talked about that it doesn’t work with Android units.
How you can Purchase
Ugreen’s Uno merchandise could be bought from the Ugreen web site or from Amazon.
Observe: Ugreen offered MacRumors with the Uno merchandise included within the evaluation for the aim of the evaluation. No different compensation was acquired.
