SMALLElectric USB C Charger Block 3-Pack Review – 20W Fast Charge Worth It?

Quick Verdict

The SMALLElectric USB C charger block 3-pack delivers the fast 20W charging it promises, and the GaN design keeps things cool even when you leave it running through the night. It's a practical choice if you want to stock multiple rooms — or your travel kit — without hunting for outlets. I docked it half a star because the shared 20W across both ports means you won't get true dual-device fast charging. But for phones and small tablets? It works exactly as billed. Score: 4.2 out of 5.

What Is the SMALLElectric USB C Charger Block?

I unboxed the 3-pack on a rainy Tuesday morning, expecting the usual lightweight plastic I'd tossed aside from other budget chargers. The blocks felt denser than I anticipated — reassuring, not heavy. Each one is about the size of a Matchbox car, which is genuinely small enough to disappear on a power strip or behind a nightstand. The dual USB-C ports sit flush on the face, and the plug prongs are rigid metal that lock firmly into the outlet.

The pitch is simple: two USB-C ports, 20W total power delivery via PD 3.0, GaN internals for efficiency and heat management, and three units in a single order. That's it. No cables, no carrying pouch, no extras — just the blocks. If you're upgrading from the ancient 5W charger Apple used to ship in the box, you'll feel the speed difference the first time you plug in.

Key Features

• 20W total output via dual USB-C PD 3.0 ports — shares power between ports
• GaN (gallium nitride) chip reduces heat and shrinks the form factor
• Overcurrent, overvoltage and short-circuit protection on every port
• Compatible with iPhone 6 through iPhone 17 series and most USB-C tablets
• Weighs roughly 45g per block — lighter than a AA battery pack
• Packs flat in a bag or coat pocket for travel
• 3-pack pricing undercuts buying three individual chargers

Hands-On Review

I started by plugging one block into the outlet beside my bed and connecting my iPhone 14. It was sitting at 23% at 10 PM. By 10:30 — thirty minutes later — it hit 73%. That's right in line with SMALLElectric's claim of 0 to 50% in 30 minutes, adjusted for the starting point. The phone was warm but not hot, which reassured me the GaN design was actually doing something.

After a week I moved one to the kitchen counter, where my partner's phone and my smartwatch both needed daily top-ups. Here's where the shared-power limitation became apparent. With both ports in use, I noticed the charging speed on my phone dropped noticeably — not painfully slow, but clearly slower than when charging solo. If you're expecting true 20W per port, look at 40W dual-port chargers instead. For a household with one or two phones and maybe a smartwatch, it's perfectly adequate.

The third block went into my travel bag. On a weekend trip to see family, it charged my phone and my partner's earbuds case simultaneously from the hotel room's single working outlet (classic budget hotel). No dramas. The prongs stayed cool on the 6-hour charge session, which I hadn't expected from a $7 unit. The lack of foldable prongs is the one travel annoyance — it catches on bag lining when you pull the charger out quickly.

Who Should Buy It?

• Multi-device households who want one charger per room without the cost of buying three separate units
• Frequent travelers who need a lightweight, dual-port option that fits in a carry-on or personal item
• iPhone users upgrading from old 5W chargers who want noticeably faster charging without buying Apple's pricier official adapter
• Caregivers outfitting a senior's home — the GaN safety features and simple dual-port design mean fewer cables and fewer things to troubleshoot

Skip this if you need to charge two laptops or power-hungry tablets simultaneously — the shared 20W won't keep up. And if you live in a house with USB-C and micro-USB devices both needing daily charges, you'll need to factor in separate cables since there's no USB-A port on these blocks.

Alternatives Worth Considering

• Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter — single port, but Apple-branded and widely available. Worth paying extra for if you value the brand warranty and pristine build quality.
• Anker 40W Dual USB C Charger — doubles the total output for charging two phones at full speed or a phone plus a tablet. Pricier, but eliminates the shared-power trade-off.
• Spigen 45W ArcStation Pro GaN — higher wattage in a similar compact form factor. Better if you have a newer iPad or Nintendo Switch that draws more than 20W.

FAQ

Final Verdict

After two weeks with the SMALLElectric USB C charger block 3-pack spread across my home and travel bag, I'm keeping all three. The 20W fast charging is real, the GaN design keeps temperatures reasonable, and the dual-port flexibility covers most daily scenarios without hogging an outlet. It's not the charger to buy if you're powering multiple large devices — but for phones, watches and small tablets, it does the job cleanly and cheaply. The value proposition of a 3-pack at this price point is genuinely hard to beat on Amazon right now.