UGREEN Nexode 100W Power Bank Review: 20,000mAh Laptop Charger
The UGREEN 100W bank promises what most 20,000mAh banks can’t deliver: enough output to charge a laptop at close to full speed, not just keep it ticking over.
Scored against independent measured testing by Trusted Reviews and MacRumors
Reviewed 27 June 2026 · Updated 7 July 2026
SmartGadgetKit is reader-supported. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we would carry ourselves.
A genuine 100W, airline-friendly 20,000mAh bank that charges a laptop at near full speed, as long as you accept the weight and feed one device at a time.
Pros
- True 100W single-port output, independently measured at 98W into a laptop
- 72Wh rating keeps it airline carry-on legal
- Ships with a premium 240W USB-C cable and a travel pouch
- Strong measured efficiency of 81.4% in independent testing
Cons
- At 420g it is a laptop-bag brick, not pocketable
- No built-in cable
- Main port eases to around 60W as soon as a second device is connected
Key takeaways
Six numbers that decide whether this is your bank.
Quick specs
The paper numbers for the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 100W.
| Capacity | 20,000mAh (72Wh) |
| Max output | 100W (USB-C1) |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A |
| Weight | 420g |
| Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 26.5mm |
| Airline status | Carry-on approved (under 100Wh) |
Specs confirmed against the UGREEN UK and Amazon UK listings for SKU 25188. Performance figures come from independent testing by Trusted Reviews and MacRumors. See how we test and score.
First impressions
Out of the box, the Nexode 100W reads as a serious laptop bank, not a pocket topper. It’s a dense, square-edged block at 420g, closer to a small hardback than a phone charger.
The matte shell picks up scuffs more readily than the brushed finishes on some rivals, something Trusted Reviews also flagged.
A simple LED readout on the front shows a rough charge level, four dots rather than the precise percentage screen UGREEN reserves for its pricier Nexode models.
What lifts the first impression is the kit in the box. UGREEN bundles a braided 240W USB-C cable rated well beyond anything this bank will draw, plus a soft travel pouch and a manual.
There’s no cable built into the body, so that included lead is the one you’ll carry.
Design and build
The Nexode 100W measures 139 x 80 x 26.5mm and weighs 420g, putting it mid-pack for the 20,000mAh laptop class.
Inside are 21700 lithium-ion cells, the larger high-density format you want for sustained high-wattage output.
The port layout is two USB-C and one USB-A along the top edge: USB-C1 is the 100W input and output port, USB-C2 tops out at 30W, and the USB-A handles up to 22.5W.
UGREEN specifies UL94 V-0 flame-retardant housing and a full protection suite covering over-voltage, over-current, over-charge, over-discharge, high temperature and short circuits.
The four-dot LED is basic but legible. There’s no kickstand and no smart display, both reserved for the higher-output Nexode variants.
Two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and the simple four-dot LED level display.
Darleene asks
“Everyone keeps saying 100W like it is the whole point. My phone charges fine off any bank. Why would I pay for 100 watts?”
Alan’s answer: Because phones were never the problem. Almost any power bank charges a phone.
The wattage only matters when you want to charge a laptop, and a laptop needs far more than a phone does.
At 100W this one charges a laptop at close to full speed, the same as its wall charger, instead of slowly losing the race while you work.
If you only ever charge a phone, you do not need 100W, and you would be paying for headroom you will not use.
Charging performance
The headline holds up. Independent testing by Trusted Reviews measured over 98W from the main USB-C port while charging a Samsung Galaxy Book 3 set to a 100W ceiling, about as close to the rated figure as you’ll realistically see once cable and conversion losses are counted.
That’s genuine laptop-grade output, not the 30W to 45W trickle that many 20,000mAh banks quietly cap at.
MacRumors ran the everyday laptop and phone tests. An M3 MacBook Air 13-inch went from 10% to 50% in around 25 minutes and from 10% to full in about an hour, leaving roughly 10% in the bank afterwards.
