It’s that time again for Ventev new releases; last round I tested the PowerCell 6000+ late 2014, which is still going strong. For 2015 Ventev sent over the Q1200 series Dashport and Wallport which was shown at CES. As the names suggest one is for the car and the other is for the home or office.
Back in 2013, I had the chance to review the Dashport (R1200) mini car charger and chargesync data cable, which at that time were sold separately. That was my first experience with the Ventev dash charging and to be honest I wasn’t too thrilled with the Mini charger. This time around the Dashport and Wallport comes with some major upgrades, being one of the first releases of 2015 with a certified UL - Qualcomm quick charge 2.0, single DC output of 5/9V 2.1A. Also the Chargesync cable comes bundled. Also the one I received came android ready with a microUSB
Getting into the box has always been a P.I.T.A. when it comes to Ventev; that Anti-theft packaging does the trick and honestly what you see is what you get in the clear container. Looks haven’t changed much from the trademark slate matte finish with orange accents. The new feature is illuminated dim yellow lights, for an easy to find in the dark to switch between charging different devices i.e. android to apple
Now as far as performance is concerned, Ventev states that either chargers will speed up charge times by 75%. Quick charge is now being used by many devices; minimum requirement is a Snapdragon 800 chipset with supporting software. The first time I plugged in my Note 4, I was met with a prompt advising me about the boost in speed by my adaptive charger. I do my normal testing of charging with a load on the system (Netflix) and charging at the same time and timing 50-100% and 0-100%.
The charge times for the Wallport were as expected - very fast. But I’m not surprised as seldom do wall chargers fail at what they claim. In a matter of 45 Minutes I went from 50-100% and a little under two hours 0-100%. Charging while using Netflix was also very impressive, though not as much but in 45 min I went up 38%. The key features for the Wallport is the illumination around the interior square and the folding AC prongs that can handle an input of 120/240V.
I ran the same test on the Dashport and it has done exactly as promoted by Ventev; I ran Netflix, music, or on a call and the Dashport charges almost exactly as the Wallport. I can’t be truly accurate since I’m driving but compared to my previous chargers it is 75% faster. The key features to the Dashport are: it can receive an input of 10-18 V and the illumination right near the USB port.
The Bang
Now the Dashport was the focus for me and I have to say I was really impressed with the performance; the majority of the time car chargers usually leave me disappointed in that aspect. It’s been like that for a long time, unless you’re getting top end stuff and let’s face it, who wants to spend 80 bucks on a car charger? The other major thing is that they fixed the design as it sits almost flush against the port and no longer does the Dashport move in the socket. I like how compact and sturdy both devices are; I’ve dropped the Wallport and it´s been ok; its aesthetically pleasing as always and small enough to fit in your pocket. But above all else, it’s a much needed accessory, charging my devices with the quickness. What more do I need?
The Slack:
N/A
I’ve known about adaptive charging for some time and it’s great that it’s now becoming a standard for chargers and devices. Getting the real deal makes the difference and if you’re going to invest then make sure it’s Certified UL – Qualcomm quick charge 2.0. Trust me it makes a world of difference. Ventev Wallport & Dashport are sold separately and go for about $34.99USD each. It does exactly what Ventev promotes as its fast and so far reliable. I give it a T.O.V. 5 out of 5.
