[General Accessories] mpgrimm2:
[REVIEW] Coocheer 40W 5-Port Desktop Wall USB Super Charger with Smart Charging & Surge Protector

Disclaimer: I was provided this item free of charge specifically to review without any influence.

OVERVIEW:

After being misled by an early version Anker 5 Port charger (reviewed here) and reviews by others, I was a little apprehensive about this Coocheer 5 Port “Super Charger” CH-072, partly because of its limited brand recognition and also by the poorly written, somewhat vague English product descriptions online which follows into the literature that comes with the package.

This Coocheer charger did surprise me as it appears to charge everything I own, especially my Logitech Harmony 700 remote and my Hp Touchpad modified for Android Kit-Kat/CM11 (the original Anker unit had problems with them). Although I don’t have any Apple devices to try with it, I’m confident it would charge those as well.

According to the literature it only has 2 ports with “Smart Charging” (the 2 higher output Super Charger ports) to determine what device type is attached, but all my android devices charged at the full speed (AC Charging) of each port which is good and means each device was able to get the max output from each port (ports 1-3 = 1.0A Max and “Super Charger” Ports 4&5 = 2.4A Max). Perhaps the “Smart Charging” feature is actually on all 5 ports, but I can’t verify it. The Coocheer charger also worked with my Nexus 5 Qi Charge base and my LG G4’s extra battery charging cradle.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The literature indicates some downsides such as the limited number of “Smart” ports to determine the device plugged into it. Why all 5 ports don’t officially have this feature is beyond me (but it might) and it would be nice if each port was capable of the same max output rating (like some other brands). Another downside from the booklet says that the ports may get ‘confused’ if switching from a Samsung to Apple to Android device etc and may need a power reset by pulling the plug. If that is true, it would be much easier to have added a power switch similar to Coocheer’s Desktop Charging Station which looks like it has a nice slot for holding your phone plus 2 extra outlets. I would also like to see a Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Port on some of these multi-port chargers, but that is still relatively new technology.

Overall I am pleased with Coocheer’s 5 port Super Charger. It doesn’t have every feature but it gets the job done, charges all my devices and cleans up the clutter of outlet strips and wall chargers that were cluttering up my end table.

EXTRA ‘TECHY’ STUFF:

If you plug ANY android device into a standard charger/port designed only for an "Apple" product (or a PC’s USB port), that port may only charge the android device at a measly 0.5 amps (500ma) "USB Charging" vs. a charger/port designed for an "Android" product at max charge rate for the port/device (ie 1.0+ amps) "AC Charging".

See SETTINGS - BATTERY (or SETTINGS - ABOUT PHONE - STATUS - BATTERY) to verify for yourself while plugged in with a stock device/kernel.

Android devices have 4 charging states:

1) "AC Charging" (i.e. your typical android wall charger, originally referred to as "Fast Charge")

Data pins are directly shorted together in the charger to tell the device what it should do. No data communication is

possible to the device. It will charge at the maximum rate of either the charger or device, whichever is lower.

2) "USB Charging" (i.e. plugged into your pc's port)

Data pins are NOT shorted ('open') and data communication is still possible with the device.

3) "Charging Wireless"

(i.e. Nexus 5 on 'Qi' charger)

4) “Fast Charging” (Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0)

(not sure about this as I don’t have a charger that supports it yet with my LG G4)