Macworld - USA (2020-09)

SEPTEMBER 2020 MACWORLD 97

While Accell

says its Power

Dot doesn’t

support the

USB Power

Delivery

standard, it

did prove

capable

of rapidly

charging

my Pixel 2

XL when I

plugged it

into its USB-C

port.

mmmh

Accell Power Dot

PROS

• You can set a small smart
  speaker in the middle of its
  outlets.


• One USB-C and four USB
  Type-A charging ports.


• Its four AC outlets are very
  widely spaced.
  CONS


• More expensive than
  conventional power strips
  equipped with twice as
  many outlets.


• Protection LED is difficult to
  see from some angles.
  PRICE
  $39
  COMPANY
  Accell

while working). The indicator
LED was a little more visible
when I was seated.

USB CHARGING PORTS
On the top surface of the Power
Dot and flanking the on/off switch
are a total of four USB charging
ports, which share 5 volts, 4.8 amps
and 24 watts. On the left side of the
switch, you’ll find one USB-C port
that delivers a maximum of 5 volts,
3 amps, and 15 watts.
The first of three USB Type-A
ports sits beneath the USB-C
port, with the other two

positioned on the right-hand side of the

power switch. All three of the USB-A ports

can deliver up to 5 volts, 2.4 amps, and 12

watts. If a device plugged into the USB-C

port is pulling the maximum of 3 amps,

the three USB-A ports must divvy up the

remaining 1.8 amps and vice versa. As

Access explained

the prioritization: “The hungrier the

device, the more power it will get.”

All four ports are sufficiently spaced to

accommodate oversized plugs. Accell

says the Power Dot’s USB-C port does not

support the USB Power Delivery standard,

but my Pixel 2 XL nonetheless reported

that it was charging rapidly when I plugged

it in (the app Ampere reported the phone

as drawing a minimum of 780mA

and a maximum of 1,040mA).

BOTTOM LINE

You’ll encounter plenty of less-

expensive surge protectors that

can accommodate a lot more

devices when you go shopping,

but the Power Dot’s round form

factor and its ability to host a small

smart speaker do render it unique

in a sea of longitudinal power

strips. Whether that makes it worth

an extra 10-spot for half the outlets

you’ll get with its more

conventional competitors is up to

you. ■