Nomad 130W Power Adapter Review: A Useful Multi Port USB-C Charger with GaN Technology

In my opinion, Nomad makes the best cables on the market. They are rugged, available in various lengths, and transmit power and data quickly. With the announcement of the new Nomad 130W Power Adapter, they now make some of the best wall adapters too. They are fast and powerful, with three USB-C ports and up to 100W output.

Apple offers a 96W power adapter; it is $79 and has one USB-C port. They also offer a $99 wall adapter with 140W power output; it, too has a single USB-C port.

Nomad has both beat.

Their new wall adapter offers 130W of total power output and is the same size as Apple’s 96W offering. In addition, unlike the aforementioned wall adapters, Nomad’s new offering has three USB-C ports to charge multiple devices simultaneously.

The new Nomad 130W Power Adapter is a solid, hefty wall adapter. Solidly built, there is no give when you press on the plastic shell.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The US 110V outlet prongs fold into the end of the power adapter. This not only makes the device a bit more compact, but it also helps protect the prongs when they are not inserted into an outlet. Both of these contribute to the Nomad 130W Power Adapter being great for travel.

More on that shortly.

As power adapters have become larger and more powerful and added additional charging ports, things have become more complicated.

When a company includes a 15W wall adapter with a phone, you can assume the wall adapter will put out 15W of power. Even Nomad’s 30W Power Adapter puts out 30W.

When you add additional charging ports, the situation becomes more complex.

For example, when both ports are in use, Nomad’s compact 65W power adapter outputs up to 45W from the top and 20W from the bottom ports. That, in turn, means you have to think about which ports you use to charge which device.

It’s not a “problem” or “difficult,” but it’s something to remember.

The Nomad 130W USB-C Power Adapter has three charging ports, so the power output from each port is even more involved. As Nomad explains,

• When only one port is in use, the power adapter will put out 100W.
• When the top port and either of the other two is in use, the top port will output 100W while the second port will output 30W. That’s ideal for charging a laptop and smartphone simultaneously.
• When the middle and bottom ports are in use but the top port is left open, each port will output 65W.
• And finally, when all three ports are in use, the top port will output 70W while the middle and bottom ports will output 30W.

All of that brings me back to this being a great travel adapter. Sure, there are smaller, lighter power adapters available from Nomad. Still, with three charging ports and varied, high-capacity power outputs, this single wall adapter is all you need to keep all your devices charged while on the road.

Nomad 130W Power Adapter Features:

• 130W Total Power Output
• Three USB-C PD ports
• Flip out prongs
• Nomad ProCharge Power Philosophy
• Built with GaN technology
• Each port offers 100W power when used on its own

With a top-high-speed port and either bottom port in use, the top high-speed port delivers 100W, and either of the bottom ports delivers 30W

With middle and bottom ports in use, each port delivers 65W

With all three ports in use, the top high-speed port delivers 70W, and middle and bottom ports provide 30W each

The new Nomad 130W Power Adapter is $110, but thanks to its multiple charging ports, high output, and advanced power management, it is the only power adapter you’ll need. That’s the case whether you are at home, in the office, or traveling the world.

The Nomad 130W Power Adapter sells for $110; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Solid; Fold-in prongs; GaN technology; Advanced power management; Three charging ports

What Needs Improvement: Nothing