Gone are the days of packing multiple chargers with different connectors when traveling. Now, universal travel adapters are the way to go: one adapter that works in over 220 countries and compatibility with both USB-A and USB-C devices. 

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The good news is that there are many universal travel adapters on the market. The bad news is that many of those that I’ve looked at are of poor quality and can even be dangerous. I’ve had universal travel adapters overheat and break, potentially exposing live wiring in the process. 

For the past few months, I’ve been using the Tessan 65W Universal Travel Adapter, and I have to say that I’m very impressed with how it performs. 

Measuring just 2.8 x 2.1 x 2.1 inches and weighing 8.1 ounces, this is a compact charger, thanks in part to the use of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors which not only allow chargers to be smaller in size, but also run cooler and more efficiently, so you can pack more power into a smaller space. 

The prongs pack away into the adapter easily, and there are three sliding levers for deploying and storing them.

I’ve tested the travel adapter with both 240V and 110V input voltages, and the output from all the USB ports is stable. Each port delivers exactly what it says it will.

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Do bear in mind that this travel adapter does not convert mains voltages, so any mains plug you connect to the unit will need to be compatible with the power of the country you’re in. Always check the label before you start plugging things in indiscriminately!

This charger can output the full 65W from a single port, and even when all four ports are used, it can push 45W out of one of the USB-C ports. This makes it a truly versatile charger, perfect for both high- and low-power devices, from laptops to earbuds. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Tessan 65W GaN Universal Travel Adapter is an impressive piece of kit, especially considering that it’s on sale right now for $40. It’s compact and lightweight enough not to be left behind; the 65W power output is perfect for most devices (it will even trickle-charge my MacBook Pro), and there are enough ports to cater to an entire family on holiday or a tech enthusiast who wants to take all their devices with them.

I find the selection of ports ideal, and the multi-prong adapters are all well-made and fit into every socket I’ve tried with ease.

One issue I encountered in the U.K. is that having the USB ports at the bottom of the unit isn’t the best layout. Many plugs I’ve come across are fitted close to the surfaces of tables or nightstands, making it tricky to fit cables into the ports. I got around this by using some USB-C cables with 90-degree connectors.

Tessan 65W GaN Universal Travel Adapter tech specs