With 370 watts of power: powerful charging station for four devices starts quickly at half the price

Just a few years ago, charging various devices was quite tedious. Laptops usually use their own power supplies; charging smartphones was not yet possible with very high charging power. This has now changed massively: Many notebooks support charging via USB Type C, and current phones also support three-digit charging capacities. Power supplies that can provide high charging power no longer require active cooling and can be manufactured compactly.

The manufacturer Ricomm is offering a new charging station that can supply several devices with high charging power at the same time – and still remains quite compact. The system measures 153 x 88 x 48 millimeters and is easy to transport at 1.65 kilograms and supports a total output power of 370 watts. The manufacturer uses GaN technology, which enables the realization of lighter chargers.

The charging power of 370 watts is to be understood as an indication of the maximum, cumulative power – this cannot therefore be output via a single connection. The first three USB Type C ports support a charging power of 140 watts each, while the fourth and slightly separate output can output 65 watts. If all four ports are used, 140 watts are output via the first port and 100 watts via the second port, and the other two ports then output up to 65 watts.

The charger could be a sensible investment for users of many devices at the same time, but in practice it is likely to have a relevant limitation. So it’s just a charger and not a docking solution; for example, displays or other peripheral devices cannot be connected, which may be desirable when used with a laptop.

As part of the crowdfunding campaign, the current price is around 164 euros and delivery is scheduled for December. The scope of delivery also includes a charging cable with a display that can show the power currently being transferred. The usual financial risks for crowdfunding campaigns apply.

I have been active as a journalist for over ten years, most of them in the technology sector. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have also worked for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – compact systems with many possibilities. He also has a passion for all types of wearables and especially smartwatches. My main job is as a laboratory engineer, which is why I am not far removed from scientific connections or the interpretation of complex measurements.