Ugreen's new 12mm-thin GaN charger delivers 45W from a card-sized block
Ugreen has launched the Nexode Air 45W Charger Slim, a flat, card-shaped USB-C charger roughly 12mm thick and weighing just 53g. It delivers up to 45W from a single port — enough for phones, tablets, and lighter laptops — and is already listed on Amazon at around $24.99 in the US and €27.99 across Europe. If you've ever stuffed a bulky charger into a jacket pocket and regretted it, this is the pitch.
The design
The shape is the story here. Most compact GaN chargers still have a roughly cubic form — thinner than older chargers, but still noticeably chunky. The Nexode Air Slim goes flat instead, more like a deck of cards than a plug. At 53g it's light enough to forget about in a bag, and Ugreen says the foldable plug keeps it snag-free in a pocket.
The single USB-C port is a deliberate trade-off. Rivals like the Anker Nano 45W offer dual ports in a similarly small footprint, which CNN Underscored and most travel-focused reviewers tend to prefer. One port means one device at a time — fine for minimalists, limiting for anyone charging a phone and earbuds simultaneously.
The claim
Ugreen says 30 minutes gets a smartphone to roughly 70% charge, and a compatible laptop to about 34%. Those numbers come from the company itself and haven't been independently tested yet. The charger supports multiple fast-charging standards and uses GaN (gallium nitride) silicon, which is now the standard approach for getting more power out of a smaller package.
A feature called Smart Care Charging adjusts output as the battery fills — full power early in the charge cycle, tapering off near the top to reduce battery stress. ThermalGuard temperature monitoring runs 200 checks per second, according to Notebookcheck, alongside the usual protections against overheating, short circuits, and overvoltage.
Worth it?
At around $24.99 in the US and €27.99 in Europe, the Nexode Air Slim sits in a crowded segment. The flat form factor is genuinely unusual — if you travel light and only ever charge one thing at a time, the size-to-power ratio is hard to argue with. Those needing more than one port should look elsewhere. Ugreen has also hinted at Prime Day discounts in June 2026, so there may be room to wait if the price matters.
