Review: The Easy-Install SnapPower Charger Adds a USB Port to Your Outlet

The SnapPower Charger, designed to make it easy to add USB ports to a wall outlet with no complicated wiring, originated on Kickstarter in 2015. It's basically an outlet replacement that features two standard sockets and an additional USB port, and it's meant to be simple enough to install in just a couple of minutes.

SnapPower is available in three colors (white, light almond, and ivory) to match different home decor. Design wise, it looks identical to a standard outlet cover, but it features a hump at the bottom that houses a USB port for charging iOS devices. There are two versions of the SnapPower, designed to fit square or round outlets, which make up most of the types of modern outlet plates in the United States.

The SnapPower works by connecting the two metal tabs at the sides of the outlet cover to the screws of the outlet, allowing for a small amount of power to be drawn into the USB port of the device.


My apartment, which is fairly modern, is equipped with square-style outlets and the square SnapPower fit well. Some older houses and apartments might have outlets that are not compatible with the SnapPower, so that's something to be aware of when considering a purchase.

I have zero electrical experience and I was able to install the SnapPower without running into problems. I turned off the power to my office through the circuit breaker, unscrewed my existing outlet cover, pulled it off the wall, snapped the SnapPower into place over the bare sockets, and then put the screws back in and turned the power back on. It took all of five minutes to do and was very straightforward.

One caveat -- I had an outlet that had been installed by an electrician upside down. The SnapPower still worked, but I had to install it upside down as well to get the contacts to line up properly to power the USB port.

The SnapPower is bit thicker overall than a standard outlet cover and much thicker at the bottom to accommodate a USB port, so it makes outlets stand out visually more than a normal outlet would, but it wasn't enough of an aesthetic difference to be super noticeable.

Any USB device can be charged with the SnapPower, but it's limited to one amp, which is best suited to iPhone charging. Charging speeds are comparable to charging with an Apple iPhone charger, so it's not great for charging iPads.

I was able to charge an iPhone 6s Plus in about the same amount of time that it takes to charge with a standard iPhone charger and Lightning cable, but my 9.7-inch iPad Pro took much longer, and I didn't even attempt to charge my 12.9-inch iPad Pro with such a low-power charger.

When I charge my iPhone, I don't typically use Apple's included charger because it's too slow, so I thought the SnapPower, while convenient, just wasn't worth it for me. It's not something that I'd use on a regular basis because I generally want faster charging for my iPhone and my other iOS devices.

If you're charging an iPhone overnight (or an Apple Watch) the speed of the charging doesn't matter quite as much, which makes the SnapPower more useful. I could see installing this next to a bedside table for a simple way to charge a device overnight without taking up a full socket.

Bottom Line

At a price ranging from $16 to $20 based on the number of SnapPower Chargers purchased, the device seems expensive for what you get - a single USB port. Comparatively, a little Anker PowerPort that can plug into a socket and offer 4 USB ports with faster charging speeds costs $25 from Amazon, which seems like a better deal to me. I'd rather spend my money on a multi-port charger that can go anywhere.

That said, if you're looking for a sleek solution that doesn't add visible bulk to your sockets and is easier to install than a solution that requires wiring expertise, the SnapPower is a good option. It was quick and easy for me to put in place and since I didn't need to do any wiring, I could install it in my apartment on my own.

If I had a house, I might seek out something more permanent and robust, able to charge devices at a faster rate. The SnapPower is limited to 1 amp, which is a major drawback if you have a lot of larger devices like iPads that require more power to charge at a reasonable rate.

Pros:

• Easy installation
• Clean, simple look
• Leaves both sockets open

Cons:

• Only adds 1 USB port
• 1 amp

How to Buy

The SnapPower Charger can be purchased from the SnapPower website. It costs $20 for a single charger, $38 for two, $85 for five, and $160 for 10.