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it’s $12 USB-C Power Meter It has quickly become one of my essential tools. These little dongles measure voltage, current, power capacity, and other metrics. I use them for all kinds of tasks, from checking if a USB port is working or not, to testing the power capacity of devices like power banks and smartphones.
They’re one of the tools I rely on to get my job done, and I’ve probably collected about two dozen of them over the years. When USB-A began the transition to USB-C, I had to upgrade my toolkit, and as USB-C power transfer capacity has increased, I’ve had to buy new, more advanced power meters to keep up.
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Whenever I write about these meters, readers inevitably ask where they can buy one. But usually the excitement subsides when they realize I’m recommending meters that cost $50, $100, or even more.
But it has finally been changed. For the past few weeks, I’ve been testing it This USB-C Power MeterAnd let me tell you, it is perfect for enthusiasts. This little gem is packed with features, has a color OLED screen, and the best part is that it only costs $12.
The power meter supports voltage between 3 and 30 volts, current between 0 and 12 amps, and power up to 360 watts. It also includes a logging and graphing feature and can test almost every fast-charging protocol.
The meter is housed in an aluminum case and protects from dust and falls. It comes with a small silicone cover for the connector, but I usually don’t bother using it.
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I’ve tested it against meters costing ten or twenty times as much, and I’ve found no problems with its accuracy or performance. I’ll admit, I was initially skeptical about the Meter’s 1.06-inch color OLED screen. It looked a little small to my aging eyes. But I’m happy to report that it’s absolutely fast and packs an impressive amount of information into such a small space.
The small display is so bright that it can display power charts.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have tried testing cheap meters before, but they have always failed. I have a rule – I only recommend tools that I have personally tested and would use myself. Unfortunately, “cheap” and “good” rarely go together.
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Most of the budget-friendly meters I tested were notoriously inaccurate, couldn’t handle the high voltages or currents they claimed to support, or worse: died after just a few uses. I’m happy to say that this tool avoids all those pitfalls.
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The bottom line is that if a device doesn’t meet my standards, I won’t recommend it. it Dymor USB-C Power Meter Just doesn’t meet my standards; This is more than that.
It’s perfect for the beginning techie or the grizzled professional. And considering the amount of features you get for $12, it’s a steal.
