Anker PowerPort III Review

Overview

The Anker PowerPort III is a one-port, 20W USB-C wall charger with PowerIQ 3.0, built here with a UK Type G plug. It suits hikers who resupply in British towns, hostels and bothies-with-sockets and need to bring a phone back from 10% overnight. The trade-off: it charges phones briskly, but the fixed three-pin body makes it a heavier, bulkier carry than the sugar-cube chargers it resembles.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	54 g
Output	20W max (5V/3A or 9V/2.22A)
Ports	1× USB-C
Input	100–240V AC
Charging technology	PowerIQ 3.0 (USB Power Delivery 3.0 compatible)
Plug	Type G (UK), fixed
Cable	Not included

Performance

Phone charging. Twenty watts is the sweet spot for the iPhone, and it shows. Android Authority’s testing of the Nano-format charger measured 18.7W reaching an iPhone 13, a little shy of the rating but, in practice, a negligible gap. GIGAZINE’s testers, using a USB power meter, logged roughly 17.8W into an iPhone 11 Pro Max and about 19.4W into a Pixel 3a XL. Both phones went from single digits to about 90% in an hour. Anker’s own claim is 53% on an iPhone 11 in 30 minutes. For a trail-town stop, that means a phone is mostly full by the time dinner is finished.

Compatibility. PowerIQ 3.0 is Anker’s branding for a port that follows the USB Power Delivery 3.0 standard. It also covers Quick Charge, Apple Fast Charging and other older protocols. Android Authority found it did a decent job with older handsets such as the LG G8X and Nokia 7.1, and that it handles a Nintendo Switch and other low-power USB-C accessories. Pixel-class phones that top out at 18W charge at their full rate. Faster phones fall back to 18W Power Delivery, so nothing fails to charge. They just charge more slowly.

Where it falls short. The charger lacks PPS (Programmable Power Supply). Android Authority recorded only 14.3W reaching a Samsung phone that can pull 25W on a PPS-capable charger. Tablets and laptops will draw power but not quickly; the reviewer’s verdict was to forget about charging larger USB-C devices with it. Anyone carrying a modern phone that can take far more than 20W will find the ceiling low. TechRadar made the same point, calling it a competent plug rather than a standout.

Portability. At 54 g, this is the real cost. The US-plug version of the Nano is quoted at about 30 g, so the UK variant carries nearly twice the mass, and the three-pin Type G plug cannot fold away. TechRadar marked down the PowerPort III 20W for its non-foldable prongs, noting that Anker’s pricier 30W Nano charger has them. Owners of the related Nano models make the same complaint: the fixed prongs scrape against the inside of a pouch and are awkward to pack flat.

Build and durability. Reviewers describe the casing as neat and sturdily built. Owner reports on Walmart and eBay are overwhelmingly positive, including one buyer who handed several to hard-on-gear children and reported them still working six months later. Anker backs the line with an 18-month warranty, according to buyers.

Value. TechRadar’s list of pros starts with price: the charger is very cheap. No cable comes in the box, so budget for a USB-C cable. One eBay buyer was caught out buying a Lightning-to-USB-C cable for an iPhone, since the old USB-A cable will not fit the port.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fast, reliable 20W charging for iPhones and most Android phones
• Broad protocol support, including Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge and Apple Fast Charging
• 100–240V input works abroad with a plug adapter
• Inexpensive, with solid build quality reported by owners

Cons

• 54 g is heavy for a single-port 20W charger; the US-plug Nano is about 30 g
• Fixed Type G prongs do not fold
• No PPS support, so some Samsung phones charge slower than they can
• One port only, with no second device charging
• Cable not included

Who Should Buy This

Buy this if you are a UK-based hiker or a visitor on a British long-distance path who charges a single phone from a wall socket every few days. It also suits anyone who wants a spare, low-cost charger and is not trying to shave every gram. Look elsewhere if you carry a phone, watch and headphones together (a two-port charger weighs less than two separate adapters), if you own a Samsung that benefits from PPS, or if you want a folding-prong charger that packs flat. Weight-obsessed hikers should consider a smaller GaN charger with foldable prongs, or one of Anker’s 30W Nano models.

Verdict

The PowerPort III does its one job well: it fills a phone quickly, runs on any mains supply in the world with a plug adapter, and costs little. It loses points for its 54 g mass, fixed prongs and single port, which make it a competent choice for a UK town stop, but not a standout pick for an ultralight kit.