This tiny travel adapter is my new must-have when flying out (and it's only $25)

Anker Nano 5-port universal travel adapter

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Anker Nano 5-port travel adapter is available now for $25.
• It's a very compact universal travel adapter with two USB-C and two USB-A ports, perfect for small devices.
• It does not convert voltages, and not suited for bigger items such as laptop chargers.

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I like to travel as light as possible. If I can pack what I need into a sling bag and a small rucksack and avoid having to trundle a huge block of luggage about, I'll do that. But that means cutting everything down as small as possible.

And with tech, that can be a challenge -- especially when going abroad, because on top of my regular kit, I need a travel adapter. And these devices are known for being pretty bulky affairs.

Not anymore! The Anker Nano 5-port universal travel adapter is the tiniest universal travel adapter I've ever tested. 

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It's essentially a tiny rectangle with four different power plugs: Type A, Type I, Type G, and Type C plugs, covering over 200 countries -- along with dual USB-C and USB-A ports, and a pass-through AC socket that supports Type A and Type C (US and European) plugs. And when I say it's tiny, it really is, measuring a palm-sized 3.4 x 2.0 x 1.0 inches and weighing 3.8 ounces. 

It's small, but it packs a punch. 

A single USB-C port can output a maximum of 20W, while a USB-A port can push out 12W maximum, and when multiple USB ports are used at the same time, they share a maximum output of 15W. This makes the Nano 5-port travel adapter ideally suited to smaller items such as smartphones, tablets, power banks, and earbuds, as opposed to laptops. 

Two USB-C and two USB-A ports.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

How I got the best out of this when traveling was to use the travel adapter to charge a power bank, and then have my other devices connected to the power bank overnight. This meant that everything would be fully charged by the morning. 

The different plugs pack into the travel adapter very well. There are two little sliders to deploy the UK (Type G) and US/AU (Type A/I) prongs, and the EU (Type C) prongs fold out. It's a really neat design, even down to the ribbed texture on the outside. 

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The whole unit is made from fire-resistant materials in case things go wrong, and there's a safety shutter over the AC outlet to prevent fingers or random metal items from touching the live connections. There's also a self-resetting fuse that kicks in if the unit is overloaded.

In short, the unit features all the protections that you'd expect from a modern charger: short-circuit, over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protections, so it's as safe as possible.

The way the prongs all pack away into such a small adapter is genius!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Another feature I really appreciate is the light on the front, which offers a good visual indication that the adapter is plugged in properly and on (if the socket is switched, as they are in the UK). I've lost count of the number of times I've not plugged a travel adapter in properly and come back to find my stuff hasn't charged!

The indicator light on the front is a neat touch, telling you if it's plugged into the socket properly.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

A note about universal power adapters

First up, this adapter does not change the voltage or frequency of the electricity. It simply passes the voltage and frequency from the power source (the wall outlet) through to your device. 

Many modern electronics (like phone chargers, laptops, etc.) are designed to work with a wide range of voltages (e.g., 100-250V and 50-60Hz). These are often labeled as "universal power" devices and will work fine with this adapter. However, if your device only works with a specific voltage, it will not work safely in a country with a different voltage unless you use a separate voltage converter.

The adapter has a maximum power limit based on the voltage of the country you're in:

• For countries with 100-125V power (e.g., the USA), the maximum load is 750W.
• For countries with 220-250V power (e.g., any European country or the UK), the maximum load is 1,380W.

Exceeding these limits can damage the adapter or your devices.

ZDNET's buying advice

For $26, the Anker Nano 5-port universal travel adapter is a great bit of kit. Yes, the power output is limited, so laptop users are either going to have to take a separate charger or go for a more powerful travel adapter. 

But for lightweight travel, it's a winner, combining innovative design with an eye for what consumers actually need -- something that Anker has been excelling at for over a decade.