Hey, I'm Marcus
I'm a software developer based in Portland, Oregon. By day, I write code for a fintech startup. By night and weekend, I obsess over charging technology, test USB power meters, and write about what I find.
This probably sounds like a strange hobby. Let me explain how it started.
The $15 Charger That Cost Me $400
In 2019, I bought a cheap USB-C charger from Amazon. It had great reviews, looked legitimate, and cost only $15. Three weeks later, it melted my laptop's USB-C port. The repair cost $400, and I was without my main work machine for two weeks during a critical project deadline.
That experience made me realize how little I understood about charging technology. What makes a charger safe? Why do some chargers work better than others? Why are there such huge price differences between seemingly similar products?
From Frustration to Obsession
I started researching. I bought a USB power meter. Then another one. I started testing every charger I owned, then buying new ones specifically to test. I read engineering papers about GaN technology, USB-PD specifications, and charging protocols.
Somewhere along the way, I realized I had accumulated genuine knowledge that might be useful to others. Most charger reviews online are either press release rewrites or affiliate-driven content farms. Very few people actually use these devices for months before writing about them.
My Testing Philosophy
Every charger reviewed on this site has been:
- Purchased with my own money (no press samples)
- Used daily for at least 90 days
- Tested with a USB power meter for actual output
- Evaluated for real-world use, not lab conditions
I travel frequently for work, so travel durability is a major factor. I have multiple Apple devices, so ecosystem compatibility matters. Your priorities might be different, which is why I try to be specific about who each product is for.
What I'm Not
I'm not an electrical engineer. I'm not sponsored by any company. I don't run affiliate links (though I may add them eventually - I'll always disclose if I do). I'm just someone who got burned by a bad charger and decided to learn enough to never let it happen again.
If you have questions about any review or want to suggest a product for testing, reach out through the contact page. I read everything, though I can't promise to respond to every message.