3 Common Problems Homeowners Face with Ugreen Chargers

Ugreen may seem like just another generic brand trying to break into the mobile accessories market, but in just over a decade, it has established a solid presence. And what’s not to like about that? Its products are relatively affordable and many choose Ugreen as an alternative to Anker. There are even areas where Ugreen products might be better than OEMs like Apple. Yet it’s still an electronics company that mass-produces chargers and accessories, which means there are bound to be a few bad apples in a relatively strong group. Are there any complaints that seem to be a trend?

Unfortunately, yes. Although Ugreen products meet the necessary safety regulations, some users complain of port failures on chargers like the Nexode 300, with similar failures reported for other models. Even more worrying, some are reporting that chargers like the Ugreen Nexode X 100W GaN are reaching excessive temperatures. In some cases, the charger would start melting the ports of the devices it was charging, which is definitely not a good idea. Apart from that, owners are annoyed by some multiport chargers that stop supplying power for a few seconds when disconnecting or connecting another device. This is more of a first world problem, as it is actually completely normal and represents the charger’s attempt to balance power.

Note that this does not harm Ugreen’s overall reliability. Unhappy users are simply more likely to express their frustrations, and several people’s reviews claim that their chargers work perfectly. If you look closely enough, you can also find Anker-related complaints.

One of the most annoying things is port failure, especially if it’s your favorite (and it still is, in one way or another, your favorite). With Ugreen chargers, there are a series of reports on sites like Reddit where broken ports are a common problem. For example, in a thread about the Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger, one person says the USB-C port died after a month, and another port bit the dust a few months later. Another Redditor says one of the ports died in much the same way, pointing out that this happens repeatedly with this particular model.

It’s a similar thing with an unspecified 300W multiport charger described in another thread. It’s possible they’re talking about the Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN because they noted that USB port issues are common. The Nexode 100W may not be “safe” either, as two users complain about several ports kicking prematurely.

Dead ports seem to be the name of the game with multi-port chargers. Anker users are complaining of comparable malfunctions, with a single wire causing the Anker Prime 100W premium charger to explode. Ugreen itself suggests that this could be due to corrosion or debris inside the ports, or in the worst case, worn connectors. A tough break, right?

An electronic device transforming into a portable stove is scary, and it appears to be a pattern with Ugreen bricks. Remember what we said about bad apples? Apparently one unlucky Reddit user had it worst, as his Ugreen Nexode X 100W GaN charger reached temperatures as high as 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to boil a pot of pasta. In fact, they said it was too hot to touch and took almost ten minutes to cool down. Commenters said they had the same charger, but it never reached these exact temperatures. Still, if you look far enough, there are more complaints about the Ugreen 100W GaN units, one of which heated up so much that it essentially fused the cable connector to the port.

Elsewhere, there are complaints about unspecified Ugreen chargers. A Reddit user was concerned that their device gave off a burning smell. There is another, much more interesting case where a Ugreen charging brick melted the USB-C port of a Steam Deck – quite a sad story.

Generally speaking, chargers can get incredibly hot, regardless of brand. Fortunately, after looking through online sources, there are no documented recalls of Ugreen products. The same cannot be said of its competitors. Anker, for example, was forced to recall some external batteries due to a fire risk. A number of power banks (including Anker, Romoss and Baseus) have also been recalled from the Chinese market due to an unsafe battery cell. Ugreen claimed that none of its products fell into this category.

The final common complaint about Ugreen chargers may not be an inherent defect in the product, but it’s still worth mentioning because it’s a common concern. This is a random power outage that occurs when you plug or unplug a new device. Charging restarts after a few seconds. In another Reddit thread, a user was intrigued by this behavior, but a smart commenter clarified that this behavior was perfectly normal. This is simply the power renegotiation process that happens when you plug in a second cable, which is akin to a handshake between the device and the charger as it has to determine how much power it should provide.

According to the same commenter, this is a feature common to many multiport chargers that can provide different amounts of energy. This is another design quirk, which is equally annoying when a device is fully charged, so the port sits idle, then reconnects when a small amount of battery dies – something you probably won’t encounter with a charger with just one port.

Overall, don’t let this discourage you from trying the brand. If you look for defects in products online, you will definitely find them, regardless of the brand. Anker also gets a lot of bashing in Reddit discussions. However, if you experience any of the issues listed here, you’re stuck with a dud and there’s nothing to do but replace your phone’s charger and move on to something different.