PowerPort Atom PD 2 doesn't seem to be "intelligent" as I thought It would be

#1

I’m so excited when I heard PowerPort Atom PD 2 is coming because I want something a bit more powerful to replace Google PD 45W for charge my MacBook Pro 15", and also have the benefit of another PD port to charge my phone. When Anker advertises it as “Intelligent Power Allocation”. I thought It would intelligently switch output from 60/0, 45/15, 30/30 as each device needed.

However, it doesn’t seem to be a case. From my testing, it looks like the charger has only 30/30 mode, it still okay for me. The thing I think it worse is if you plug 2 two devices even another device is full, it will not change to 60/0 automatically. It even split 30/30 if you have only a cable plug on another port (with no device).

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I read here and here from Reddit that it could automatically split 45/15, so I’m not sure if this happens only on my unit. Could it be defective or something? Is it from my MacBook Pro? Has anyone experience the same thing I want to hear from you guys.

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#2

I’m afraid you are probably right

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#3

Oooh. That’s a shame… thanks for letting us all know! I’m sure some people will rethink there purchase when they hear this… :confused:

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#4

Agree, I start considering to return it.
It’s a big problem for me because I usually have cable management inside my desk,
that means I can’t plug or unplug the cable easily.
If It need unplug every time to make it have 60w output, it’ll be annoying and painful for me.

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#5

Which two devices you use to charge?
It actually could split 60/0 if you have only a cable plug on another port (with no device).

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#6

I agree 100%

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#7

It works that way when I charge my MacBook Pro 15
Test by plug another port with Apple’s official USB-C to lightning cable ( with no device attach )
the voltage output goes down from 60w to 30w on my MacBook Pro 15
and goes back to 60w only if I unplug the lightning cable

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#8

Maybe you got a defective unit :thumbsdown:

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#9

It doesn’t appear to be so… this is the way it was built

#10

Seems like @AnkerTechnical thinks it should output 60w even if you have another cable on the port but no device

#12

@professor, you see this? Even a second cable plugged in (with no devices connected) may activate 30/30 mode…

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#13

Yes Josh I see that but I also see the review saying it yo-yo negotiates. The consensus seems to be this is a dumb product.

Anker is making a lot of mistakes in total, the people editing their websites are pasting bad links, and so I have little faith what is said is 100% true.

I’m not handing my $ to that product. I’ll take one for free and test it. But that’s Anker’s decision.

Personally I ducked out of PD for another year, I got my gadgets for 2019, I’ll revisit in 2020 if Anker is truly innovating.

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#14

@ bluetus this is an excellent review - thanks for sharing!

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#15

this is sad to see.

I’ll be interested to see what comes from my testing in the coming weeks.

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#16

Excellent observation :+1:

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#17

Yes, it should work in this way.

#19

Ok, if you say so, my unit might be a defective one. I’m going to return my current unit and will test again with another one.

Will update soon on the new one :v:

#20

I have tried a new unit, and it still behaves the same as the old one.
It still activates 30/30 when I just plug only an Apple’s lightning cable (with no devices connected).
So I don’t what happen at this point, maybe we need to wait for another reviewer to make sure.

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#21

What a crap design. Anker do better!

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#22

dang thats a little disappointing thanks for the info though really helpful to know that before you go and buy something

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