On July 7, 2026, Ugreen’s Nexode 45 W GaN charger with a retractable USB-C cable moved from a regional launch story into a Costco bundle — a small retail shift that says more about convenience than raw charging power.
The charger launched in Europe and North America last month and is now available through Ugreen’s Costco storefront as a two-pack for $49.99, according to Notebookcheck. Costco does not offer a single-unit option, and Notebookcheck says the charger is not available on Amazon.
That matters because this is not Ugreen chasing the highest wattage spec. The pitch is simpler: fewer loose cables, fewer forgotten cables, fewer tangled cables. A 45 W charger is ordinary. A compact GaN charger with a built-in retractable cable is a more pointed bet on daily friction.
“No more tangles.”
That line from Ugreen’s product material is the whole strategy in four words.
July 7 Costco listing turns the Nexode into a two-pack charging upgrade
The Costco listing changes how buyers encounter the Ugreen Nexode 45 W. Instead of buying one charger for one bag or one desk, Costco shoppers are being pushed toward two units at once.
That can make sense for households, travel bags, shared desks, or anyone who wants a charger in more than one place. But it also removes choice. Notebookcheck says Costco does not currently sell a single unit, so the entry price is $49.99, not half that.
MLXIO analysis: this bundle format nudges the Nexode away from the enthusiast accessory lane and toward mainstream replacement behavior. A buyer is not just comparing specs. They are asking whether two compact wall chargers with built-in cables are useful enough to replace a drawer full of mismatched adapters and loose USB-C cords.
Ugreen’s own product material lists a single unit at $37.99 during a “Big Spring Sale,” with 30-day returns, a minimum 2-year warranty, and free shipping on orders over $20. That makes the Costco two-pack look aggressive on a per-unit basis, though the supplied material does not specify Costco’s return terms or whether the bundle has different warranty handling.
For context on Ugreen’s broader charger push, MLXIO has covered adjacent products such as the 0.57-Inch Ugreen Pocket Charger Packs 65W and 3 Ports and Ugreen 65W Charger Bets Fans Will Pay $10 More for Art. The Nexode 45 W Costco bundle sits in a different lane: less power, more built-in convenience.
Last month’s launch centered on one practical fix: the cable is already there
The Nexode’s defining feature is its integrated retractable USB-C cable, which extends up to 69 cm, or 27.2 inches. That is long enough for a desk, hotel nightstand, or wall outlet near a chair, but not a replacement for longer cables in every setup.
The charger also includes two additional ports, giving it three charging outputs in total. Notebookcheck describes the layout as:
| Output | Maximum stated output in single-use mode |
|---|---|
| Built-in USB-C cable | 45 W |
| USB-C port | 45 W |
| USB-A port | 22.5 W |
Ugreen’s product material has a wrinkle buyers should check before purchase: it refers to “3 Ports (3 x USB-C)” and lists USB-C1/C2 outputs, while Notebookcheck reports one USB-C port and one USB-A port plus the integrated cable. That discrepancy is not trivial. A buyer with older accessories may care about USB-A. A buyer standardizing around USB-C may prefer all USB-C.
The GaN design is the other important hardware choice. Gallium nitride power electronics allow higher power density than many older silicon-based chargers, which is why products like this can shrink into compact cubes without giving up moderate fast-charging capability. Here, the charger measures 2.1 x 2.0 x 2.1 inches in Notebookcheck’s report, while Ugreen’s material lists (53 x 53 x 50.4)±0.5mm. Weight is listed as about 0.44 lbs, or 199.6 grams, by Notebookcheck; Ugreen’s own spec sheet lists 185 g.
That is another small mismatch, but not one that changes the product’s role. This is still a pocketable wall charger with foldable prongs, a built-in cable, and enough output for phones, tablets, accessories, and many USB-C laptops that can charge at 45 W or below.
The 45 W math favors one fast device, not three full-speed devices
The biggest buying mistake would be assuming every connected device gets full speed at the same time.
Notebookcheck says the built-in cable and USB-C port can each provide up to 45 W when used individually. The USB-A port is rated up to 22.5 W in single-port mode. The charger can power three devices at once, but charging speeds slow when all three outputs are in use.
That makes the Nexode more useful as a flexible everyday charger than as a high-power desk hub.
Practical read:
- Phone-first use: A smartphone can benefit from the built-in cable without requiring a separate USB-C cord.
- Tablet use: The 45 W ceiling is enough for many tablets, depending on the device’s charging profile.
- Laptop use: Some USB-C laptops can charge at this level, but higher-power machines will need a stronger charger.
- Accessory use: Earbuds, watches, and similar devices fit the lower-power secondary-port role.
- Three-device use: Convenience rises, but maximum charging speed per device falls.
The charger supports USB PD 3.0 and PPS, according to Notebookcheck and Ugreen’s product material. Ugreen also lists protocols including QC3.0, QC2.0, SCP, FCP, APPLE 2.4A, SAMSUNG 5V/2A, and BC1.2. That broad protocol list helps compatibility, but the final charging rate still depends on the device, cable path, and how many outputs are active.
The safety pitch is standard, but the integrated cable adds a durability question
Ugreen lists protection against overcurrent, overvoltage, short circuit, and overtemperature conditions. Notebookcheck also cites protection against overvoltage, overheating, and short circuits.
Those protections are expected in a modern charger, but they matter more when the product invites daily use. A charger that lives in a bag, moves between rooms, and pulls its cable in and out repeatedly faces a different stress profile than a fixed wall brick.
MLXIO analysis: the retractable cable is both the Nexode’s best feature and its clearest risk. A separate USB-C cable can be replaced when it frays, fails, or proves too short. A built-in retractable cable is cleaner until the mechanism or cable becomes the weak point.
That does not make the design bad. It makes the buying decision more specific. If cable clutter is the problem, the Nexode directly attacks it. If long-term repairability or cable choice is the priority, a standard GaN brick plus a separate cable may still be the safer setup.
Costco buyers should check ports, wattage, and cable length before treating this as a default charger
The Nexode 45 W is best understood as a convenience charger, not a maximum-power charger.
A Costco shopper considering the two-pack should verify five things before buying:
- Port layout: Notebookcheck reports one USB-C and one USB-A port; Ugreen material lists three USB-C outputs.
- Laptop requirement: If the laptop expects more than 45 W, this charger may be too limited.
- Cable reach: The retractable cable extends to 69 cm / 27.2 inches, which may not suit every outlet setup.
- Shared output: Three devices can charge at once, but not all at peak speed.
- Warranty channel: Ugreen lists a minimum 2-year warranty for its product page, but buyers should confirm coverage for the Costco bundle.
The next signal to watch is whether Ugreen expands availability beyond Costco and whether future listings resolve the port-description mismatch. If the two-pack gains wider placement or Ugreen repeats the retractable-cable design across higher-wattage models, that would support the thesis that built-in cables are moving from travel-gadget novelty to mainstream USB-C infrastructure. If buyers keep favoring replaceable cables and higher-power bricks, the Nexode may remain a useful niche product rather than the next default wall charger.
The Bottom Line
- Costco’s two-pack format shifts the charger from a niche accessory into a mainstream household upgrade.
- The built-in retractable USB-C cable targets everyday convenience rather than higher charging wattage.
- Buyers get less purchase flexibility because Costco does not currently offer a single-unit option.
