1 minute, 53 seconds

5/12/18 Update: I’ve found a new charger that’s working well (and seemingly safely) – check it out!

4/17/17 Update: These chargers have been deemed unsafe. Please do not use them. See this post for details.

While I was on vacation, I forgot my laptop charger. I found on amazon that you can get an OEM charger for the XPS 13 (9350) for about $30. This is fine, it will work the prior gen XPS 13 with out USB-C/Thunderbolt too. I got it and used it for the remainder of my trip.

Then, when I got home, I wondered if there were any good, cheap, small USB-C chargers that would work with my laptop. Lo, the RAVPower USB-C charger. Full title, on Amazon, is, “USB C Charger RAVPower 36W Dual Ports USB Wall Charger with USB-C (20V 1.5A, 15V 2A, 9V 2A, 5V 3A max) for MacBook, Dell XPS 13, Nexus 5X/ 6P and iSmart (5V 2.4A max) for iPhone and more Black”. OK, what ever RAVPower, too long on the title. But you know what is not too long? The products it works with:

• Apple’s 2015 MacBook
• Google’s second Chromebook Pixel
• ASUS Transformer book T100HA
• Dell XPS 13 & 15
• HP Elite x2 1012 G1
• Razer Blade Stealth, Blade (2016)
• Nokia N1, ASUS ZenPad S8, Google’s Pixel C
• Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P
• Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe
• BLU Vivo XL and BLU Vivo 5
• HTC 10, LG G5
• Microsoft Lumia 950, 950 XL
• Motorola Moto Z, Moto Z Force

Totally awesome list! I got the charger today, so I don’t have any long term usage notes just yet. However, given it can both charge my phone over speedy USB-C, or dual charge my laptop AND my phone, as it has normal USB port to charge with, I’m fairly confident it’s my new fave travel charger. One caveat is that it does not come with a USB-C to USB-C cord. I got a nice looking 10′ one which I’ll put a velcro tie on when it arrives.

If you are an XPS 13 user, or thinking about becoming one, be sure to read my write up on running Ubuntu 16.04 after purchasing the windows version of the 9350.

1/4/17 Update – I’ve been using this charger for 4 months now and it’s awesome! I got solid, braided 10′ USB-C <-> USB-C cable to use with which I recommend as well. It comes in 6′ flavors as well. Cable aside, the only caveat is that the charger does get quite hot – but so far not so much that it has me concerned; I don’t see any signs of the plastic discoloring.