UMove Triple-USB Car Charger Review

UMove Triple-USB Car Charger UM-200–3-BK leaves much to be desired.

It is amazing, to see how fast technology advances. Our devices are doing more and more, and we are pushing them to their limits. Unfortunately, both the battery technology and charging options remain in the stone ages. I cannot be alone in the feeling that we are always on the go. I am lucky to finish the day with my Apple Watch 42″ sport at more than 30% power and my iPhone 6S Plus with more than 20% power. This is a daily hassle, a daily juggle. I charge my phone during my commutes, no matter how short. My 2011 Chevy Silverado has a 12V lighter port, a separate USB accessory port on the dash and another 12V lighter port under the front seat. Single port USB outputs are outdated, obsolete and nobody should have a single USB output anymore. Especially with the typical car producing something like 12V 10A output on 15A fuse. Anything less than 2A output per USB is also not worth your time. Simply divide the total output by the number of output ports and you get the rough estimate for output. With many modern iDevices and other smart tech being so energy hungry, many require 2A at a minimum to charge. I was thus excited about the triangular shaped UMove 3-USB Universal Car Charger. The hypothesis: My wife and I will no longer have to take turns charging our devices. Read-on to discover the conclusion.

Packaging:
 The packaging is similar to the other 3-USB charger (UM-100–3-BK) from UMove, except this is now yellow and the other is orange. The packaging is simple yet professional and displays the product in a clear plastic window and surrounding yellow cardboard. The motto labelled on the packaging is “Moving With You.” This is a 34W 5V/6.8A High Amp system. The back of the box has a nice gradient coloration from lighter yellow to darker yellow as you move towards the black base of the cardboard. The back details the specs of the device. It is a 3-USB universal charger for the car: for iPhone, iPad, Android, Tablet, Camera and most USB Devices. It lists the input voltage at 9–24V and output at the max 5V DC/6.8A output. It notes protection from Over-voltage, over-current, over-heating and contains short circuit-protection. Opening the package from the top, the clear plastic clam shell is easily removed. All that is included is the black triple USB charger with red trim and a Warranty guide.

Initial Impression:
 The device seems to have the standard car lighter outlet shape but tapers outward into a large triangle. The top of the triangle has a blue LED to inform you that the device is powered. IT has a 2.0 A top port and dual, side by side 2.4A inferior ports. This is in contrast to the UM-100–3-BK inline, stacked, 3-USB outlet. The device has standard 12V prong on the end. Plugging the device into the lighter adaptor of the car, the blue LED illuminated once and then not again. I was able to spin the device and felt It click. I was able to have power if the triangle was not up and down but rather obliquely angled. IF the flat edge of the triangle was upwards, this also did not provide any power, no flow of current. I was not able to assess the brightness of the LED as this did not work. There are also no instructions with this device.

I tried this device in my Chevy Silverado 2011 and in my wife’s Dodge Grand Caravan and it did not work in either vehicle. I am uncertain if the device is broken/flawed or if the taper leading to the USB plugs is too steep and the device cannot make adequate contact. I cannot give any advice on the output of the prongs due to the inability to charge. I like the idea of the charger, the 6.8A output would have been great. Alas, the device is non functional. I have reached out to the company, to see if this is a defective charging device. I will update the review, upon hearing from the team.