At India Today Tech we rarely take a closer look at chargers. After all, a charger simply plugs into an electric socket and then charges whatever you connect to it. We call this dumb technology. But change has been coming to Chargers in recent months. They are getting smarter. They are becoming multifunctional. And in some cases, if you look at Anchor and Ugreen, they’re also getting a display. Now both these brands do not sell display-equipped chargers in India. But Stuffcool, an Indian brand that has made a name for itself with its well-made and well-designed accessories. This charger is the Stuffcool Nomad Pro.

Recently when I came across the Nomad Pro, I thought it was so unique that I took a closer look. Talking about specifications, it is a loaded charger. The Nomad Pro supports 140W charging and can handle 3 devices simultaneously. This is also a GaN charger, i.e. it is based on Gallium Nitride technology. In theory and practice this means a relatively smaller size and cooler operation while charging. But the unique aspect of the Nomad Pro is its display, similar to recent chargers from Anker and Ugreen, and which are not officially available in India.

Nomad Pro Build Quality and Features

Did I mention that chargers are becoming smart and multifunctional? Take a quick look at the Nomad Pro and you’ll understand why. The main appeal of expensive chargers like these is that they replace multiple power bricks in your home or bag. The Nomad Pro does the same. It can handle three devices simultaneously. There are two USB-C ports, capable of delivering up to 140W of power when used individually. In combination mode, the USB-C ports provide either 100W or 35W, depending on which other port you’re using. Meanwhile, the USB A port provides 18W of power, whether used in combination or exclusively.

In addition to multi-device support, the Nomad Pro can also act as a universal adapter. It comes with three plugs that can be used interchangeably depending on where you’re plugging it in. StuffCool says that with the bundled PIN, the charger can be used in up to 150 countries. Hence the name Nomadic Prof. The mechanism for connecting and removing these plug pins is fantastic. They slide easily into the slot and when you need to take them out, there’s a small toggle on each plug point. Press it and the plug points slide out easily.

The overall build quality of the Nomad Pro is good, although I’ve seen and handled better. It’s also relatively light and small – thanks to GaN technology – considering how much power it can supply. And yes, it has a display and smart functionality.

Using the Nomad Pro 140W

Now, the display does not affect the performance. But it’s a nice feature because it can, as YouTube says, show “stats for nerds.” And here at India Today Tech we are keen to get more information from our gadgets, even if it doesn’t have a direct impact on the experience of using it.

The way the display works is simple. You plug the charger in, the display lights up. You then plug in your device or devices, and the display starts showing charging information. There are many information slides. These can be cycled up or down via a touch button, depending on how you have it plugged in. By default the charger shows the total amount of power it is supplying to the connected devices. But with a simple tap you can turn the screen to see how much power is flowing through each of its ports. Another screen shows its internal temperature.

The charging performance of the StuffCool Nomad Pro is excellent. It supports the PD standard via USB-C 3.1. Furthermore, it also supports PPS (Programmable Power Supply) and AVS (Adjustable Power Supply). Via PPS it can supply around 105W of total power, while the less-grained AVS is rated to supply a full 140W of power. Meanwhile, the USB A port supports fast charging. Furthermore, the charger also supports features like over-voltage protection, over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, and surge safeguard.

I used the Nomad Pro with a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, some headphones, and a OnePlus tablet. When it comes to power supplies, there can be a little misunderstanding. Most people believe that it is the charger that defines how much power it can supply. But it doesn’t work like that. Instead, it is the device that decides how much power it needs and different devices handle this aspect differently. Some people want a full load that they can handle, while others are more agile and mobile.

Nonetheless, I found that the Nomad Pro charged devices connected to it at the same speeds I see with official chargers. In terms of power drawn, its TFT display showed dynamic figures. For example, power delivery when charging a MacBook Pro typically fluctuates between 80W to 110W. No matter how much I charged and how many ports I used simultaneously, the temperature inside the Nomad Pro remained “excellent.”

Is the Nomad Pro worth the price?

Not everyone finds a smart charger necessary. If you have regular phone and laptop chargers, you might be reluctant to spend a few thousand bucks on a new charger, no matter how cool or smart it is. But that also doesn’t mean they’re not worth the money. Because I believe the StuffCool Nomad Pro is a good value.

This charger offers convenience: the convenience of using one brick for multiple devices as well as the useful information that its port can provide. Imagine, the charging port of your laptop or phone has stopped. The Nomad Pro can actually highlight this because when you connect that device it will (theoretically) show zero power drawn from it. At the same time, the charger also provides convenience while traveling as it can also work as a universal adapter.

Is it worth Rs 6499, which is the selling price of the Nomad Pro? For many people it will be. And even more so when you consider the prices of similar chargers from Anker or Ugreen. Hint: If you can find them in India, they are usually above Rs 10,000. Given this reality, I think the Nomad Pro has its place in the market. It’s unique, at least for now, and compared to some other such chargers, it comes from a brand that has a reputation for making quality products. Whether it’ll find a place in your backpack or not depends on how much you care about its functionality.