Rolling Square Essential GaN Charger Review

The design of the essential GaN Charger is intriguing. I love the mostly metal design, it feels solid and premium. It does feel a bit weighty, but the benefits that come with that weight will pay dividends. I’ve been using the SuperTiny since my last review, and as much as I love how miniscule it is, I’ve really been needing a second USB C Port.

Chargers using Gallium Nitride, or GaN technology have quickly become my go to. These days when shopping myself, GaN is non-negotiable. GaN chargers deliver superior charge speeds, better heat management, all in a much smaller footprint than traditional silicon-based chargers. Its a serious upgrade in technology, especially for demanding users like me, who want performance without bulk. 

If you are curious about how GaN works and why its reshaping the way we charge our tech, you can read about it more in this complete guide to GaN charging technology here.

The aluminium design of the charger doesn’t just win it style points, it allows it to be very effective at heat dissipation. Something that’s crucial due to its use of GaN technology. GaN chargers are more powerful in a smaller footprint, which causes them to heat up quicker. Without efficient thermal design, performances can suffer and it can become dangerous.

In my testing I did find the charger getting hot, but I was never worried. Heat is to be expected and it will quickly cool down when not in use, but it can be a tad alarming if you are not aware. You can rest easy that the charger has passed all necessary safety tests worldwide, and it operates within safe temperature limits.

One of the features that really stood out to me is a thick orange band wrapped around the body. It isn’t just a design flourish – it’s a heat-resistant grip point. This makes it easier (and safer) to unplug the charger after its been hard at work topping up your tech. 

The Essential GaN Charger comes in two versions, 100w and 45w. The version I am reviewing is the faster 100w. This is the maximum speed that it can handle, and that will be when charging one device only. As more devices are added this power will be shared reducing charging speeds. With the GaN chargers dropping down to 45w when a second device is added.

At 100w its idea for fast-charging smartphones, tablets, and even most laptops. Just don’t forget – not all cables are equal. Pair it with a high-performance cable, like the inCharge XL to avoid bottlenecks. A slow cable can throttle your speeds no matter how powerful the charger is.

On the Essential GaN Charger you can find x3 USB ports and x1 USB A. It is worth noting only the first two USB C are GaN and capable of 100w charging, the third is limited to 20w, so make sure you check before plugging in or you’ll be waiting a lot longer for your device to charge. Rolling Square have labelled the speed on each port, which is a nice touch, so its easy to remember.

I am glad a USB A port is included. I know they are getting less and less common nowadays, but that’s why I appreciate it. But not having to carry a dedicated plug for the one device the one legacy cable that refused to modernise to USB C, a small but very practical detail.

The Essential GaN Charger isn’t the smallest in Rolling Square’s range, that honour lies with the aptly titled “SuperTiny” I reviewed last month. So if your looking for the most ultra-portable option, the SuperTiny wins. But when it comes to efficiency, especially if your charging two or three devices at once, the Essential GaN Charger is the smarter choice.

It is still a GaN charger, which does help make the design more compact and the help  with packability. It being GaN allows the charger to be And it is a multi port charger so you can just carry the one instead of bringing multiple plugs.

The Rolling Square Essential GaN Charger has three different plug types to choose from coming in with UK, EU and US versions, making it a viable travel charger. I chose the UK version since I spent the majority of my time here. However with trips for more content taking me frequently to Europe, an EU version would be handy.

The big advantage here is convenience: no need to carry a bulky adaptor or universal charger. I could use an EU GaN wall charger directly, giving me fast charging on the go. If you are a content creator, photographer or even just a frequent traveller. Having another region is a tempting option.

At the time of writing, the Rolling Square Essential GaN Charger is priced at £69.90 (100w) and £49.90 (45w), positioning it competitively within the premium GaN charger market. Compared to Ankers GaN Prime equivalent – which costs slightly more at £79.99 rrp and offers only two USB C ports – Rolling Square delivers better port versatility. While Anker’s model does include folded prongs for added portability. 

Not too big, but still powerful. Rolling Square’s Essential GaN Charger is perfect everywhere. Get a plug that works in your home country for fast charging whenever you need, or if your a frequent traveller get a different region variant so you never have to worry about an adaptor again.

The balance of portability and power makes this charger a great travel companion. We are in an era where chargers no longer come provided with phones, at least that means for once we actually have to make a choice on our charger. So why not choose the best?