This vertical charging tower reset my home office in the best way – so I bought 3 more

Tessan 65W charging tower

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Tessan’s 65W charging tower is on sale now for $31 on Amazon.
• It’s a convenient charger for the desk, bench, or worktop with six USB ports and two AC outlets.
• It’s sturdy, but heavy cords could move it around.

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I test several chargers every month, but it’s rare that one impresses me enough to go out and buy a few more. 

But this is exactly what happened with the Tessan 65W charging tower I was sent last year. After testing it, it was quickly assimilated into my workspace, and I was so impressed that I bought three more. What’s more, they are super cheap.

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Before I go further, note the unit I tested and photographed here is the UK version, with UK sockets. The specs that will be listed, however, will be for the US version.  

The Tessan 65W charging station is a tower-style charger that incorporates both USB ports and AC outlets. On the front are six USB ports: four USB-A (20W max each when used singly) and two USB-C ports (65W max when using singly). When using different combinations of ports, the unit outputs a maximum of 65W between them. 

This is a great setup for those with a lot of smaller devices to charge. Who doesn’t have earbuds on their desk, a meat thermometer in the kitchen, or flashlights and a selection of tools in the workshop that need charging? 

The unit also has two AC outlets — one on each side — allowing the tower to be used as an extension cord. The outlets can handle devices up to 1,250W, so it’s good for most things around the home. This is handy, but be aware that the tower is quite light, and heavy cords could drag it to the floor.  

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The unit has a long, five-foot power cord with a special angled, thin plug (only 0.31 inches thick) to allow it to fit into awkward spots like behind the couch or a desk (the UK version has to be fitted with a traditional UK plug that conforms to BS 1363 standard, so no angled, low-profile plug for me). The tower sits on a reasonably wide base and has rubber feet to keep it in place.

Another thing I really like about this 65W charging tower is that it isn’t festooned with blindingly bright LED lights. There’s one small white LED indicator on the top to show that the tower has power, and that’s it. Don’t want that LED illuminating your bedroom? Grab a bit of insulating tape or a paper sticker, pop it over the top, and problem solved! 

ZDNET’s buying advice

For $35, the Tessan 65W charging tower is the perfect all-in-one charger that combines USB-A, USB-C, and a couple of AC outlets. I find these great for adding onto a desk, worktop, workbench, or nightstand, but I could also see them being handy for taking to hotels or onto cruise ships. Given how lightweight this unit is, I can see the convenience of being able to pop it into a suitcase and turn a single AC port into a myriad of charging options. 

If 65W of USB power isn’t enough for you, Tessan also makes a similar unit that can push out 100W, and if 65W is too much, there’s a 30W version. And if black doesn’t fit in with your decor, these also come in white.