Review: Tronsmart Type-C Quick Car Charger

The launch of newer generation devices also created a new standard for USB ports as it progresses. The standard USB Type-A that has been widely used in many major devices will now eventually adopt the new USB Type-C standard.

The shift began with both Apple and Google adopting USB Type-C connection in the new MacBooks and Chromebook Pixel 2. Recently a hand-full of Android devices also began moving to this new connection such as the OnePlus 2, Huawei Nexus 6P and LG Nexus 5X.

With that also meant that the collection of cables and accessories that utilize USB Type-A connections would not be compatible with the newer devices. Till today there are very limited choices available for accessories that will support USB Type-C connections. However, we were able to obtain a Type-C quick car charger made exclusively by Tronsmart. This car charger not only supports USB Type-C but also supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology and most definitely will support the new rapid charging standards with the new Nexus’.

Specs:-

• Size: 67mm x 34mm x 24mm
• Weight: 56.5 grams
• Input: DC 12-24V / 4A (Max)
• Output 1 (Type-C): DC 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A (Max)
• Output 2 (Type-A): DC 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A (Max)
• Total Power: 36W
• Technology: Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, VoltIQ

Review

Design & Build Quality

The overall design of the Tronsmart car charger is very slim and simple. Plugging it into the vehicle, the first thing we noticed is it doesn’t stick out like the other car chargers we have used in the past. This is exceptionally neat and clean. The charger stays secure in the cigarette lighter port and doesn’t shake or rattle during our drive around town. This is mainly attributed to the tightly built geometry of the charger and a thick matte black plastic housing that encloses it.

On the top of the charger is where the USB Type-C cable is located and it is non-removable, which helps reduce the bulk of the charger. The cable is very well-built and users get about 3 ft of cable length. Tronsmart also added an additional USB port that would allow users to charge another device that does not have USB Type-C.

Overall, we are happy with the build quality and feel of the Tronsmart Type-C Quick Car Charger.

Features

There are 2 main features that come with this charger; the ability to support Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and Tronsmart’s own Volt IQ technology. The latter is Tronsmart’s brainchild that automatically determines the devices maximum charging input and provides that necessary charges to it. It also has over-charging protection and short-circuit protection built into the devices.

Borrowing the Type-C connection from a Nexus 5X, we were set to test the Tronsmart Type-C Quick Car Charger. Note that the Nexus 5X does not support the Qualcomm Quick Charge technology but has the fast charging capability.

Upon charging, the first thing we noticed was the ‘Charging Rapidly’ notification showing on the standby screen on the device. The USB Type-C connector stayed secure on the device and has a slightly tight fit which we actually like.

Real-World Test

The device was connected to the car charger at approximately 20% battery life and we measured the charge using the GSam Battery Monitor app. During the test, we measured the amperage and volts pulled during the charge. The Tronsmart Type-C Quick Car Charger pulled an impressive 2327 mA at 4.06V. This is only about 300 mA less than what the OEM wall charger was able to provide, pretty impressive.

Charging from 20% to 80% took approximately 53 minutes, while a complete charge took about 1.5 hours with minimal to no usage.

We also noticed that the charger itself does not have any LED indicators like every other car chargers we have tested in the past. This may not be a deal-breaker for most but we do like that feature especially during night driving conditions.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we like the design and practicality of the Tronsmart Type-C Quick Car Charger. It has a small footprint and matches seamlessly with the vehicle’s interior, it also has an additional USB port to support other connections types. The support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and Volt IQ is definitely a welcome and great feature. It is a great accessory for those on the go and will be pretty future proof for the next couple years ahead.