Anker Nano Travel Adapter Review

The Anker Nano Travel Adapter is a universal charging companion designed for travelers who want to stay powered up without packing bulky gear. It is not a voltage converter, so you can’t use it for high-powered appliances like hair dryers or kettles, but it works seamlessly in more than 200 countries and regions. That broad coverage means you can land almost anywhere in the world and still have a way to plug in your devices.

What makes the Nano especially appealing is its slim, compact body. While many universal adapters are bulky cubes that dominate valuable space inside a bag, the Nano includes multiple built-in ports and remains far more portable. Over several weeks of testing, it proved reliable and thoughtfully designed, with a few quirks worth considering, depending on your travel setup.

The Rundown

The Nano is built around a simple premise: one device that can adapt to nearly any outlet. Sliding switches on the back let you extend prongs for the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Deploying them requires pressing down, sliding to the side, and listening for a reassuring click. Without that click, the prongs do not lock fully and can slide back inside when you try to insert the adapter into the wall. At first, this can feel fiddly, but with a little practice, locking the prongs into place becomes second nature (especially if you’re a frequent charger like us). Once secured, the connection is firm and does not wobble.

The slim body of the Nano has an unexpected advantage: it sits closer to the wall than bulkier adapters, making it less likely to come loose. Many larger universal adapters protrude several inches from the socket and can sag or disconnect under the weight of cables. By contrast, the Nano’s low-profile design feels comparatively stable. The trade-off is clearance. If an outlet is positioned close to a table, cabinet, or other fixed surface, there may not be enough room to fully extend the prongs. One time, this made it impossible to use the UK plug in a recessed outlet, although switching to the universal plug on the bottom solved the issue. That workaround only applies if you do not need a specific regional plug, so it is something to remember when planning which devices you will charge.

The adapter also offers multiple built-in ports, eliminating the need for a separate USB charger. There is a two-prong AC outlet on the front, while the bottom houses two USB-A ports, and the side features two USB-C ports. In total, you can connect up to five devices at once. For travelers juggling a smartphone, wireless earbuds, a tablet, and a power bank, this setup makes it possible to charge everything overnight from a single wall outlet. The design simplifies packing and reduces the number of chargers you need.

As impressive as this adapter’s simultaneous charging prowess may be, the power output is modest. The main USB-C port delivers up to 20 watts, enough to quickly charge most smartphones and tablets, though it falls short for laptops. The second USB-C port provides 15 watts, and each USB-A port tops out at 12 watts. When you use multiple ports simultaneously, the total power is distributed among them, reducing the maximum available per device. Plugging in two devices to the USB-C ports, for example, drops the output from 20 to 15 watts total. The AC outlet is also limited to two-prong, ungrounded plugs, so devices that require grounding will either not work or be at risk. These limitations are rarely an issue for a traveler carrying only small electronics, but anyone relying on a laptop for work will still need to bring a dedicated wall charger.

During testing, the Nano performed consistently with smaller setups. Charging a smartphone, earbuds, and two power banks simultaneously overnight posed no issues, with everything topped up by morning. Attempting to charge a 13-inch MacBook Pro while it idled, however, exposed the limitations. The laptop maintained its battery level but did not increase charge, making it clear that the adapter is not designed to power high-draw devices. That just cemented our feelings that the Nano covers nearly all bases for lightweight travelers who primarily carry a phone and accessories but cannot replace every charger in a more demanding kit.

Another useful detail is the illuminated ring on the front. When plugged in, the ring’s blue glow instantly confirms that the adapter is functioning. This small feature eliminates guesswork when troubleshooting a dead device since you can quickly see whether the adapter itself is receiving power. The brightness of the glow is a double-edged sword, though. On one hand, it is reassuring to glance over and confirm the charging status. On the other hand, the light is bright enough to be distracting in a dark hotel room. Travelers sensitive to light at night may want to cover it with a piece of tape.

Durability is another strong point. After more than two weeks of daily use across multiple countries, the adapter showed no visible wear. The finish resisted scratches, the sliding mechanisms remained smooth, and the prongs stayed sturdy. Combined with its lightweight build, the adapter feels well-engineered for frequent travel.

Packability

Packability is where the Nano truly shines. Its body is smaller than many of the travel adapters we’ve tested, and it slips easily into the mesh pocket of a tech kit or even the side sleeve of a sling bag. It’s more comparable to a small 5,000 mAh power bank, while other adapters remind us of those huge adapter-plug monstrosities household appliances came with back in the ’90s.

For travelers used to wrestling with bulky cube-shaped adapters, the Nano feels like a breath of fresh air. It is one of the slimmest universal adapters with built-in ports available, striking a rare balance between functionality and portability.

Quick Comparison

Compared with larger models like the EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter (TA-105), the Nano immediately feels more manageable. The EPICKA offers more ports overall, including four USB-A ports, one USB-C, and a grounded AC outlet, which makes it more versatile on paper. However, it is also significantly bulkier. Fitting it into a small tech kit can be challenging, and carrying it in a sling for day trips is impractical. The Nano, by contrast, is compact enough to slip into smaller bags without thought, which makes it more convenient for minimalist travelers.

At the other end of the spectrum are flat, ultra-slim adapters that focus purely on portability. These are a dime a dozen on Amazon, and they often lack built-in ports, requiring you to bring your own USB wall chargers. While they save space in one way, they add it back in another since you still need multiple chargers to handle different devices. The Nano avoids this trade-off by including multiple USB ports in a compact package.

For those prioritizing higher power output, models like the EPICKA PULSE 45W Travel Universal Adapter can deliver up to 45 watts over USB-C, enough to handle laptops and other demanding electronics. The trade-off is increased size and weight, which pushes them closer to traditional bulky adapters. Travelers who must charge a laptop may find the upgrade worthwhile, but for those who primarily use phones, tablets, and small accessories, the Nano offers a better balance of portability and capability.