Multi-port chargers: how the watts are shared between ports

Short answer: the big number on a multi-port charger is the most it can deliver in total, and usually from one port used alone. As soon as you plug in a second device, the charger splits that total according to a table its maker publishes. Some port combinations get far less than you would expect, and some phone fast-charging modes switch off entirely. The table is the real specification, so read it before you buy.

Our chargers-and-cables guide introduces the idea. This guide shows real manufacturer tables and how to use them.

The label number is a total

Take Anker's 735 Charger (Nano II 65W, model A2667), a common two USB-C plus one USB-A design. Anker lists 65 W from either USB-C port when used alone and 22.5 W from the USB-A port alone. That 65 W is the headline. Here is what happens when you share it.