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Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger (A2688)
Both USB-C ports deliver full 100W independently. Compact GaN build, foldable UK/US plug, and MacBook Air M3 performance verified by Macworld wattmeter testing. Gets warm under sustained load.
Read our full review →Anker Prime 100W
Both USB-C ports deliver full 100W single-port. Not just the first port.
3 ports (2x USB-C + 1x USB-A) for laptop, phone, and headset simultaneously.
Foldable plug fits UK and US sockets. No adapter needed for transatlantic travel.
Charges MacBook, iPhone, and AirPods at the same time from a single brick.
MacBook Air M3 to +50% in 30 minutes. Macworld wattmeter verified.
ActiveShield 2.0 monitors temperature continuously and adjusts output in real time.
Quick Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | A2688 |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A |
| Max output (single port) | 100W (either USB-C port) |
| Dual USB-C output | C1: 65W, C2: 35W |
| Three-port output | USB-C: 76W, USB-A: 22.5W |
| Charging standard | PowerIQ 4.0 / USB PD 3.0 |
| Safety system | ActiveShield 2.0 |
| Plug | Foldable (UK three-pin and US two-pin) |
| UK price | £49.99 (check listing) |
| US price | ~$39.99 (check listing) |
Source: anker.com/uk
The Anker Prime 100W charger (A2688) is a 3-port GaN wall charger that does something most rivals in this class do not: both USB-C ports deliver full single-port 100W, not just the designated first port. It sits in the mid-range of the 100W GaN market, below flagship multi-port chargers and above budget single-port options.
How we reviewed the Anker Prime 100W charger
For this Anker Prime 100W charger review, Alan assessed the specification sheet and USB PD port architecture in detail, cross-referenced against wattmeter data from Macworld and hands-on testing from TechRadar. Where performance figures are quoted, the source is named in the text.
First Impressions
The A2688 is cube-shaped with a matte finish and brushed metal accent strip along the front. Build quality is solid throughout and the foldable UK plug collapses flush against the body, which matters in a bag where a fixed prong snags on everything.
Three ports sit in a column facing forward: USB-C, USB-C, USB-A. Port spacing is generous enough to use all three simultaneously without adapters fouling each other.
Anker Prime 100W charger: design and build
GaN technology is what allows 100W output from a package this compact, and Anker’s implementation is tight. The A2688 is noticeably smaller than similarly-rated chargers from a generation ago. The foldable plug works on UK and US sockets natively, useful if you travel transatlantically or simply want one charger that works in both markets without an adapter.
PowerIQ 4.0 handles protocol negotiation automatically across USB PD 3.0, Qualcomm Quick Charge, and Apple Fast Charge. ActiveShield 2.0 monitors operating temperature in real time and adjusts output to stay within safe limits.
One design note worth flagging: the A2688 does not have a display showing live wattage or port status. Anker’s newer A2676 (100W Smart Display) adds this and is currently Amazon’s Choice at a similar price. If live wattage readout matters to you, the A2676 is worth comparing directly.
Anker Prime 100W charger: charging performance
From Darleene: why the speed of your charger matters more than you think
Darleene works day shifts. She’d come home, eat, have a shower, and her phone still wouldn’t have enough charge to call Alan. The headset was flat too, and the power bank was taking all night to top up on a slow charger, meaning she’d start the next shift with the phone half-charged and the bank running low by afternoon. Since switching to a fast 100W GaN charger, everything is done by the time the dinner plates are cleared. That is the practical difference a 100W brick makes.
The key differentiator of the A2688 is its port architecture. Most 100W GaN chargers route full single-port output through one designated port only and cap the second USB-C port at 60W or 65W when used alone. The A2688 routes 100W through either port independently, which means if you grab whichever cable is nearest, you always get full speed.
In Macworld’s wattmeter testing: iPhone 15 charged to +56% in 30 minutes, MacBook Air M3 reached +50% in 30 minutes, and iPad Pro 11-inch gained +36% in 30 minutes, all from a single USB-C port at rated output.
The multi-port split is standard for the class: dual USB-C drops to 65W + 35W, and adding the USB-A port gives 76W on USB-C plus 22.5W Quick Charge on USB-A. The total reduction under three-port load is workable rather than severe.
One consistent note from both Macworld and TechRadar: the A2688 runs noticeably warm during sustained fast charging. ActiveShield 2.0 keeps it within safe limits, but give it open airflow during extended use rather than tucking it behind furniture or into a drawer.
Portability and airline travel
At 170g with a foldable plug, the A2688 is light enough to carry daily without noticing it. The fold-flat design keeps it slim in a sleeve or jacket pocket.
