If your family has multiple devices, it’s important to have a good charging solution so you can charge them all quickly and simultaneously. I’ve usually relied on power adapters – although they’re not the best for the job. But then I switched to the Acefast Z4 218W power adapter, a sleek-looking 4-in-1 charging station that delivers plenty of power.

Read my Acefast Z4 218W Power Station review to learn why this powerful accessory deserves a place on your desk thanks to an ideal blend of style and substance.

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Acefast Z4 218W Power Plant Review

Thanks to gallium nitride technology (also known as GaN), multiport chargers are getting smaller and smaller. They now offer higher performance in a compact form factor. This technological advancement has occurred alongside the widespread adoption of USB-C for consumer devices, allowing you to charge virtually everything with the same cable.

However, charging multiple devices can seem like a hassle. A dual-port USB-C charger is hardly enough in such cases. A power adapter comes in handy in such cases as it offers multiple ports and enough juice to quickly charge all your devices at once. The downside? Most charging stations look boring. The Acefast 218W charging station shines, delivering a combined output of 218W via a sleek front panel that displays real-time power consumption.

Table of Contents: Acefast 218W Power Station Test

design

From the back and the two sides, the Acefast 218W power station looks similar to other offerings. The metal-like finish of the plastic shell gives it a premium look and feel. All three sides have a clean look, with the back housing a C7 power connector. On the bottom, two horizontally aligned rubber feet provide grip and heat dissipation.

Although the power station is primarily designed for use in landscape mode, you can also place it vertically. For a station with 218W of combined output power, the Acefast charging block has relatively compact dimensions, thanks largely to the use of GaN.

A transparent front that reveals the charger’s inner workings

On the front, the Acefast charger outshines the competition. Its transparent casing offers a clear view of the inside of the charger’s black circuit board, which looks incredibly cool. The charging station has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Although there are several charging stations on the market with even more USB-C ports, the Acefast trumps them with its style. It has two more tricks up its sleeve: a 1.3-inch TFT LCD screen to display the power output of each port and the ability to switch between different power modes.

When you connect a device to the charging station, the TFT screen will display its power consumption, allowing you to see how fast the device is charging. Admittedly, this is a feature that only nerds will like. If you don’t like this, you can double press the button on the front to turn the display off. This may also be necessary if you use the Acefast station in your bedroom, as the TFT screen appears too bright in the dark.

Unlike the Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN charger, the Acefast doesn’t have a MagSafe platform to wirelessly charge your iPhone. But with four USB ports and a total output of 218W, it covers your wired charging needs.

If you’re looking for a stylish desktop power station, the Acefast 218W should be at the top of your list. Its unique looking front panel sets it apart from similar units and adds a touch of style to your desk.

Power output

The Acefast charging station can deliver a total power of 218 W with its four USB ports – 3x USB-C and 1x USB-A. You can switch between the following power modes at the touch of a button:

	C1	C2	C3	A1	Maximum performance
A	100W	65W	30 watts	18W	213W
B	65W	65W	65W	18W	213W
C	100W	100W	–	18W	218W
D	100W	100W	18W	–	218W

As can be seen from the power split, Acefast’s power adapter can deliver up to 213W of power when all four ports are active. In Mode A, it can fast charge a MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch simultaneously. Mode B proves to be ideal when you need to charge multiple MacBooks at once. It distributes the power evenly across the three USB-C ports, with the USB-A port delivering 18W of power.

If you ever need to fast charge two (non-16-inch) MacBooks, Mode C is the solution. Add an iPhone and Mode D should work. The Acefast can cover almost all use cases with its ability to distribute power at the touch of a button.

During my testing, I mostly switched between modes A and B depending on how quickly I wanted to charge my laptop and my wife’s MacBook Pro.

A user-friendly display that shows the power consumption of your devices

Depending on your needs, the Acefast charging station allows you to easily switch between the different modes with the touch of a button. The TFT display shows the current mode, the current power distribution and the maximum power each port can deliver. Unlike many other wall chargers, I have not noticed any problem with the Acefast recalibrating when I plug/unplug devices from the USB-C port.

However, there is a problem with how Acefast uses the front button to switch between modes and control the display. Pressing it once switches between the four power modes, while pressing it twice turns the display off. To turn the screen back on, you have to press the button once. The problem is that this also switches the power mode. This seems to be an oversight on Acefast’s part.

Prices

The Acefast 218W power adapter costs $90, which is a bit cheaper than Apple’s 140W USB-C power adapter, which only offers one USB-C port. Several other multiport desktop charging stations and power adapters cost around the same price, but I haven’t seen any that look as cool or offer the same functionality as the Acefast.

After extensive testing for this review, my only other complaint about the Acefast Z4 218W power station is that it doesn’t come with a single USB-C cable in the box.

Acefast Z4 218W Power Station Review: Final Thoughts

While not as popular as devices from Anker or other popular accessory makers, Acefast’s 218W charger is a valuable addition to your desk due to its power and unique front design. And if you’re constantly on the go, consider the Chargeasap Zeus 280W to charge all your devices at once.

★★★★☆

Buy from: Amazon

Acefast provided the following Cult of the Mac with a review unit for this article. Read our testing guidelines and see more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.