UGREEN Nexode Retractable Series Powerbank and 65W Charger
design
UGREEN has a well-established design language across its product ranges, and the Nexode Retractable Series looks right at home. In fact, from most angles there’s little to suggest either the Nexode Retractable Powerbank or Wall Charger are anything other than standard-issue devices. The signature UGREEN gunmetal grey finish wraps both, and it feels great in the hand with a subtle texture and matte sheen. They both feel suitably premium too, with no flex or creakiness anywhere. Each one feels like a single, solid unit.
The ‘standard’ UGREEN Nexode Powerbank has been my go-to for days out and holidays over the past few months, so I opened the box for the Retractable Series version with high hopes. At first glance they’re almost identical — the retractable variant simply looks like a bigger brother. It’s a beefy unit. The classic Nexode was already large enough, but this one’s extended by about a centimetre to accommodate the internal 65cm USB-C cable. Strangely, despite only the length increasing, the Nexode Retractable Powerbank feels maybe 10% bigger in all directions. It’s also around 10% heavier too. No optical illusion this time, and it now tips the scales at just over half a kilo. Something to note for travellers dealing with budget airline hand luggage limits.
The large screen remains from the original Nexode Powerbank and offers just as much useful info. A click of the side button shows total charge percentage, charging rates both in and out, and an estimate of the charge time remaining or time to be fully charged. The top of the UGREEN Nexode Retractable Powerbank houses the retractable cable, an additional in/out USB-C port (which handles both charging the powerbank and your devices), and a USB-A port too.
The UGREEN Nexode Retractable 65W charger includes the same port selection, though the retractable cable is slightly longer here at 69cm. Disappointingly, for a device with “retractable” in the name, the Nexode charger features fixed power prongs. If compactness is the goal here, I’d have preferred to see retracting or foldable prongs instead. As it stands, they feel quite exposed and make the UGREEN Nexode Retractable Series charger a less attractive travel option overall.
performance
If you’ve read one of my UGREEN reviews before—either the matching Nexode Powerbank or the Nexode Pro charger—you’ll have a good idea of what’s coming in this next section. Cutting to the chase, both of the UGREEN Retractable Series units I’ve been using are excellent, reliable performers when it comes to powering up your devices.
Getting the simplest and most important details out of the way first: both the Nexode Retractable Powerbank and charger are speedy. As is often the case with chargers, it’s not quite as simple as looking at the big headline wattage number. Both devices include a remarkably broad range of charging configurations that dictate the speed you’ll get. The UGREEN Nexode Retractable 65W can deliver the full 65W to a single device, but only via the USB-C port. The retractable cable is rated for 60W maximum, and the USB-A port tops out at 22.5W. All of this assumes you’re only using one port at a time—connect multiple devices and you’ll be sharing the available power between them.
The UGREEN Retractable Powerbank advertises 165W total, but you won’t get that through a single port, which maxes out at 100W. That 100W is available through both the retractable cable and the USB-C port, so there’s no need to BYO cable to get full-speed charging. The USB-A port, again, will go up to 22.5W. Just like with the charger, the available juice is split across ports when using multiple outputs—but with 165W on tap, there’s more than enough to go around. And realistically, how often are you going to be fast-charging three power-hungry devices at the same time on the move?
The retracting cable mechanism is the same on both devices, and I’ve had zero issues with it. The flat cable is flexible, pulls out easily, and only retracts when you want it to. I haven’t had any cases where it tried to reel itself back in unprompted or struggled to wind in properly. The connector also has a subtle magnetic snap that helps it sit neatly against the body of the device. It’s a simple, clever quality-of-life feature that reflects the overall build quality.
The 65cm cable length is spot on for the powerbank. It’s ideal for resting next to you in a café or even trailing from a bag into your pocket while on the move. It’s just not long enough on the 65W charger, though. I’ve yet to find a realistic scenario where I could plug the Nexode Retractable Charger into a standard wall socket and comfortably use a connected device. Sure, you could leave your phone on the floor or on a side table next to the plug. And yes, there are people with desk-mounted power sockets where this setup would shine. But for most users, it’s unlikely to prove that useful.
The cable also exits from the wrong side of the charger, at least in my opinion. When plugged into a UK wall socket, the cable points straight down, which not only makes connections awkward but also robs you of a few extra centimetres of usable cable. I’d have much preferred to see the ports on the end of the charger instead. That layout would offer easier access, whether plugged into a wall or a vertical desk socket, and probably allow more internal space for a longer built-in cable.
summed up
A clever, cable-saving twist on an already great pair of devices, UGREEN’s Nexode Retractable Series brings genuine quality-of-life improvements to both the charger and the power bank. Both units feature a solid build and reliable performance, but they’re not without quirks—particularly the 65W wall charger, which is held back from being an instant recommendation for everyone.
The UGREEN Nexode Retractable Series Powerbank, however, is a standout performer. Almost overflowingly powerful, it’s completely versatile and genuinely improved by the built-in cable, making it a great choice as a travel companion. The wall charger, while fully capable under the hood, feels slightly compromised by its fixed prongs and awkward cable placement. It still gets the job done when needed. These are my only real negatives, and they may be non-issues depending on your setup. Overall, there’s no doubt these are premium, high-spec devices.