An iPhone 15 Pro reached about 60% in 30 minutes and full in under an hour, and the remaining capacity could refill that iPhone from near empty more than twice.
So the practical picture is one full laptop charge with a little headroom, or two-plus phone refills.
Efficiency is a strong point. Trusted Reviews logged 76.01Wh going in and 61.93Wh coming out, a measured 81.4% round-trip, which is good for a bank pushing this much power.
UGREEN doesn’t publish a surface temperature and no independent outlet recorded one, so we’re not quoting heat figures we can’t stand behind.
Multi-device behaviour is the main caveat. The moment a second device is connected, the main port eases from 100W to around 60W, with the secondary USB-C and USB-A then sharing roughly 20W between them.
In Trusted Reviews’ all-three-port test, the USB-A delivered about 7W and the second USB-C just over 14W.
It’s a one-fast-device bank that can keep a phone and earbuds topped up on the side, not a true three-laptop hub.
Darleene’s version: Charge one thing fast, or a few things slowly. Plug the laptop in on its own and it flies; add a phone and earbuds and the power just shares out.
Pass-through charging
The Nexode 100W supports pass-through, meaning it can charge a connected device while the bank itself is being recharged from the wall.
MacRumors confirmed this in use, which makes it handy as an overnight desk hub: leave it plugged in, charge your phone or laptop off it, and the bank tops itself back up in the background.
Because the input is capped at 65W, expect the bank’s own refill to slow while it’s also feeding a device, so for the fastest top-up, recharge it on its own.
Portability and travel use
At 420g and 26.5mm thick, this is a laptop-bag or jacket-pocket power bank, not a jeans-pocket one.
That weight is the trade-off for genuine 100W output and a 20,000mAh cell, and it’s in line with rivals in the class rather than unusually heavy.
The included pouch keeps the scuff-prone shell and the 240W cable together in a bag, which is more useful than it sounds on a travel day.
For air travel, the 72Wh rating is the number that matters, and it sits well inside the limits.
Airline carry-on
At 72Wh, the Nexode 100W is under the 100Wh threshold airlines apply to lithium batteries, so it travels in carry-on hand luggage on the major carriers.
It must go in the cabin, never checked baggage. Always confirm with your airline before you fly.
Full rules are in our can you take a power bank on a plane? guide. Check any capacity in seconds with our mAh to Wh calculator.
Full specifications and safety
| Capacity | 20,000mAh (72Wh), 21700 lithium-ion cells |
| USB-C1 output | Up to 100W (PD 3.0, PPS, QC 3.0) |
| USB-C2 output | Up to 30W |
| USB-A output | Up to 22.5W |
| Multi-device output | Main port eases to around 60W; secondary USB-C and USB-A share roughly 20W |
| Input | Up to 65W (USB-C1) |
| Recharge time | 50% in about 50 minutes, full in roughly 99 minutes (Trusted Reviews) |
| Measured output | 98W peak, 81.4% efficiency (Trusted Reviews) |
| Display | Simple four-dot LED level indicator |
| Dimensions | 139 x 80 x 26.5mm |
| Weight | 420g |
| Protection | UL94 V-0 housing; over-voltage, over-current, over-charge, over-discharge, high-temperature and short-circuit protection |
| In the box | Power bank, 240W USB-C to USB-C cable, travel pouch, user manual |
Sources: UGREEN UK and Amazon UK listings (SKU 25188); independent testing by Trusted Reviews and MacRumors.
UGREEN specifies UL94 V-0 flame-retardant materials and high-quality 21700 cells, with a protection suite spanning over-voltage, over-current, over-charge, over-discharge, high-temperature and short-circuit protection.
Confirm the exact certification marks on the unit and packaging when yours arrives.
Why we scored it 7.4 out of 10
Built from four sub-scores on our current rubric.