For airline travel, wall chargers are treated differently from power banks: the watt-hour restrictions that apply to lithium batteries do not apply to mains chargers. You can carry the A2688 in hand luggage on any commercial flight without restriction. For European travel, you will need a socket adapter since the plug covers UK and US only.
| Model number | A2688 |
| Total output ports | 3 (2x USB-C, 1x USB-A) |
| Max output (single port) | 100W (either USB-C port) |
| USB-C1 (single port) | 100W |
| USB-C2 (single port) | 100W |
| Dual USB-C output | C1: 65W, C2: 35W |
| USB-C + USB-A output | USB-C: 76W, USB-A: 22.5W |
| Charging standard | PowerIQ 4.0 / USB PD 3.0 / QC |
| Safety system | ActiveShield 2.0 |
| Input voltage | 100-240V (universal) |
| Plug type | Foldable UK three-pin and US two-pin |
| Dimensions | 43.5 x 29 x 67.8 mm |
| Weight | 170g (6 oz) |
| UK retail price | Check listing for current price |
Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger (A2688)
Both USB-C ports deliver full 100W independently. Compact GaN build, foldable UK/US plug, and MacBook Air M3 performance verified by Macworld wattmeter testing. Gets warm under sustained load.
Read our full review →Why we rated the Anker Prime 100W charger 8.1/10
The 8.1 reflects strong charging performance and a practical travel proposition, tempered by two concessions: noticeable warmth under sustained load in enclosed spaces, and a newer sibling (the A2676) sitting at a similar price with an added display. For anyone carrying a laptop who wants one compact brick that works in both the UK and US, the A2688 earns its score.
Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger (A2688)
Both USB-C ports deliver full 100W independently. Compact GaN build, foldable UK/US plug, and MacBook Air M3 performance verified by Macworld wattmeter testing. Gets warm under sustained load.
Read our full review →The Anker Prime 100W scores 8.1 because both USB-C ports deliver full independent 100W, a rare architecture in this tier, and real-world MacBook performance holds up under independent wattmeter testing. It concedes on warmth during sustained use and faces strong competition from Anker’s own newer A2676 at a similar price. A confident pick for anyone who carries a laptop and wants one fast brick that works in both the UK and US.
BUY IF
- You carry a MacBook and want one charger that covers it and your phone at the same time.
- You travel between the UK and US and need a charger that works in both without an adapter.
- You want either USB-C port to run at full speed, not just the designated first port.
SKIP IF
- You already own a 100W Anker charger with a display. Upgrading gains you nothing here.
- You mostly charge phones and tablets and have no need for more than 65W.
- You need a charger for an enclosed space like a bedside drawer. This one runs warm.
Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger (A2688)
Both USB-C ports deliver full 100W independently. Compact GaN build, foldable UK/US plug, and MacBook Air M3 performance verified by Macworld wattmeter testing. Gets warm under sustained load.
Read our full review →Head-to-head comparison
How does the Anker Prime 100W compare?
Against its two closest alternatives
| Anker Prime 100W OUR PICK | VS |
UGREEN Nexode 100W |
VS |
Anker A2676 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max single-port outputPer port, under load | 100W both C ports | VS |
100W (C1 primary) | VS |
100W |
| Total portsSimultaneous devices | 3 total2x USB-C + 1x USB-A | VS |
4 total3x USB-C + 1x USB-A | VS |
3 total2x USB-C + 1x USB-A |
| GaN chipEfficiency tech | GaN5 Pro | VS |
GaN (3rd gen) | VS |
GaN5 |
| DisplayLive output readout | None | VS |
None | VS |
Smart display |
| Plug typeTravel flexibility | Foldable (UK + US) | VS |
Fixed UK plug | VS |
Foldable (UK + US) |
| WeightPacked in a bag | 176g | VS |
188g | VS |
148g lightest |
| Best forIdeal use case | Dual laptop outputs | VS |
Four devices | VS |
Smart monitoring |
Alternatives to the Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger
UGREEN Nexode 100W
Adds an extra port: 3x USB-C plus 1x USB-A gives four simultaneous connections versus the Anker’s three. Top output is 100W on the primary USB-C. Fixed UK plug only.
Anker 100W Smart Display (A2676)
Anker’s current Amazon’s Choice 100W charger. Adds a live smart display showing wattage per port in real time. Worth comparing on price before buying the A2688.
Can the Anker Prime 100W charge a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?
Yes. The A2688 delivers up to 100W from either USB-C port. In Macworld’s wattmeter testing, a MacBook Air M3 gained 50% battery in 30 minutes from a single USB-C connection.
What is the difference between the A2688 and the A2676?
The A2688 is Anker’s Prime-series 100W charger; the A2676 adds a live smart display showing wattage per port. The A2676 is currently Amazon’s Choice at a similar price. The A2688’s key differentiator is that both USB-C ports deliver full 100W independently. Verify whether the A2676 matches this before switching.
Does the Anker Prime 100W get hot during charging?
It runs warm, not hot. Both Macworld and TechRadar noted the A2688 gets noticeably warm under sustained fast charging. ActiveShield 2.0 keeps it within safe limits. Avoid enclosed spaces during extended use.
Can you use all three ports at the same time?
Yes. With all three ports active: USB-C at 76W, USB-A at 22.5W. Workable for charging a laptop, phone, and headset concurrently.
Is the Anker Prime 100W allowed in carry-on luggage on planes?
Yes, without restriction. Airline battery rules apply to lithium-ion power banks, not wall chargers. The A2688 has no internal battery and can be carried in hand luggage on any commercial flight.
All performance data in this Anker Prime 100W charger review is drawn from independent testing by Macworld and TechRadar, sources are cited throughout. Alan assessed the specification sheet and USB PD architecture documentation to verify the technical claims.
