Asus has rolled out a new a-bean 100W GaN charger in China, and the headline is simple: a compact multi-port brick with serious output for about 179 yuan, or $25. That makes the Asus a-bean 100W charger a tempting pick for anyone who wants one charger to handle a laptop, phone, earbuds, and a spare device without lugging around a power strip impersonating a travel accessory.
The a-bean charger uses a 3C+1A layout, with three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, and Asus says GaN tech keeps the size down without sacrificing power. At 75 x 61 x 29 mm and around 211 grams, it is small enough to vanish into a backpack pocket, helped by foldable wall prongs and a choice of color combinations that are more playful than most charger hardware has any right to be.
Asus a-bean 100W charger ports and output
USB-C1 and USB-C2 are the stars here: each can deliver up to 100W when used on its own. The third USB-C port tops out at 20W, while the USB-A port reaches 22.5W with SCP or 18W using Qualcomm Quick Charge. Asus also claims support for USB Power Delivery, PPS, QC, SCP, FCP, QFC, and PE, which is a long way of saying it should play nicely with a lot of modern gear.
- Single USB-C port: up to 100W
- USB-C3: up to 20W
- USB-A: 22.5W with SCP, 18W with QC
Power splits change fast once more devices are plugged in
Like most multi-port chargers, the output drops as soon as you start filling every socket. With both high-speed USB-C ports in use, the charger splits power into 60W and 30W. Pair USB-C1 with USB-C3 and you get 60W plus 20W, while USB-C1 and USB-A give 60W plus 22.5W. That is the practical trade-off of compact charging: one port can be a beast, but the whole box has to share the budget.
For three-device charging, Asus lists 45W + 30W + 20W for USB-C1, USB-C2, and USB-C3, or 45W + 30W + 22.5W when USB-A is in the mix. With all four ports active, the charger delivers 45W through USB-C1, 30W through USB-C2, and a shared 20W for USB-C3 and USB-A. That is enough to keep a laptop alive while also feeding a phone and a couple of smaller gadgets, which is exactly the kind of everyday utility that makes a cheap charger more interesting than its price tag suggests.
A travel charger built for the crowded bag
The timing also fits the broader charger market, where GaN has turned what used to be bulky adapters into pocketable rectangles with too many ports. Anker, Ugreen, and Baseus have spent the last few years pushing similar high-wattage multi-port bricks, so Asus is clearly trying to win on a familiar formula: strong specs, small body, low price. The catch, as always, is whether a bargain charger from a major PC brand can stand out long enough to matter beyond its launch window.
For now, though, the a-bean 100W looks like a straightforward deal: plenty of power, broad compatibility, and a form factor that makes sense for travel. If Asus keeps the price near $25 and brings it beyond China, it could become one of those boringly useful accessories people recommend far more often than they admire it.