UGREEN 130W car charger review: what 130W really gets you

We have not tested this charger. This page is built from UGREEN's product page, the Amazon.co.uk listing and an owner's published write-up; the sources are listed at the bottom.

Key specs

Neither UGREEN's page nor the Amazon.co.uk listing states a warranty period or the charger's dimensions, so we have left them out.

What 130W means in a UK car

• 130W is a peak, split across ports. It is 100W on USB-C2 plus 30W on USB-C1. No single device gets 130W, and with a third device plugged in the smaller ports fall back to 12W.
• Your socket has to supply it. At 12 V, 130W of output means more than 10 A of current before conversion losses. Check the fuse rating for the socket in your handbook. If the socket is fused lower than that, run the laptop on C2 alone rather than loading all three ports.
• Engine off. Whether the socket stays live with the ignition off depends on the car. If yours does, unplug a laptop before you leave it parked. Seedoes a 12 V socket work with the engine off?
• Phones. iPhones and most Android phones charge over USB-C Power Delivery, which this charger supports. USB-A at 22.5W relies on SCP, a protocol used by some Huawei phones; other phones on that port will charge at a lower rate.

Who it suits

• Anyone charging a USB-C laptop or tablet on long drives, using the 100W port and the cable in the box.
• Families who need three ports, including one USB-A for an older cable.
• Van and lorry drivers on 24 V systems, given the 12 V to 24 V input rating.

Who should skip it

• Phone-only users: UGREEN's smaller 63W charger or a retractable-cable charger is simpler.
• Anyone wanting fast charging on all three ports at once: the 12W split will disappoint.
• Cars where the 12 V socket sits in a tight recess: check there is room for the charger and the cable bend.

What owners report

We could not read the Amazon.co.uk review text, only the rating. The one detailed owner write-up we read, from a buyer who published their experience, makes two points:

• Heat at high output. The owner found it gets fairly hot when charging at high wattage, and noted the vent holes around the charging head. Do not bury it under a phone or cloth in the cubby.
• Light, plasticky feel. The owner described it as light but plasticky.

When reading the Amazon.co.uk reviews, search for "loose", "hot", "laptop" and your car's model to see whether it sits firmly in the same socket as yours and whether laptops held 100W on long runs.

How it compares

Anker 75W with retractable cable. Anker splits 75W as 45W on a built-in retractable USB-C cable and 30W on a USB-C port, with no USB-A. It is tidier and enough for phones and many lightweight laptops; the UGREEN wins for 100W laptops and a third port. Read our Anker 75W reviewand the Anker 75W vs UGREEN 130W comparison.

UGREEN 63W. The smaller UGREEN model is the sensible pick if no laptop is involved.

For what to look for in any car charger, read ourcar charger buying guide, and see the wider shortlist on best car chargers. Anker's range is on our Anker brand page.

Frequently asked questions

Will it charge my laptop at 100W?

Only from the USB-C2 port, with a cable rated for 100W (the one in the box is) and a laptop that accepts 100W over USB-C Power Delivery. A laptop that asks for less will take less. If the laptop is plugged into C1 instead, the listing caps that port at 30W.

What happens when I plug in three devices?

The total is shared. A diagram on the Amazon.co.uk listing shows USB-C2 at 100W, USB-C1 at 12W and USB-A at 12W with all three in use. That is fine for a laptop plus two phones topping up, but the phones will charge slowly. UGREEN's own advice on the listing is to use the C2 and A ports when charging two or more devices.

Does it work in a van or lorry with a 24 V socket?

UGREEN lists the input as 12 V to 24 V sockets, so it is designed for both car and commercial vehicle systems. Check the socket's fuse rating in the vehicle handbook before running a laptop at full power.

Can a car charger drain my battery?

It can if the socket stays live with the ignition off and something is still plugged in and drawing power. Many cars cut the socket with the ignition, some do not. Our page on whether a car charger can drain the battery explains how to check.

More detail: can a car charger drain the battery?