Anker Nano Charger 45W review: a compact charger with a useful screen

The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) is a small wall charger with one USB-C port and an unusual extra: a display that makes charging status visible at the outlet. Its folding, rotating plug helps it fit awkward sockets, and the 45W ceiling is enough for many phones, tablets and some lightweight laptops. The screen is useful when it answers a question you actually have; it is not a reason by itself to expect faster charging.

Small body, flexible plug

The charger is compact for a 45W adapter. Its prongs fold into the body and can rotate between 90- and 180-degree positions, so the screen can face outward even when an outlet sits close to a counter or furniture. That flexibility also helps when adjacent plugs compete for space. The charger remains a single-port device, though, so it cannot power a phone and tablet at the same time.

Anker rates the USB-C output at up to 45W. That figure is a ceiling, not a fixed rate: the connected device negotiates power, and its battery level, cable and workload affect what it draws. A laptop that normally uses a higher-wattage adapter may charge slowly or hold its battery during use rather than gain power quickly. Check the package details, too; the charger-only version does not include a USB-C cable.

What the display adds

The screen can show charging information such as power draw, battery level, temperature and mode. A physical control changes its view and orientation; it is not a touchscreen. The readout is most helpful when you want a quick indication that a device is charging at a particular rate without opening an app or waking its screen. If you already check the device directly, it may feel like one more thing to look at.

Device recognition is narrower than USB-C charging compatibility. Anker lists supported iPhone generations and selected iPad Pro models for its tailored status features. Other USB-C devices can still draw power, but should not be expected to receive the same device-specific display behavior. That distinction matters for Android users and for anyone hoping the display will identify every connected gadget.

Charging in context

Reported charging examples show why the 45W rating should be treated as a maximum. One test recorded up to 31W with an iPhone and 43W with a 13-inch iPad Pro; another found the charger useful for keeping a MacBook Pro charged during work, even though that laptop's standard adapter supplies more power. These are device- and setup-specific results, not promises for every battery level, cable or workload.

The charger also offers Auto and Care modes. Care is intended for longer sessions when reducing charging heat is a priority. Anker makes temperature-related claims for the mode, but those figures are manufacturer measurements and should not be read as a guaranteed result for every phone, room or charging setup. The display reports what the charger and connected device are doing at that moment; it is not a battery-health diagnostic, and it cannot override the device's own charging limit. For a travel bag, the compact shape is the point. For a desk with several phones and tablets, the one-port design means bringing another adapter or a multiport charger.

Verdict

The Anker Nano Charger 45W improves on a basic wall adapter in two practical ways: its plug can be positioned to suit a crowded outlet, and its display exposes charging information at a glance. The trade-offs are one port, a cable that may need to be supplied separately, and device-specific features that are not universal. Choose it if the screen and movable plug solve real annoyances; if you only need a compact source of USB-C power, a simpler charger can do the job with less fuss.