logo
This travel charger combines retro charm with fast charging support

This travel charger combines retro charm with fast charging support

CNA4 days ago
The travel charger is supposed to be a utilitarian device where function trumps form. It turns out, one company didn't get the memo. Sharge has become known for its chargers and power banks that combine aesthetics and functionality and this retro charger is no different. Is the Sharge Retro 67W GaN Charger worth it?
Shaped like a classic Macintosh computer, its screen displays real-time charging speeds using a large, pixelated font. When the 67W GaN charger is plugged into a socket but not charging any devices, it displays a digital rain pattern that's reminiscent of the Matrix.
The charger supports a maximum output of 67W and has three USB-C ports, each of which is capable of charging at 67W max. Plug in two devices and it charges at a maximum of 45W and 20W. Three-port charging supports 45W on 1 port and 15W on the other 2 ports.
Sharge says the device includes safety protection and the Travel Set includes UK, EU and AU adapters.
Cons? This doesn't include a USB-A port for legacy devices. Its prongs are located on the bottom, so the charging display may be hard to view if it's plugged into a wall socket
Pros: Retro design, displays charging speed, 67W charging, UK, EU and AU adapters
Shop here
Gallium nitride (GaN) conducts electricity more efficiently and generates less heat than older silicon-based chargers, allowing them to charge devices faster. GaN chargers also require fewer components than silicon chargers, so they can be more compact while handling greater loads.
If you're looking for more powerful GaN travel chargers or prefer plain-Jane devices, here are some other travel chargers to consider. Like the Sharge Retro 67W Charger, these can also be used in Singapore, making them versatile choices.
This 65W multiport USB-C has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for legacy devices. It includes interchangeable UK, EU and US plugs.
Shop here
A 65W charger with two USB-C ports, one USB-A port and one universal socket for devices that don't support USB power delivery. It includes sliding UK, EU, AU and US plugs.
8A surge protection
Shop here
This slimline 65W charger is designed to fit into tight spaces. Featuring one USB-C port and one USB-A port, it supports fast charging. It has US, EU and UK plugs.
Shop here
For travellers with more demanding charging requirements, this 140W charger features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. It supports fast charging, has US, EU and UK plugs, although Type A for Australia and New Zealand is absent.
IntelliSense technology detects and distributes the correct charging current to connected devices
Over-heat, over-voltage, over-current and short-circuit protection
Shop here
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GaN TRAVEL CHARGER
Gallium nitride (GaN) is a semiconductor that conducts electricity more efficiently and generates less heat than silicon-based chargers. This allows them to charge multiple devices faster and have more compact designs.
Sockets: Check that your travel charger includes US, EU, AU and UK sockets so you're covered wherever you travel in the world.
Power output: If you want to fast-charge your laptop, or charge your phone and laptop simultaneously, consider a charger that supports at least 65W charging.
Size, weight and cost: The current GaN charger sweet spot lies with 65W and 100W devices. More powerful chargers will be bigger, heavier and in some case, much more expensive. If you travel with a lot of devices that need to be charged rapidly, this could still be a viable option for you.
Safety: Look for built-in features like over-voltage, over-current and short-circuit protection that help protect your devices.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Deutsche Telekom partnering with Nvida, Brookfield on AI data centre -CEO
Deutsche Telekom partnering with Nvida, Brookfield on AI data centre -CEO

CNA

time3 days ago

  • CNA

Deutsche Telekom partnering with Nvida, Brookfield on AI data centre -CEO

Deutsche Telekom is partnering with Nvidia and Canadian private equity fund Brookfield in a bid to build one of the EU's AI "gigafactories" in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, its chief executive said on Thursday. "We have partnerships with Brookfield and also with Nvidia – these are our big partners for this gigabit factory," CEO Tim Hoettges said in a call with reporters following the company's second quarter results. Although discussions with North Rhine-Westphalia about building the data processing center in the state are ongoing, a final decision has yet to be made. "This is where we currently see our factory. But, of course, that could still change during the selection process," Hoettges said, adding that the company would proceed as quickly as possible once a decision is reached. The company is looking at existing production sites where electricity and water regulatory approvals are already in place, Hoettges said. "Discussions are happening here, for example with RWE," he said. In May, the Bonn-based company said it had teamed up with SAP, web hosting firm Ionos, and unlisted retailer Schwarz, but in June it was reported the companies would submit separate EU bids instead. Hoettges dismissed media reports that it had been in talks to join such a consortium.

This travel charger combines retro charm with fast charging support
This travel charger combines retro charm with fast charging support

