This Retro 67 GaN Charger Is Inspired By Apple’s Macintosh Classic

with three USB-C outputs and up to 67W of power output. The screen of the Classic displays Matriculates-style digital rain as a charging indicator.

Shargeek

This week I thought I’d look at something fun and innovative to take you back to when Apple launched its innovative Macintosh Classic computer in 1990. The launch of the Macintosh Classic was responsible for kickstarting a desktop publishing industry that saw the launch of countless special interest magazines that previously could only have been published by major conglomerates.

Shargeek has drawn on the inspiration of the original Macintosh Classic to produce the new Retro 67 GaN power charger. This relatively small GaN charger can output up to a healthy 67W shared across three USB-C ports. The Retro 67 supports a range of fast-charging protocols and can replenish an iPhone to 50% capacity in around 30 minutes. The charger is also compatible with many laptops, including the latest MacBook Air M2, which can be fully charged in about two hours.

As well as drawing its inspiration from the Macintosh Classic, the Shargeek Retro 67 also pays tribute to the classic movie The Matrix through a real-time power charging indicator that appears on the screen of the Macintosh Classic as digital rain. Not only is this a power charger, but it’s also something of a collectible.

and smartphones. It’s GaN technology which makes it more efficient and smaller.

Shargeek

The charger has foldable US-style power prongs but also comes with adapters for other power sockets so it can be used in other countries like the UK, EU and Australasia. The voltage input spans 100 – 240V at 50/60Hz while the output from the three USB ports can provide 5V to 20V with wattages of 45W, 20W and 15W.

The circuitry inside this charger is entirely GaN. Compared to traditional silicon chargers, GaN offers more efficiency and smaller size. GaN also creates less heat and has sophisticated power-saving circuitry and an integrated temperature sensor that automatically detects the system temperature in real-time to ensure safety. The Shargeek Retro 67 is compatible with the charging demands of most USB charging technology, including Apple, Samsung, Google, Dell and Lenovo.

bit of nostalgia when charging your technology.

Shargeek

Verdict: The Shargeek Retro 67 isn’t just a fun piece of nostalgia; it’s an efficient GaN charger ideal for powering or charging many laptops, tablets and smartphones. The three USB-C ports offer plenty of versatility, although I would have liked to see one USB-A port for legacy devices. The charger looks best in a US-style power socket, but the converters that Shargeek supplies work very well, even if they don’t match the shade of the plastic used to make the charger. The screen on the charger has a Matrix-style digital rain effect which is fun to watch.

Pricing & Availability: The Shargeek Retro 67 will be available on Indiegogo. The company backs up the product with a 24-month warranty and has global delivery options. Prices start from $39 but vary by how many units you buy.

More info: www.indiegogo.com

Tech Specs:

Dimensions: 57 x 39 x 41mm.
Weight: 110g.
Ports: 3 x USB-C.
Max power output: 67W.
Technology: GaN.
Fast charger protocols: PD2.0, QC 3.0, SCP/FCP, Apple 2.4.
Adapters: UK, EU, AUS.

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I’ve written about audio, Apple, macOS and digital photography at Forbes for a decade. I love technology that makes people’s lives more fun, more creative and more productive. I’m on a mission to hunt down and review great products featuring innovative technology so you know what to buy.