Anker Nano 45W Review: This Tiny Smart Charger Actually Greets You “Hi”

Anker’s Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display) officially landed in Canada for $49.99 CAD last month, after its initial U.S. launch in late January. It’s on sale for $39.99 right now on Amazon.ca, a 20% discount.

At first glance, it looks like just another compact GaN brick, but it packs some surprisingly clever design choices and a bit of personality that makes other chargers feel outdated, thanks to its integrated smart display on the front.

Charm Meets Information

The first thing you’ll notice is the interactive side of things. When you plug it in, a tiny, pixel-art character greets you with a “hi” splash screen. It’s like having a little Tamagotchi living in your outlet.

But the real meat is the smart display. It actually identifies your device (specifically iPhones and iPads only) and shows you exactly what wattage it’s drawing. While I wasn’t sure how much the technical specs would matter to me, seeing the live power flow and temperature is oddly reassuring. It takes the guesswork out of whether your cable is faulty or if you’re actually fast charging.

Clever Folding Prongs

The most practical physical feature is the 180° foldable prongs. Most travel chargers only fold 90 degrees, but these rotate all the way around. This allows the brick to sit flat against the wall or squeeze into narrow spaces in a power strip. Anker says it’s 47% smaller than Anker’s original 30W charger, making it easy to toss into a pocket or a small tech pouch. I would have liked to have a second USB-C charging port though.

Battery Health Focus

Anker is leaning heavily into battery longevity here. The charger is TÜV-certified and features a specialized Care Mode that kicks in to keep things cool.

There’s a specialized Care Mode that keeps the device running roughly 5°C (9°F) cooler than standard chargers. While it prioritizes temperature control, it doesn’t sacrifice performance, as it can still juice up an iPhone 17 Pro to 50% in only 20 minutes. It also utilizes a smart 3-stage system that adjusts power delivery in real-time to safeguard battery health as it approaches a full charge.

The Verdict

If you just want the cheapest way to charge your phone, this isn’t it. However, if you appreciate hardware that gives you a bit more feedback, such as the friendly “hi” in the morning, this is fun to use. The 180° prongs alone make it worth it for the convenience, and the price point feels fair for the build quality and the smart peace of mind.

The Anker Nano 45W charger is on sale right now for $39.99 CAD on Amazon.ca.