Retro computing with a touch of modern and the home for all things, retroCombs (aka Steven Combs).
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BULLET REVIEW: New Trent Arcadia dual port AC charger
by Steven B. Combs, Ph.D.
New Trent once again provided me with an opportunity to review a new product; the Arcadia dual port AC charger. When I received an email that the product was available for review, I must admit, my decision to review the charger was a bit selfish. I could sure use a free wall wart for the brand new nVidia Shield K1 Tablet I received over the holidays.
nVidia does not include a charger as a cost savings measure. An extra charger to throw in my travel bag would be just the ticket. Let’s see if this charger punches that ticket. Here’s my bullet review:
Pros
The New Trent Arcadia dual port AC charger has the following strengths:
- Small compact square design
- Outlet prongs that fold in/out for easy storage and protection
- Solid construction
- Built like a tank and doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy
- Reasonable price at around $13.00
- Labeled ports so you know which USB port to use for which device
- Includes both a 2.4 amp and 1 amp port (this becomes a con below)
- Built-in short circuit and overcharge protection
- Charging stops when battery is full
- Works with about any device you can throw at it
- Excellent packaging
Cons
The New Trent Arcadia dual port AC charger has the following negatives:
- Can only charge two 1 amp devices (smartphones) at a time or a single tablet, but you cannot charge a tablet and a phone at the same time
- Two ports with two separate amperages makes the device bit confusing at times
- No case
Recommendation
The New Trent Arcadia dual port AC charger is a solid single port charger; however, with the increasing number of devices that require 2.4 amp charge ports, I wish I could charge two large devices at the same time. I own a Photive 60 watt 6 port USB charger that will charge 6 large devices (including a Macbook). It just would make more sense if the Arcadia could charge two large devices.
As is, the charger works well with my nVidia Tablet as long as it is the only device I need to charge at a time. Not entirely sure I can recommend this one. If you have a need to charge two smaller devices, then this might fit the bill at $13.00, but the one large device limitation puts it on my “I’m not sure I would buy one” list.
Gallery
Below are images of the New Trent Arcadia dual port AC charger. Comments are below each image.
