A lifesaver of a device – charge up all your devices at one time.
As technology advances, so do the accessories. A couple of years ago I wrote about what became one of my absolute favorite devices — the PowerHub XL Charging Station from AUKEY. The device is essentially a power strip, but it’s designed like a desktop tower. It can reside on a desktop or be mounted somewhere via it’s built-in wall mount. It’s very convenient because it has 6 USB-A ports in addition to its 12 AC outlets. As much as I’ve used the PowerHub in the past two years, I’m ecstatic that AUKEY updated it to move with the times. The new PowerHub XL (a.k.a Power Strip Tower) features 12 AC outlets, 3 USB-A ports, and 2 USB-C ports.
DETAILS
The AUKEY PowerHub XL is an update from a previous model of the same name. The device is a surge protector that provides power and protects up to 17 electronic devices – simultaneously – from a single wall outlet. The PowerHub is designed like a column to provide more space and the convenient angles make it easy to plug in all your devices. The PowerHub has built-in safeguards to protect your devices against excessive current, overheating, and overcharging. Each USB port delivers 12W (5V/2.4A) charging power and each USB-C port deliverers 15W (5V/3A). The total power output of all 5 USB ports is 30W.
| Model | PA-S24 |
| Input | AC 100-240V 15A 50/60Hz |
| AC Output | 100-240V 15A 50/60Hz |
| Max Power Output | 3500W |
| USB-C Output | DC 5V/3A |
| USB Output | DC 5V/2.4A |
| Max USB Output | 30W |
| Cable Length | 1.5m/4.9ft |
| Dimensions | 6.77″ x 4.61″ |
| Weight | 31.22oz |
USER EXPERIENCE
Like other AUKEY products, the PowerHub XL has a very plain package. It’s a simple brown box that has an image of the product printed on the front. The name of the product is also listed there, but other than that, the box doesn’t include a lot of information about the product. The model number (PA-S24) is listed on the back of the box in the top right hand corner. This is a good differentiator from the older version because other than the model number (PA-S14), the older version doesn’t have many features that are different from the newer model.
A user manual is included in the box with the PowerHub. It’s actually just a small trifold pamphlet. It includes how to get started, specifications, a product diagram and some safety tips. To get started, you simply plug the PowerHub into the wall and push down on the power button, which is located on the top of the tower. When it’s activated, the LED ring around the power button will turn green. At that point, you can connect your devices’ charging cables to the Power Strip Tower. There are a couple of notes that are included in the user manual.
- The USB-C outputs don’t support USB power delivery.
- The Max output for all USB-C & USB ports is 30W (5V/6A) with no fast charging when all ports are used.
In my time using the previous model of the PowerHub XL, I rarely had all USB ports in use. In fact, I think the only time I did was when I was updating multiple iPads at one time. So, even though there are 5 USB ports, I don’t think the slower connectivity will be an issue for most people.
One of the reasons I love this device so much is because it takes the stress away from having to find stray power adapters for random devices you are using. All you need to have are charging cables. Because I test a lot of different products, I love having easy access to a power strip and not having to fumble with finding a wall outlet every time I need power for a device. The design of the PowerHub is ideal for getting power to devices with abnormally shaped power bricks. All of the AC outlets are spaced out nicely and I’ve not had any issues with a power adapter fitting on the vertical tower strips.
When I started the testing process for the PowerHub XL, I used a USB Digital Tester to measure the output of the voltage/amps coming from the USB-A and USB-C ports. The tester only works if it is connected to a charging device so I used my iPad Pro (11-inch, 2018) as the device. First, I plugged a USB-C/USB-A cable into the USB-A port of the tester. The other end of the tester was plugged into a USB-A port on the PowerHub. After 30 seconds, the reading was 4.94V/0.95A. Next, I plugged a USB-C/USB-C cable into the iPad and the USB-C port on the tester. The other end of the tester was plugged into the USB-C port on the PowerHub. After a 30-second test, the reading was 5.08V/0.89A. At first, I was a bit surprised that the amperage readying was that low, but then I remembered that the amperage ends up being divided between all the ports — even if they aren’t all in use.
CONCLUSION
The PowerHub XL is still one of my favorite accessories of all time. It serves a good purpose and helps alleviate stress, too. The price of the device is around $43 at the time of publishing, which is comparable to other power strips with multiple AC outlets and USB connections. The PowerHub XL has served me well and will continue to do so with this timely upgrade.
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