Review · PD 3.1 desk unit · 240W class
SmallRig 240W 4-Port: budget, not a single-port number.
A four-port PD 3.1 desk charger rated 240W in total. The number is genuine and widely misread: no laptop on sale draws 240W from one port. You are buying a budget large enough that no port has to lose.
The specification, as published
| Attribute | What the spec commits to |
|---|---|
| Rated output | 240W total, shared across all ports |
| Port count | 4 — commonly three USB-C plus one USB-A |
| Protocol | USB-C PD 3.1 / EPR, with a 140W-class top port over the 28V rail |
| Form factor | Desktop brick with a detachable AC cord — this does not plug directly into a wall socket |
| Cable requirement | A 240W EPR-rated 5A e-marked cable for anything above 100W |
| Notable feature | Enough headroom to run a large laptop at full speed with three other devices attached |
Verify the per-port maximums on the listing you buy: "240W" is a total, and what varies between four-port units is how much any single port takes. 140W on the top port is the figure that matters for a large laptop. SmallRig comes from the camera and video world, which is why its power products are shaped for a cart rather than a pocket (SmallRig brand page).
What it is genuinely good at
Removing the split problem entirely. Below this tier, a second device always costs the first its contract. With 240W, a 140W laptop plus a 65W second laptop plus two phones still fits. That is the whole product.
Charging camera and video gear over USB-C. Camera batteries, monitors, LED panels and gimbals increasingly charge over USB-C PD, and a video kit is where four simultaneous high-draw devices is normal rather than theoretical.
Where it falls short, and who should skip it
Nothing you own draws 240W from one port. 240W is 48V × 5A under PD 3.1, and consumer devices requesting the 48V rail are essentially nonexistent — the highest common ask is a 16″ MacBook Pro at 140W over 28V. Read 240W as total budget; a listing implying a single 240W device port is marketing.
It is a desk object with a cord. No folding prongs, two pieces to pack. For travel the right category is a 65W travel unit.
Massive overbuy for most households. If your largest device is a 14″ MacBook Pro or an ultrabook, a 100W four-port does the job for far less money and volume.
Device fit: what it actually serves at full speed
| Scenario | Works? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16″ alone | Yes | 140W-class port over the 28V rail, with a 240W cable |
| MacBook Pro 16″ + phone + tablet + earbuds | Yes | The case that breaks a 140W unit |
| Camera batteries, monitors, gimbals over USB-C PD | Yes | Four-way simultaneous draw is what the budget buys |
| A single 240W device | Not applicable | No mainstream consumer device requests the 48V rail |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra at 45W | With a published PPS range | PD 3.1 support does not imply PPS — check the listing |
This unit, and the honest alternatives
- 240W
SmallRig 240W 4-Port PD
The unit under review: 240W of shared PD 3.1 budget across four ports, 140W-class top port.
- Output
- 240W total
- Ports
- 3× C, 1× A
- Standard
- PD 3.1 / EPR
- Body
- Corded desktop
- Alt
HyperJuice 245W GaN desktop
The closest rival: four ports, a 140W PD 3.1 port, same desk-brick philosophy.
- Output
- 245W total
- Ports
- 4
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Best for
- Desk consolidation
- 140W
UGREEN Nexode 140W
The sane downgrade: a real 28V rail at half the budget, in a smaller, cheaper brick.
- Output
- 140W total
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Ports
- 2-3
- Best for
- One big laptop
Related reading
Up: all adapter reviews. Class: 240W power adapters. Brand: SmallRig chargers. Siblings: HyperJuice 245W, Anker Prime 140W, UGREEN Nexode 140W. Background: 240W USB-C and EPR.
FAQ
Is there any device that actually uses 240W over USB-C?
Not in mainstream consumer hardware. 240W is 48V at 5A under PD 3.1, and the highest common request is 140W over 28V from a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Do I need a 240W cable for every port?
Only for the port feeding a device above 100W. Phones, tablets and 65W laptops are fine on ordinary cables, though 100W on one port still needs a 5A e-marked cable.
Why would a camera accessory brand make a charger?
Because video kits are one of the few consumer scenarios with several high-draw USB-C devices at once: camera bodies, monitors, LED panels and gimbals all charge over Power Delivery now.