CNA

time4 days ago

  • CNA

This travel charger combines retro charm with fast charging support

The travel charger is supposed to be a utilitarian device where function trumps form. It turns out, one company didn't get the memo. Sharge has become known for its chargers and power banks that combine aesthetics and functionality and this retro charger is no different. Is the Sharge Retro 67W GaN Charger worth it? Shaped like a classic Macintosh computer, its screen displays real-time charging speeds using a large, pixelated font. When the 67W GaN charger is plugged into a socket but not charging any devices, it displays a digital rain pattern that's reminiscent of the Matrix. The charger supports a maximum output of 67W and has three USB-C ports, each of which is capable of charging at 67W max. Plug in two devices and it charges at a maximum of 45W and 20W. Three-port charging supports 45W on 1 port and 15W on the other 2 ports. Sharge says the device includes safety protection and the Travel Set includes UK, EU and AU adapters. Cons? This doesn't include a USB-A port for legacy devices. Its prongs are located on the bottom, so the charging display may be hard to view if it's plugged into a wall socket Pros: Retro design, displays charging speed, 67W charging, UK, EU and AU adapters Shop here Gallium nitride (GaN) conducts electricity more efficiently and generates less heat than older silicon-based chargers, allowing them to charge devices faster. GaN chargers also require fewer components than silicon chargers, so they can be more compact while handling greater loads. If you're looking for more powerful GaN travel chargers or prefer plain-Jane devices, here are some other travel chargers to consider. Like the Sharge Retro 67W Charger, these can also be used in Singapore, making them versatile choices. This 65W multiport USB-C has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for legacy devices. It includes interchangeable UK, EU and US plugs. Shop here A 65W charger with two USB-C ports, one USB-A port and one universal socket for devices that don't support USB power delivery. It includes sliding UK, EU, AU and US plugs. 8A surge protection Shop here This slimline 65W charger is designed to fit into tight spaces. Featuring one USB-C port and one USB-A port, it supports fast charging. It has US, EU and UK plugs. Shop here For travellers with more demanding charging requirements, this 140W charger features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. It supports fast charging, has US, EU and UK plugs, although Type A for Australia and New Zealand is absent. IntelliSense technology detects and distributes the correct charging current to connected devices Over-heat, over-voltage, over-current and short-circuit protection Shop here WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GaN TRAVEL CHARGER Gallium nitride (GaN) is a semiconductor that conducts electricity more efficiently and generates less heat than silicon-based chargers. This allows them to charge multiple devices faster and have more compact designs. Sockets: Check that your travel charger includes US, EU, AU and UK sockets so you're covered wherever you travel in the world. Power output: If you want to fast-charge your laptop, or charge your phone and laptop simultaneously, consider a charger that supports at least 65W charging. Size, weight and cost: The current GaN charger sweet spot lies with 65W and 100W devices. More powerful chargers will be bigger, heavier and in some case, much more expensive. If you travel with a lot of devices that need to be charged rapidly, this could still be a viable option for you. Safety: Look for built-in features like over-voltage, over-current and short-circuit protection that help protect your devices.

Commentary: The AI job cuts are accelerating
Commentary: The AI job cuts are accelerating

CNA

time5 days ago

  • CNA

Commentary: The AI job cuts are accelerating

LONDON: Microsoft, by chief executive Satya Nadella's own description, is 'thriving'. Its quarterly profits soared by almost 25 per cent and its market valuation hit US$4 trillion last week. In any normal situation, it would seem incongruent that the company is at the same time slashing its workforce by the thousands. The pursuit of a leaner workforce is not new. In times of economic uncertainty, companies prune excesses - cutting headcount and eliminating inefficiencies. But today it is not just about doing more with fewer people. Companies are preparing for a time where there might be less work for their employees altogether. Even as business leaders claim AI is 'redesigning' jobs rather than cutting them, the headlines tell another story. It is not just Microsoft but Intel and BT that are among a host of major companies announcing thousands of layoffs explicitly linked to AI. Previously when job cuts were announced, there was a sense that these were regrettable choices. Now executives consider them a sign of progress. Companies are pursuing greater profits with fewer people. THE RISE OF ONE-PERSON FIRMS For the tech industry, revenue per employee has become a prized performance metric. Y Combinator start-ups brag about building companies with skeleton teams. A website called the 'Tiny Teams Hall of Fame' lists companies bringing in tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue with just a handful of employees. OpenAI's Sam Altman has gone further, predicting the eventual rise of a one-person US$1 billion company. That may still sound far-fetched - but it is undeniable large language models are already reshaping white-collar work. While new jobs are being created in the AI age and some workers redeployed, a lot of positions will be eliminated. Companies are increasingly saying the tasks of those workers no longer exist. Already it's clear the hiring of coders has dropped off a cliff. And almost daily, my inbox delivers examples of AI's prowess versus humans. Among the latest is how one Big Four firm has slashed turnaround times for research by 75 per cent, reclaiming 3,600 analyst hours by using AI-generated reports. FEWER STARTER JOBS AND FRAGMENTED CAREER PATHS Younger workers should be particularly concerned about this trend. Entire rungs on the career ladder are taking a hit, undermining traditional job pathways. This is not only about AI of course. Offshoring, post-COVID budget discipline, and years of underwhelming growth have made entry-level hiring an easy thing to cut. But AI is adding to pressures. Dirk Hahn, chief executive of recruiter Hays, said to me: 'While there will be exceptions, the rise of AI could constrain the recovery in some junior white-collar roles.' If the footholds are eroding, where does that leave future workers? What shape do organisations take if there are fewer starter jobs and middle management positions? Professional development and leadership pipelines need to be redefined. The consequences are cultural as well as economic. If jobs aren't readily available, will a university degree retain its value? Careers already are increasingly 'squiggly' and not linear. The rise of freelancing and hiring of contractors has already fragmented the nature of work in many cases. AI will only propel this. CAN LEANER FIRMS LAST? But are leaner organisations necessarily better ones? I am not convinced these companies are more resilient even if they perform better financially. Faster decision making and lower overheads are great, but does this mean fewer resources for R&D, legal functions or compliance? What about a company's ability to withstand shocks - from supply chain disruptions to employee turnover and dare I say it, runaway robots? Some companies such as Klarna have reversed tack, realising that firing hundreds of staff and relying on AI resulted in a poorer customer service experience. Now the payments company wants them back. The tech bros touting people-light companies underestimate the complexity of business operations and corporate cultures that are built on very human relationships and interactions. In fact, while AI can indeed handle the tedium, there should be a new premium on the human - from creativity and emotional intelligence to complex judgment. But that can only happen if we invest in those who bring those qualities and teach the next generation of workers - and right now, the door is closing on many of them.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store