Best Desktop USB Charger

Charge all your devices at once

The Idapt Universal Charger i4 (*Est. $60) is the largest of a family of chargers with docking capacities for multiple devices. Its sleek design and capacity for charging multiple devices at once make it an ideal tool for clearing off cluttered desktops. Its name hints that it can charge any USB device. The name is a misnomer because, although it can charge a host of devices, it's not universal. For any device to charge on the i4, it must have a corresponding tip.

Still, the solidly built i4 is among our best reviewed USB chargers for a reason. It charges four devices at once, three on the base unit and another via a USB port. That's where it gets it i4 name. AC powered, the i4 stores no power, so can charge devices indefinitely. Consumers can choose from a surprisingly wide range of colors and themes for their chargers. The Idapt i4 ships with a package of six adapter tips, one of which is likely to fit most devices. Additional tips are available for purchase either singly or in bundled packages. At an estimated $10 each, the tips aren't cheap. 

The only consistent complaint from experts is that multiple devices slow the charger's performance, but not enough to be a significant problem. Beyond that, the i4 works "flawlessly," as one says. PCMag.com reviewer Eugene Kim is pleased with the i4's performance and says, "The whole package works exactly as advertised."

The i4's closest competitor for the title of best reviewed among desktop chargers is the Callpod Chargepod (*Est. 60) . While the Idapt i4 looks like a dock, the Callpod is a hub that is capable of charging eight plugged-in devices at once. However, it too requires specific adapter tips for certain devices. Like the i4, it must be connected to a power outlet.