For most creative professionals having a desk full of gadgets that need charging is pretty normal. But if you’re tired of juggling power outlets and fed up with wires everywhere and want a neat solution to all your charging needs then look no further than the Acefast Z4 218W Desktop Power Station.
This space-saving desktop charger has a powerful 218-watt output and offers fast charging for up to four devices simultaneously all while dominating just one power socket. Equipped with USB-C and USB-A ports, the Acefast Z4 is compatible with a range of devices from smartphones to laptops, making it a go-to for fast, reliable charging, even for your MacBook Pro.
Priced at $84.99/£76.99/$151.72AUD this isn’t the cheapest desktop power station on the market. However, with a unique transparent design and features including the ability to switch between different outputs to manage fast charging of each device connected, it does have the potential to live up to its premium price tag. Read on to learn how well it performed and whether the Acefast Z4 deserves a spot on your desk.
Acefast Z4 Desktop Power Station: Key Specs
Design and Build
Acefast have managed to take a standard, boring piece of kit and turn it into something aesthetically pleasing that you’ll be happy to have on your desk.
The Acefast Z4 features a transparent front cover so you can see the circuits and wiring inside the hub. This is where you’ll find the ports too, there are three USB-C ports and one USB-A port.
Also to the front is a 1.33-inch LCD screen which shows you the charging status of all ports. C1 through to C3 corresponds to the three USB-C ports and A1 refers to the single USB-A port. This screen also shows the watts and voltage that each port is delivering and it’s maximum capacity. Next to the screen is a button which allows you to cycle through the power modes which changes the maximum output per each port.
The Z4 feels pretty solid but still manages to retain a compact stature. It measures just 102 x 94 x 45mm and weighs 655g so it won’t take up too much desk space. To the base of the hub, there are cross-bar rubber feet so it won’t move around when it’s on your desk. The power cable fits neatly at the back and the power cable is a very generous 5 feet long.
This does look like a futuristic piece kit (and if you’re a 90s kid you’ll share my love for transparent tech). But one downside for me is that because the ports are to the front of the hub, you won’t get that neat, sleek design when you have all four devices plugged in. I think that the ports would probably be better to the rear of the hub but then of course you wouldn’t get the transparent panel.
Features
The main feature of the Acefast Z4 is that it can charge up to four devices at once. But it’s not just the multi-charging that’s the main feature, because with this desktop charging station, you don’t have to stick with fixed wattage for each port. Instead, you can toggle through four pre-set configurations to divide the power up differently.
This helps you prioritise power to certain devices. So for example, if you have two high-powered devices that you want to fast charge, you can select mode C which will charge both at 100W. But if you have a couple of devices like a laptop, tablet and camera but you want to prioritise your laptop for fast charging, you can select mode A which will divert more power to the laptop and share the rest of the power with the other two devices.
The LCD screen lets you know how much power is going to each device and if you need to change it, you can do that by pressing the button to the right of the screen and you’ll see your selection displayed.
I tested the Acefast in a couple of different ways, I used it to charge my MacBook Pro with an M1 chip, which only supports a maximum charging rate of 61W anyway, I charged multiple other devices including AirPods, camera and iPhone so Mode A allowed me to do all this with ease.
I also used it to charge two laptops, my MacBook and a Windows laptop (with the maximum charge rate of 65W) alongside my phone and found that mode B and mode C worked perfectly for this. It really didn’t matter what and how much you wanted to charge, this does a really good job of charging up to four devices whatever they are.
The Z4 does have some safety features as it’s equipped with over-voltage, over-current, and short-circuit protection so even if you're charging your items for a long time, you’ll be protected.
Performance
The Acefast Z4 performs exceptionally well. It’s reliable which is something that you can’t compromise on, especially if you need to keep your devices fully charged for work.
The charger also intelligently adjusts power to prevent overloading any connected device. I didn’t notice any excess heat while charging, although, when I had four devices plugged in it did get a little warm but not so hot that I would be concerned about leaving it plugged in.
I played around with all the modes and all the settings charging up multiple devices and was able to achieve a good balance of fast charging regardless of what I had connected. This made a huge difference when charging my devices, especially before heading out for the day as I didn’t have to remember to plug my laptop in the night before to achieve a full charge.
One thing that really impressed me was the convenience of this power station. Sure you can juggle plug sockets or have multiple devices charging in different rooms but being able to charge everything, quickly, in one dedicated space just makes so much sense and I actually don’t know how I’ve managed without it.
I tested this out in my home office but I also think for anyone who travels a lot, this could be a total game changer. We all know how hotels lack power outlets so if you travel with a lot of devices then you won’t have to juggle them around, you can charge them all at the same time from the same plug socket.
Yes, it’s expensive, and you can buy cheaper versions but with this charger, you get features like being able to adjust the maximum power outlet, you have the option to charge up to four devices and let's not forget about that funky transparent panel at the front.
Acefast Z4 Desktop Power Station power modes
Price
The Acefast Z4 Desktop Power Station is available from Amazon for $84.99 in the US and £76.99 in the UK. So while this isn’t the cheapest charging hub you can buy, it does have premium features that justify the cost. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Amazon as prices do vary and there are often discounts and voucher codes especially when it comes to major sales events like Amazon Prime Day so you won’t have to pay full RRP.
Who is it for?
If you find yourself charging multiple devices daily then buying the Acefast Z4 Desktop Power Station will make your life a whole lot easier.
This is the ideal solution for anyone who needs fast, reliable and high-powered charging for multiple devices. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, professional or a family that needs to juggle various gadgets such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras or headphones.
The 218W output makes this perfectly able to handle power-hungry devices such as gaming laptops, making it a good choice for anyone who wants a cleaner, clutter-free workspace that will make you want to ditch your separate adaptors for good.
While I do think this would be a really good choice for travelling, it has been designed to be for desktop use due to its weight, so just keep that in mind if you’re looking for something to take on regular trips with you.
Should I buy it?
Buy if…
• You want a simple, all-in-one charging solution
• You don’t have many power outlets
• You want safety features like overheating or short-circuit protection
Don’t buy if…
• You only charge low-power devices
• You are happy with multiple adaptors
• Portability is your main priority
