Why this universal travel charger earned a place in my backpack – especially at its price

I’m a big fan of universal travel chargers that can shapeshift into whatever power outlet I’m faced with. But most of the ones I’ve been traveling with are pretty big and bulky. Sure they can push out a lot of power and handle power-hungry devices like my MacBook Pro, but they’re overkill if I’ve just got my phone with me.

This is why I’ve been testing Rolling Square’s Pocket Travel Charger, a tiny charger that transforms to allow for worldwide power outlet compatibility. 

Also: The best power banks you can buy in 2025

In fact, I’ve been testing two of them. The Rolling Square Pocket Travel Charger comes in two versions: a 30W unit with a single USB-C output, and another with 20W output from one USB-C and one USB-A port.   

Yes, Rolling Square produced two versions of the same device. The one with the USB-C port is a 30W unit, perfect for someone traveling with a smartphone, and there’s a 20W unit that has alongside the USB-C port a legacy USB-A port (25W max when using the USB-C port alone, 20W for the USB-A port, and 15W if using both).

The 30W single port charger is slightly smaller and slightly heavier than its two-port counterpart, but both pretty much disappear when slipped into a pocket. 

The business end — the bit that plugs into the host power outlet — are the same for both. They consist of a selection of prongs that can be extended and retracted to suit US, EU, Australian, and UK sockets, making these tiny chargers compatible with the sockets found in over 200 countries worldwide. I’ve tested the chargers with a number of different sockets from around the world, and they worked just fine.

And fear not, the charger can handle voltages ranging from 100V to 250V at 50Hz and 60Hz. 

Both versions of the charger are compact, yet robust enough to withstand the rigors of travel. I’ve used mine on a number of trips, and they’ve both worked flawlessly, even after being thrown around in bags and suitcases. And speaking of, they add almost no weight to your burden.

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Which do you choose? If you’re all-in with USB-C, then go for the 30W charger, but if you have legacy devices, you’ll have to do with less power output. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

Both chargers cost $30, making them competitively priced. The 30W unit is the one I’d go for, unless you have a pressing need for a USB-A port. 

However, if you’re someone who wants to power a powerful universal travel charger, I’ve also covered some of those. If I need more power, I take one of my Tessan travel chargers with me, another item that’s not let me down.