Belkin has launched a 45W Retractable GaN Wall Charger, model WCH023, in China for about $28. The main draw is a built-in USB-C cable that pulls out to 0.8 meters and retracts back into the body when not in use.
The Belkin 45W retractable GaN charger is aimed at people who want one less cable in a travel bag. It also competes with premium GaN chargers on price while promising fast charging, dual-device support, and a compact design.
Retractable cable built for heavy use
The cable mechanism is rated for 20,000 retraction cycles, while the cable itself is said to survive 5,000 bends and support up to 10 kg of load. Those are the kinds of numbers that suggest Belkin expects people to use this charger in bags, airports, and desk drawers, which is fair game for any charger with a moving part.
The charger is compact at 65 x 52 x 38 mm and weighs 145 grams. Foldable power prongs help with portability, and the casing is made from 90% recycled plastic, a nice touch that is more substantial than the usual greenwashing garnish.
45W output and charging split
Belkin says the charger can deliver up to 45W when powering a single device through either the integrated cable or the USB-C port. If you plug in two devices at once, the power is split 25W and 20W. It also supports USB Power Delivery 3.1 and PPS, which puts it in line with the fast-charging standards shoppers actually ask for rather than the ones printed only on packaging.
- iPhone 17 Pro: up to 50% in about 20 minutes
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: up to 50% in about 25 minutes
- Power conversion efficiency: up to 92%
- Thermals: about 10 degrees Celsius cooler than conventional chargers of similar power
A travel charger aimed at clutter reduction
Belkin has also built in protection against overheating, overvoltage, overcurrent, and short circuits. In other words, it’s trying to sell peace of mind along with the retractable-cable gimmick, and that combination is smart if the hardware survives real-world use as well as the spec sheet suggests.
The bigger question is whether this becomes a one-off novelty or a category move. Retractable cables are rare in premium wall chargers, but if Belkin can make the mechanism durable enough, expect rivals to copy the idea quickly; travel-friendly charging accessories have a habit of becoming mainstream the moment one big brand proves people will pay for less mess.