Chargeasap Miko is a tiny charger that’s always with you [Review] ★★★★☆

The Chargeasap Miko solves the biggest problem with tiny iPhone chargers: remembering to carry them in the first place.

Chargeasap calls it the world’s smallest 30W GaN charger, but the device’s dimunitive size isn’t its only strong point. The Miko packs several thoughtful design touches that help it stand out from the competition. Here’s how the tiny charger performs in real life.

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Chargeasap Miko review: A tiny charger that’s always with you

In recent years, iPhone chargers have become smaller and more powerful than ever before. Every major accessory brand now sells compact GaN adapters that disappear into a backpack or pocket.

I recently reviewed the Ugreen Nexode Air 65W, an insanely compact 65W GaN charger. The Miko is not as powerful as the Nexode Air (and it does not claim to be). Instead, it focuses on being the world’s smallest 30W charger, with Chargeasap marketing it as “smaller than a credit card.” However, its biggest selling point is the detachable USB-C cable that doubles as a keyring loop.

Table of contents: Chargeasap Miko review

Tiny size, clever design

The Chargeasap Miko is genuinely one of the smallest USB-C chargers I’ve ever used. It’s barely larger than a stack of credit cards. Its form factor is unlike that of a traditional wall charger. The USB-C port is located on the left of the charger’s bottom edge.

The folding prongs tuck neatly into the body, making the charger compact enough to slip into the tiny coin pocket of a pair of jeans or hang comfortably from your keys.

The Miko unit I tested was a pre-production sample, and its plastic construction felt a little flimsy. I found a few uneven panel gaps and rough edges, too. Companies typically iron out these types of minor quirks before mass production, so they shouldn’t be present in the retail version.

As mentioned, the Miko’s compact size is only part of the story. Its standout design feature is a detachable USB-C cable. Rather than integrating the cable into the charger’s body, Chargeasap designed a clever locking mechanism.

Detachable USB-C cable FTW

Both ends of the cable slide into a metal sleeve that attaches to the Chargeasap Miko charger. This forms a loop that doubles as a keyring attachment. Press the release button on the sleeve, then pull the cable free, and you’re ready to charge your device.

Despite its slim profile, the cable is surprisingly sturdy. It’s braided, flexible and easy to wrap back into place after use.

Yes, its 30 cm (1 foot) length can be an issue, but it is not a dealbreaker. My bigger gripe with the cable is that it can only carry 30W of power, matching the charger’s maximum output. Ideally, I would have liked a bit more headroom — up to 60W in case I ever used the cable with another charger to top up my MacBook or another power-hungry device.

It’s one of those ideas that seems obvious in hindsight. You get the convenience of always having a USB-C cable with you, without permanently tethering it to the charger.

This might seem like a small convenience, but it’s surprisingly practical. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve packed a charger only to realize I forgot the cable. With the Miko, that’s simply not possible.

A deceptively simple design

The attention to detail extends beyond the cable. The front of the charger features a vegan leather insert that gives it a more premium look than the sea of plain plastic GaN chargers on the market. Even better, Chargeasap offers the Miko in three colors: navy, orange and tan.

That vegan leather looks good initially, but it will show signs of wear and tear over time. In just over a week, my Miko’s front has already picked up a few scuffs. 

Of course, clever design only goes so far. A charger still needs to deliver reliable power, and that’s where I put the Miko through its paces.

Big performance from a tiny charger

For such a tiny charger, the Miko delivers exactly the kind of performance you’d expect from a quality 30W GaN adapter.

Chargeasap rates the Miko for up to 30W USB-C Power Delivery. In my testing, the charger consistently peaked at 25.8W. While that’s slightly below the advertised figure, it really should not be an issue.

More importantly, the Miko sustained that output without any trouble. I left it charging continuously for 30 to 45 minutes while monitoring its power delivery. I saw no unexpected drops, disconnects or signs of thermal throttling.

For such a compact charger, that’s impressive. I have consistently found even bigger GaN chargers failing to sustain high-power output for more than 10 to 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, Chargeasap’s engineering team cannot beat the laws of physics.

During the same 30-minute test, the Miko became extremely hot. Using a thermometer, I measured temperatures over 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) on the rear of the charger, while the front exceeded 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). That’s uncomfortably hot, and it was immediately noticeable when I unplugged the charger.

To be fair, some heat is inevitable when squeezing a 30W GaN charger into such a tiny enclosure. Larger chargers have significantly more surface area to dissipate heat, while the Miko has almost none. Even so, these temperatures are higher than I’d like to see.

The high temperatures also make me worry about the Chargeasap Miko’s long-term reliability.

The good news is that the charger never shut down or throttled, despite the heat. It continued delivering its peak 25.4W power throughout my testing. This suggests that Chargeasap’s thermal management is doing its job. The heat should also be less of a concern when charging iPhones, iPads and other devices that don’t pull the full power throughout the charging cycle.

Even so, I probably wouldn’t leave it plugged into the wall for hours every day or use the Miko to charge my MacBook Pro overnight.

Is the Chargeasap Miko worth your money?

The Chargeasap Miko is one of those products that solves a surprisingly common problem with a clever design. It combines a compact 30W USB-C charger with a cleverly attached USB-C cable to ensure you never leave home without a charger or cable.

Its tiny footprint, premium design and consistent charging performance make it an excellent travel companion or emergency charger to keep on your keyring.

The only downside is the amount of heat generated. While the Miko never throttled or shut down during my testing, temperatures exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) are difficult to ignore. If your priority is having the smallest charger possible that’s always within reach, the Miko is an impressively engineered accessory that’s easy to recommend. Just don’t expect it to stay cool while doing its job.

★★★★☆

Pricing and availability

The Chargeasap Miko will go on sale later this year for $79. You can currently back the Kickstarter campaign and get an early bird discount price of $48.

Chargeasap provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.