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

The new Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger is small enough to leave in your bag and versatile enough to become your default charger. It still delivers up to 45W for a phone, tablet, handheld, or light-duty laptop, but its best trick may be the plug: the prongs work at 90 or 180 degrees, so the charger can 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 giving up enough power for most everyday devices. The front screen adds live charging information for recent USB-C iPhones and iPads, though this is still a single-port charger rather than a replacement for a larger multi-port brick.

The Folding Plug Makes a Tiny Charger More Versatile

The prongs can lock at 90 degrees like a normal wall charger or swing out to 180 degrees so the body sits flatter against a wall. That second position is useful behind furniture, in crowded outlets, and anywhere a charger sticking straight out would be easy to knock loose. The prongs fold into the body for packing.

Anker says the Nano is 47% smaller and 36% lighter than its original 30W charger. More importantly, the shape and two plug positions make it easier to use in more places 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 can also identify the device and show battery progress. Anker currently lists support for the iPhone 15, 16, and 17 families, excluding the iPhone 17e. Older Lightning iPhones still charge, but cannot send the battery information the display needs.

The screen is controlled with a small button rather than touch. A tap cycles through information, while a long press flips the display 180 degrees. It does not rotate 90 degrees, so the screen orientation is not equally useful in every outlet.

Anker's Care Mode adjusts charging to reduce heat during a full charge. The company says its internal testing found an iPhone battery stayed up to 9°F cooler than with other 45W chargers. That is Anker's lab result, not a guarantee that the charger will extend every phone battery's life.

The charger supports up to 45W USB-C Power Delivery, but device support matters. Anker says several Samsung Galaxy models, including the S23+ and Ultra and S24+ and Ultra, are limited to 27W with this charger. It also notes that the US model supports 3A PPS rather than 5A PPS. If maximum Samsung charging speed is the priority, this is not the obvious choice.

Those details come from Anker's official A121D product page, which also confirms that a USB-C cable is not included.

Should You Buy It?

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

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