Anker 521 Charger (Nano Pro) Review

What the Anker 521 (Nano Pro) actually is

This is a compact two-port USB-C wall charger rated at 40W total. It uses GaN (gallium nitride) internals, which is the reason Anker can shrink the body down to something roughly the size of a folded-up extension cord head. It's small enough to live in a jacket pocket or a packing cube without you noticing it's there.

The pitch is simple. Two USB-C ports means you charge a phone and a second device, earbuds, a watch puck, a second phone, without hunting for a free outlet. It sits squarely in the deals-under-50 bracket, usually in the $20 to $30 range on Amazon, which is the price most owners consider a no-brainer for a daily charger or a travel spare.

How it performs day to day

Here's the part that matters most. The 40W is shared, not 40W per port. Plug in one device and you get a solid 30W or so from a single port, enough to fast-charge an iPhone or most Android phones and run a laptop like a MacBook Air at a usable trickle. Plug in two devices and the power splits, typically landing around 20W and 20W. That's plenty for a phone plus earbuds. It is not enough to fast-charge two big phones at full speed simultaneously.

For the everyday job, phone overnight, phone plus AirPods on a nightstand, topping off a Kindle and a watch before a flight, it does exactly what you want and stays cool doing it. The folding prongs are the unsung feature. They tuck flat so the charger doesn't snag or gouge other gear in a bag.

Pros and cons

The good: genuinely tiny, two USB-C ports, fast single-device charging, reliable Anker build quality, and a price that rarely stings. It's also light, which sounds trivial until you've carried a brick of a charger through three airports.

The catches: no USB-A port, so older cables and some accessories are out unless you switch to USB-C. No cable is included, which trips up first-time buyers. And the shared 40W means two power-hungry devices at once will charge slower than each would alone. If you expected dual full-speed laptop charging, this isn't that charger.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you want one small, dependable charger for a phone and a second small device, or a travel charger that disappears in your bag. It's an easy recommendation as a second charger to keep in a desk drawer or a carry-on. For most people charging a phone and earbuds, this is the right amount of charger and no more.

Skip it if you regularly need to fast-charge two phones at once, or if you want to power a laptop properly while also charging a phone. Step up to a 65W or higher GaN charger for that, often the Anker 735 (Nano II 65W), which adds a third port and a lot more headroom for not much more money. Also skip it if you still rely on USB-A cables and don't want to re-buy.

The verdict

The Anker 521 (Nano Pro) is a smart, cheap, well-made little charger that nails the most common charging scenario and stays out of your way. The shared wattage and missing USB-A port are real limits, but they're the right tradeoffs at this size and price. For around $20 to $30, it's one of the easiest small upgrades you can make to your everyday carry.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Anker 521 charge a laptop?

It can run a light laptop like a MacBook Air at around 30W from a single port, which keeps it topped up during normal use. It won't fast-charge a power-hungry laptop, and that speed drops further if you plug in a second device. For real laptop charging, go with a 65W model instead.

Does it come with a cable?

No. The Anker 521 is just the wall charger, so you'll need your own USB-C cable. Plan on a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to Lightning cable depending on your devices.

Is 40W shared between both ports?

Yes. The 40W is the total output. One device can pull up to about 30W on its own, but with two devices plugged in the power splits to roughly 20W each, which is fine for a phone plus earbuds but not for two fast-charging phones at once.