Stuffcool Zeno 100W charger review: Power, convenience and one surprise feature make it stand out

The Stuffcool Zeno 100W promises to simplify and declutter your work desk setup with a built-in retractable cable, fast charging, and enough power to charge your phone and laptop. In this India Today Tech review, we will find out whether it lives up to that promise.

Stuffcool Zeno 100W charger review - 8/10

Pros

• Compact design 
• Retractable USB-C cable
• Multiple ports

Cons

• Gets warm during heavy use
• AC power cable is not retractable

In Short

• Stuffcool Zeno 100W charger has a built-in retractable USB-C cable
• The charger promises to deliver up to 100W output for charging laptops, phones and tablet
• It also has multiple ports which let you charge several devices at once 

My desk is packed. To the gills. It is an ecosystem, at this point, where multiple devices are vying for attention all the time. Laptop, phone, smartwatch, earphones, the works. They all have one thing in common. They need charge. Their chargers take up their own space of course but they are also constantly at odds over who gets first dibs at the power socket. I tell you, it can be quite a ruckus. When Stuffcool sent me the Zeno 100W charger for review, a sense of calm – and relief – dawned on me. It is a portable charger that promises to reduce cable clutter by combining multiple charging options into a single compact unit with a built-in retractable USB-C cable.

On paper, it sounds very convenient. You get up to 100W total output, dual USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a retractable Type-C cable built right into the charger itself.

The idea is simple: fewer loose cables, less mess on your desk, and enough power to charge everything from smartphones to laptops. And after using the Stuffcool Zeno 100W for around two weeks to power my laptop, phone, smartwatch, earbuds and pretty much everything else, I can see the appeal. It's convenient, practical, and one of those gadgets you don't think you need until you start using it.

What’s in the box?

Inside the box, the Stuffcool Zeno 100W comes all the basics. You get the main charging hub with the retractable USB-C cable already attached, a detachable 1.5-metre power cord, and the usual paperwork, including the user manual and warranty information. There are no additional USB cables or charging adapters included.

As for the charger itself, the design is minimal and functional. It has a squarish shape with rounded edges and feels relatively lightweight for a 100W charging brick. The matte white finish gives it a clean look that blends nicely into desk setups without drawing unnecessary attention. It only comes in white colour option, but the finish doesn't look cheap and, even after a couple of weeks of use, it didn't pick up any odd yellow or pinkish stains.

Stuffcool says the Zeno 100W is primarily designed for a desktop and it on your work desk, but it follows along. It's compact enough to slip into a backpack and carry around without much thought. Over the past couple of weeks, I found myself using it not just at my work desk but also while travelling and commuting between home and office. That's one of the things I liked most about it. Despite being a 100W charger, it never felt bulky or inconvenient to carry around.

Retractable cable is useful

One of the biggest highlights of the Zeno 100W is its retractable USB-C cable. The cable extends smoothly and retracts just as easily, without any stiffness or awkward resistance. Even after repeatedly pulling it out and retracting it several times a day, the mechanism continued to feel smooth and reliable.

The cable extends up to 93cm, which is more than enough for most desk setups. Whether the charger is sitting next to your monitor or plugged into a socket below the desk, the length is generally sufficient to comfortably reach your phone or laptop.

While the retractable cable did a great job of keeping my desk tidy, I wish the AC power cable could have been retractable too for more convenience. Unlike the built-in USB-C cable, the power cord remains a separate accessory that you still need to carry around and manage. It's not a major complaint, but given it already has a retractable cable, getting a similar function for power cable would have made the Zeno 100W feel even cleaner, more compact and better suited for travel.

Charging performance

Now talking about its main job, in day-to-day use, the Zeno performed reliably. I primarily tested it with my main devices like MacBook Air M2, iPhone 16 Plus and my review units like Dell XPS 16, and the charging speeds were genuinely impressive. During testing, the phone went from 1 per cent to 83 per cent in roughly 60 minutes, which is quite solid for regular daily charging. The laptops also got charged up in around 2 hours.

The charger also supports Power Delivery (PD 3.0), PPS charging, Samsung Super-Fast Charging 2.0, and Quick Charge 3.0 through the USB-A port. In simple terms, it works with pretty much everything, smartphones, tablets, iPads, MacBooks, Windows laptops, earbuds, and accessories.

One of the nicest parts about using the Zeno is that it removed the need for carrying multiple charging adapters. You can easily plug in a laptop, phone, and another accessory together from a single unit sitting on the desk.

The charging speed also stayed stable during my use. There were no random disconnections, charging interruptions, or flickering issues. Everything worked smoothly across devices.

The only downside I consistently noticed during use was heat. The charger does get warm, especially while charging multiple devices simultaneously or when pushing higher wattages. It never became dangerously hot, but it is definitely noticeable.

Apart from that, there is very little to complain about.

Stuffcool Zeno 100W charger: Should you buy it?

If you're someone who's fed up with the tangle of charging cables, adapters and gadgets constantly fighting for space on your desk, the Stuffcool Zeno 100W is worth considering.

This charger offers both power and convenience. The retractable cable works smoothly and makes it more compact. The multiple ports reduce the need to carry separate chargers, and the compact design makes it easy to move between home, office and travel.

At Rs 3,999, the Zeno 100W isn't the cheapest charger you can buy. However, it is reasonably priced compared to many premium alternatives. So, if you're looking for a charger that can handle your laptop, phone, earbuds, smartwatch and other accessories while also helping keep your desk a little less chaotic, Stuffcool Zeno 100W, offers good value for money.

- Ends