Anker's Tiny New Charger Is Good Enough to Be Your Default

The Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger is small enough to leave in your bag and versatile enough to become your default charger. It delivers up to 45W for phones, tablets, handhelds, or light-duty laptops. Its key feature is the plug: prongs rotate 90 or 180 degrees, allowing it to stick straight out from an outlet or sit flat against the wall.

At 1.34 × 1.40 × 1.57 inches and 2.65 ounces, it disappears into a tech pouch without sacrificing power for most everyday devices. The front screen displays live charging information for recent USB-C iPhones and iPads. However, it remains a single-port charger, not a replacement for a larger multi-port brick.

The Folding Plug Makes a Tiny Charger More Versatile

The prongs lock at 90 degrees like a normal wall charger or swing out to 180 degrees, allowing the body to sit flatter against a wall. This second position is useful behind furniture, in crowded outlets, or where a charger sticking straight out could be easily dislodged. The prongs fold into the body for packing.

Anker says the Nano is 47% smaller and 36% lighter than its original 30W charger. Crucially, its shape and two plug positions make it more versatile than a typical cube-shaped adapter.

The Screen Shows More Than Wattage

The display reports live charging power, temperature, and charging mode. With compatible USB-C iPhones and newer iPads, it identifies the device and shows battery progress. Anker lists support for the iPhone 15, 16, and 17 families, excluding the iPhone 17e. Older Lightning iPhones charge, but cannot send the necessary battery information to the display.

A small button, not touch, controls the screen. A tap cycles through information, while a long press flips the display 180 degrees. It does not rotate 90 degrees, limiting screen orientation utility in some outlets.

Anker's Care Mode adjusts charging to reduce heat during a full charge. Internal testing found an iPhone battery stayed up to 9°F cooler than with other 45W chargers. This is Anker's lab result, not a guarantee of extended battery life for every phone.

The charger supports up to 45W USB-C Power Delivery, but device compatibility varies. Anker states several Samsung Galaxy models, including the S23+ and Ultra and S24+ and Ultra, are limited to 27W. The US model also supports 3A PPS rather than 5A PPS. For maximum Samsung charging speed, this is not the ideal choice.

These details are from Anker's official A121D product page, which also confirms no USB-C cable is included.

Should You Buy It?

Buy the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger if you want a compact one-device charger and will use its display or dual-position plug. Its live readout helps confirm fast-charging, and the flatter plug position solves a problem behind furniture and in awkward outlets.

Skip it if you regularly charge a laptop and phone simultaneously. A two-port 65W charger, while less novel, offers more flexibility. Our Nomad 65W Slim vs Anker Nano 45W comparison explains that tradeoff, while the best compact USB-C travel chargers guide covers more alternatives.