Kovol Sprint 120W and 65W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Chargers Review: With Them, You’ll Have Power to Spare

Not long ago, Apple stopped including AC adapters with their phone and tablets. As annoying as it was, that move prompted numerous companies to jump in and fill the vacuum; Kovol is one such company. The Kovol Sprint 120W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Charger and the smaller Kovol Sprint 65W 4-Port GaN Desktop Charger share a similar compact design; they also put Apple’s old chargers to shame.

From top to bottom: the Kovol Sprint 120W GaN Desktop Charger and the Kovol 65W GaN Desktop Charger

In this review, we’ll focus on the KOVOL Sprint 120W GaN Desktop Charger and then take a brief look at the smaller, less powerful 65W sibling.

Kovol Sprint 120W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger

From a design perspective, like its packaging, the Kovol Sprint 120W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger is a relatively simple affair.

You get the charger and a 1.5m (4.9’) US AC cord inside the box. The charger is a black rectangle of plastic measuring 1.81” x 1.81” x 3.35”. That’s small enough to easily carry in your gear bag. If you use it as a permanent desk charger, you’ll get multiple ways to charge without taking up too much desk space.

You’ll find the input for the included power cord at one end.

The other end has two USB-C and two USN-A ports and three small LEDs, so you know it is working.

When all four of the Kovol Sprint 120W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger’s ports are in use, one of the USB-C PD ports will output 65W while the other USB-C OD port will supply 20W of power. Each of the two USB-A ports delivers 18W.

When only the two USB-C ports are used, you get 60W of output from each one and, when just a single USB-C PD port is in use, you’ll get a whopping 100W of power. That’s more than enough to rapidly charge my 14” MacBook Pro or charge two laptops simultaneously.

Here’s the complete picture of the power output you can expect depending on which ports you are using:

• 1 USB-C PD port in use: 100W
• 2 USB-C PD ports in use: 60W + 60W
• 1 USB-C PD port and 1 USB-A port in use: 65W + QC 18W
• 2 USB-C PD ports and 1 USB-A port in use: 65W + 20W + QC 18W
• 1 USB-C PD port and 2 USB-A ports in use: 65W + QC 18W + QC 18W
• All 4 ports in use: PD 65W + PD 20W + QC 18W + QC 18W

As Kovol explains:

Mighty 120W Output: Rapidly charges a MacBook Pro 16″ in 1.7 hours via a USB-C port(100W Max.), or simultaneously provides up to 60W of power to 2 MacBooks via both USB-C PD ports. This USB-C PD multiport charger intelligently allocates optimal power for each connected device, including MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone 12, Galaxy S21, and more.

But while the charger’s design may be simple, the technology packed into it isn’t. Among the tech that allows this charger to deliver a fast, efficient charge are:

• Smart Power Distribution: A PD 3.0 certified compact charger, this PPS fast-charging station allocates optimal power for maximized charging efficiency
• Pioneering GaN II Tech: Allows for a charger up to 37% smaller than typical 100W chargers, providing better heat transfer and higher charging performance
• Low-Heat & Safe Charging: Kovol’s Q-Pulse technology ensures safe charging features such as surge, over-current, over-voltage, short-circuit, over-charge, and high-temperature protection

Kovol explains that this 120W charger is ready to take on such power-hungry devices as a 16” MacBook Pro while also working beautifully with an iPad Pro, Kindle, and iPhone 12. As they put it, thanks to “clever power distribution,” you’ll get maximum charging speeds without the worry that you’ll overheat or damage your pricey electronics. It even comes with a 24-month guarantee.

Kovol Sprint 120W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger features include:

• 100W Max. USB-C PD output
• Simultaneous dual 60W PD output
• PPS 45W fast-charging compatibility
• Intelligent power distribution
• Five safety features, including surge protection
• Q-Pulse technology for fast and safe charging

I appreciate having the ability to charge four devices simultaneously. I also appreciate that the charger is intelligent enough to stop charging once the connected device reaches total capacity. I also appreciate that the charger’s built-in protection chip prevents damage when charging something as expensive as my 14” MacBook Pro. Most of all, however, I love the fact that this is the only charger I’ll need to take with me the next time I travel.

That convenience is worth every penny of the $99.99 price tag.

Kovol Sprint 65W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger

If, however, you don’t need something as powerful as the 120W charger, and you don’t feel like spending $100, you might opt for the Kovol Sprint 65W PD 4-Port GaN Fast Charger. The $49.99 charger has the same four ports and, at 2.99” x 1.61” x 1.61”, it is slightly smaller and lighter.

That makes it perfect for travel.

When all four of the powers are in use, you can expect to get 30W from one USB-C port and 20W from the second. Each of the USB-A ports will deliver an output of 15W. The rest of the power distribution looks like this:

• 1 USB-C port: PD 65W
• 1 USB-A port: QC 3.0 18W
• 2 USB-C ports: USB-C – PD 45W/ USB-C – PD 20W
• 2 USB-A ports: USB-A+USB-A=15W
• 1 USB-C + 2 USB-A ports: USB-C – PD 45W/ USB-A+USB-A=15W
• 2 USB-C + 1 USB-A ports: USB-C – PD 30W/ USB-C – PD 20W/ USB-A – QC 3.0 15W

If you use a MacBook Air and an iPhone, this smaller, lighter, and less expensive charger will be just the thing.

When connected to all ports: USB-C – PD 30W/ USB-C – PD 20W/ USB-A+USB-A=15

I would recommend going for the larger, more powerful offering since the 120W version will provide more power and flexibility and, thanks to both, is a bit more future-proof.

I’ve been looking for a convenient way to keep all my devices charged simultaneously. However, all too often, whether I’m at my desk or on the couch, keeping everything charged has required a bird’s nest of cables.

The Kovol Sprint 120W Desktop Charger and the Kovol Sprint 65W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Charger are small, neat, and powerful. They offer maximum flexibility and quickly recharge a huge range of mobile devices in a small, portable package. I’ve been quite impressed with them, and I think you will be too.

You can learn more about Kovol here.

The Kovol Sprint 120W Desktop Charger sells for $99.99, and the Kovol Sprint 65W 4-Port PD GaN Desktop Charger sells for $49.99; they are available on Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review samples

What I Like: Small, compact design; Four different charging ports; Fast, smart power distribution keeps devices charged but does so quickly without the risk of damage; Choice of 120W or 65W versions

What Needs Improvement: Power distribution depends on which ports are in use, but it may be challenging to keep track of what that distribution looks like without keeping a chart nearby