VOLTME Revo 140 GaN Tech Fast Charger Review

The VOLTME Revo 140 GaN Tech Fast Charger is a lovely little device used to quickly charge your tech products. A common occurrence in our modern times is needing a square to charge your various devices. Whether it’s your phone, laptop, tablet or whatever else you can think of that needs charging. While this might sound like a simple issue, the design of most charging cord/square combos is not so simple. 

It can be a huge pain when you find your charging cord but not your square. Moreover, it can take far too long for our devices to charge, depending on the type of square you are using. Most of the hardware which comes with our devices are suitable for the job that requires them. However, should we misplace our square, there are alternatives that might be more sufficient for charging our sacred possessions. Enter the VOLTME Revo Series GaN Tech Fast Charger.

Overview

I’ll admit, I was extremely skeptical of this device upon first receiving it in my mailbox. I was expecting something more akin to a portable charger that I could take to conventions or on a camping trip. 

Instead, what I received was a block that needed to be plugged into the wall. This fast charger comes with three separate ports for plugging in the likes of your smartphone, laptops and any other device with a MagSafe, USB-C or USB-A charging cord. You are able to charge up to three devices at a time so long as they fit one of the three specified ports.

The Revo 140 boasts the ability to charge devices at up to 140W. However, this is dependent upon a variety of factors which I will discuss later. All in all, the device itself is sleek in design with a minimalist aesthetic.

The Good

I tested out the VOLTME Revo 140 on my Macbook Air, iPhone 12 and a few HP laptops I had lying around by depleting their batteries and charging each device using their factory chargers. I timed how long it took to go from 5% battery life to 100%. Then, I repeated the process with the VOLTME Revo 140. 

The Revo 140 lived up to its name in so much as it charged each device more quickly than the factory charger. I tried this process one final time while using each product as it was charging. The VOLTME Revo 140 still charged each device more quickly than the factory charger. However, I will admit the difference in timing wasn’t dramatic.

The Bad

I wouldn’t say anything about the Revo 140 is bad. Instead, I believe the device isn’t a necessity for common tech users. The issue comes in how the device works. Without the proper accouterments, the charger will only work at speeds equal to the capability of what is being charged.

For example, the instruction manual states, “[i]n order to realize 140W full speed charging, original USB-C to MagSafe or PD3.1 UDB-C to USB-C cable is required. Additionally, if the maximum charging speed of your device can only reach 30W, then the best the Revo 140 can do is 30W. 

While this may seem to some as a small issue, the majority of the population aren’t going to understand this concept. They’re going to believe the charger is supposed to charge devices quickly. More importantly, they’re going to expect undeniably fast speeds. As I stated prior, the fast charger was only slightly faster than the factory equipment.

I don’t necessarily believe this renders VOLTME’s charger useless so much as a pricier exception than some of the squares one can buy for the same purpose.