Anker Nano Charger 45W (A2664) Review: Small Size, Real Speed

The Anker Nano Charger 45W (model A2664) is a single-port USB-C wall charger built around GaN (Gallium Nitride) silicon. It outputs up to 45W over USB-C Power Delivery. At roughly $25.99, it sits between budget 20W adapters and the more expensive 65W bricks. It's one of my daily carry items for a reason: it genuinely fits in a jeans pocket, and it handles everything from an iPhone 15 to a MacBook Air without complaint.

I've been using an A2664 as my desk and travel charger for several months. This review covers real-world charging speeds, size comparisons to Apple's own chargers, what it can and can't do, and who should actually buy it.

What Makes GaN Technology Different?

GaN chargers run cooler and smaller than older silicon designs at the same wattage. Traditional silicon chargers use transistors that generate more heat per switching cycle, which forces manufacturers to build in more thermal mass and physical space. Gallium Nitride switches faster and wastes less energy as heat. The result is a 45W charger that's smaller than Apple's 30W USB-C adapter.

Anker calls this their "ActiveShield" thermal management, which adjusts output based on temperature. In practice, the A2664 gets warm during a full laptop charge but never uncomfortably hot. That's a meaningful improvement over the plastic-melting heat you sometimes get from cheap third-party chargers.

Why does this matter for everyday use? Because a charger you'll actually put in your bag is one you'll actually have when you need it.

What Charges at Full Speed on 45W?

The A2664 negotiates power over USB-C PD, so actual wattage depends on what you plug in. Here's what charges at or near maximum speed:

• iPhone 15 / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max: Up to 27W fast charge (Apple limits iPhone charging speed regardless of adapter)
• Samsung Galaxy S24 / S24+: 25W fast charge via USB-C PD
• iPad Pro (USB-C): 30W accepted, charges to full without throttling
• iPad Air (M2): 30W accepted, same result
• MacBook Air 13-inch (M1, M2, M3): 45W is enough for normal use and overnight charging
• MacBook Air 15-inch (M3): Apple rates it at 35W minimum; 45W covers light tasks, but heavy CPU loads will drain faster than 45W can refill

The MacBook Air story is the most important one here. Apple's included 30W adapter for the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air charges slowly under load. Stepping up to 45W means you won't watch the battery percentage creep down while working. That's the upgrade most MacBook Air users actually need.

What Doesn't Get Full Speed

The 15-inch MacBook Pro (2023+) is rated at 67W for normal use. A 45W adapter works, but you'll charge slowly and potentially discharge under heavy load. The Dell XPS 13 Plus officially supports 65W PD; the A2664 will charge it, but at reduced speed. For any laptop rated at 65W or above, you'll want a larger adapter for serious work sessions.

How Small Is It Actually?

This is where the A2664 earns its name. Apple's 30W USB-C Power Adapter measures about 2.1 x 2.1 x 1.1 inches and weighs 2.0 oz. The Anker Nano 45W measures roughly 1.75 x 1.75 x 1.1 inches and weighs 1.9 oz. You get 50% more wattage in a slightly smaller package.

Compare that to Apple's 67W USB-C Power Adapter: it's 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches and heavier. The Anker gives you most of that performance in a meaningfully smaller footprint.

The foldable prongs on the US version (A2664) are the feature I use most. Non-folding prong chargers tear up laptop bags and cable organizers. Folding prongs seem like a small detail until you've had a fixed-prong charger gouge a hole in a pouch. That's an underrated quality-of-life improvement.

Travel and Desk Use

For travel, the A2664 covers a phone, tablet, and light laptop use from a single charger. I pack this and a two-port USB-A hub when I need a tablet and phone charged simultaneously, since the Nano is single-port only. It's not a one-charger-rules-all solution for multi-device travel.

At a desk, it works well as a secondary charger or for a MacBook Air setup where a full dock isn't needed. If your work involves heavy video rendering or gaming, the wattage ceiling will frustrate you on a 14-inch MacBook Pro. For typical office work (documents, browser tabs, video calls), 45W is enough.

The plug sits flush against the wall socket without extending far outward, which matters in cramped power strip setups. It won't block adjacent outlets on most standard US strips.

What the Anker Nano 45W Can't Do

Be honest with yourself about the limitations before buying:

• One port only: No USB-A port, no second USB-C port. Multi-device charging requires an additional adapter or hub.
• No wireless charging: Not a feature you'd expect at this price, but worth stating clearly.
• Laptop speed ceiling: Any laptop rated above 60W will charge slower than its native adapter delivers.
• No cable included: You need a USB-C cable separately. Anker sells compatible cables; Apple's USB-C to MagSafe cable works with USB-C MagSafe MacBooks.

That last point quietly adds $10-15 to the total cost if you don't already own a quality USB-C cable rated for 45W+. Budget accordingly.

Who Should Buy This

The A2664 is the right purchase for MacBook Air owners who want a smaller travel charger than Apple's included adapter. It's also solid for iPhone 15 users who want USB-C PD fast charging without buying Apple's $19 adapter. At $25.99, it undercuts Apple's 30W adapter by roughly $23 and surpasses it in raw output.

I'd skip it if your main device is a MacBook Pro, a gaming laptop, or any machine rated at 65W or higher. The wattage gap will show up daily. A 65W GaN charger (Anker makes the 65W Nano Pro for around $35) makes more sense in that case.

For iPad Pro users, the A2664 is frankly one of the best options on the market right now. The iPad Pro's 30W charging cap means you never need more than 45W anyway, and you get a charger that doubles as a fast phone charger in the same small body.