Charging speed is where this bank earns its place. A measured 98W into a laptop and a verified 81.4% efficiency put it at the top end of the 20,000mAh class, so it scores 9.5 there.
Value sits at 8.0: a true 100W 20K spec that arrives with a premium 240W cable and a pouch is a lot of kit, though we’ll revisit that score against the real price tier once pricing goes live.
The two scores that pull the average down are practical, not performance. Cable Design takes a 6.0 because there’s no integrated cable, even though the bundled 240W lead is excellent.
Carry Rating is the real drag at 5.5: 420g and 26.5mm make this a bag bank, with a scuff-prone finish and no kickstand.
None of that undoes the charging, but it’s why the bank lands at a solid 7.4 rather than higher.
The verdict
The UGREEN Nexode 100W does the hard thing well. It charges a laptop at close to full speed from a 20,000mAh cell that still clears airline carry-on rules, and it backs that up with measured efficiency most rivals can’t match.
You pay for it in bulk and in the lack of a built-in cable, and you give up real speed if you try to charge several devices at once.
For one person who wants a single bank to keep a laptop and a phone going through a travel day, it’s an easy recommendation.
Should you buy the UGREEN Nexode 100W?
The honest split.
Buy it if
- You need real 100W charging for a laptop on the move
- You fly often and want a carry-on legal 20K bank
- You value a bundled high-wattage cable and pouch
Skip it if
- You want something light enough for a pocket
- You routinely fast-charge two or more devices at once
- You prefer a bank with a cable built in
How the Nexode 100W compares
| UGREEN Nexode 100W Our pick | Anker Prime 300W | INIU 65W 20K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max output | 100W | 300W | 65W |
| Capacity | 20,000mAh | 26,250mAh | 20,000mAh |
| Airline status | Under 100Wh, carry-on | Under 100Wh, carry-on | Under 100Wh, carry-on |
| Best for | One laptop at near full speed | Power users who want maximum output | Value buyers on a 65W budget |
Alternatives worth a look
Where the Nexode 100W is the wrong fit, one of these is usually right.
Anker Prime 26,250mAh 300W
Steps up to 300W total and a bigger 26,250mAh cell with a full smart display, so it can charge two laptops at once where the Nexode eases off. It’s our top premium pick in the best power banks roundup.
Baseus Blade2 12,000mAh 65W
A flat, slim 65W bank that slips into a bag far more easily than the Nexode brick. You trade capacity and top-end wattage for portability, and dispatch can be slow, so check delivery before you buy.
INIU 65W 20,000mAh
Same 20,000mAh class for less, with a 65W ceiling that still covers most ultrabooks and every phone. The sensible choice if you want laptop-capable charging without paying for the full 100W.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what buyers search for.
Is the UGREEN Nexode 100W power bank any good?
Can it charge a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air?
Why is USB-C1 sometimes less than 100W?
Is it allowed on a plane?
How many times can it recharge a phone?
Does it have a built-in cable?
How long does the power bank itself take to recharge?
Does it support pass-through charging?
Does it work with Samsung Galaxy fast charging?
How does it compare to the UGREEN Nexode 130W 20,000mAh?
Final word
The UGREEN Nexode 100W is a focused bank that knows what it’s for. It won’t win on size or pocketability, but it delivers the genuine laptop-grade charging and airline-friendly capacity that most 20,000mAh banks only hint at, and the measured test data backs that up.
If you want one bank to carry a laptop and a phone through long days and longer journeys, it belongs on your shortlist. See how we test, or see where it ranks against the rest in our best 20000mAh power banks roundup.
Keep reading
Three guides that pick up where this review ends.
Best Power Banks 2026: Tested and Compared
The full shortlist across every capacity and use case.
Best Laptop Power Banks 2026: 100W and Up
Where the Nexode 100W ranks against the rest.
Can You Take a Power Bank on a Plane?
Every carrier’s Wh rules in one place.
