I cracked open cheap charging gadgets from Temu – and it was worse than I expected

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• I bought a bunch of stuff from Temu at “too good to be true” prices.
• Most of the products were defective or badly made.
• All these products were listed as bestsellers.

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Everyone loves a bargain, but as my grandfather used to say, things can be “too good to be true.” Then you’re stuck in that awkward spot of “buy cheap, buy twice.”

Outlets like Temu seem to offer an unlimited oasis of cheap and cheerful stuff, and not a week goes by without someone asking me what I think about the quality of the electronic gadgets and gear from these places.

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Well, there’s only one way to find out. I put my money where my mouth is, spent some of my pocket money on tech essentials, and waited patiently for them to be delivered so I could see what I got.

Disclosure: For many years, I’ve liaised with UK Trading Standards officers to get counterfeit, unsafe, and dangerous products removed from sale. All my findings from these purchases will be forwarded to the authorities.

I ordered a selection of items that people might want: a power bank, a mains charger, a travel adapter, a charging station, and a charging cable. I picked items that were suggested to me and advertised as “best sellers.” I then tested and tore them apart to see what made them tick. Based on this (albeit limited) sampling of items, it was a pretty dismal experience.

ZDNET has reached out to Temu, but so far, the company has not responded to a request for comment.

“10,000mAh” power bank

Let’s start with the power bank. This is the type with the fake display (a printed bit of plastic with a backlight) that charges using microUSB. I ordered a 10,000mAh version, but I was supplied with one claiming to be 20,000mAh. A bargain, right?

Wrong.

When I received the power bank, it initially seemed to work fine but then suddenly stopped working. At this point, I hadn’t even used it once, so the bargain price of $5.56 for what wasn’t even a single-use power bank seemed steep.

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On opening it up, I immediately found out why it wasn’t working. One of the wires had popped off the battery. It hadn’t been soldered in place but was instead folded between the tabs of the battery. This is not great because a loose wire could cause a short circuit, fire, or even an explosion.

But it got worse.

The battery wasn’t new but salvaged from something else. It had no names or markings on it, and it definitely wasn’t a 10,000mAh or 20,000mAh pack (I later measured it at about 7,000mAh). It also showed signs of damage on the corners and the main body, which makes it risky.

Also, inside the power bank was a lump of steel.

Why a lump of steel, you might ask? Sketchy manufacturers do this to add weight to a product that might otherwise feel suspiciously light.

Bottom line: Terrible product.

Alternative: Pick up something like the Cuktech 20,000mAh power bank for $27.

Smart charge adapter

This four-port (two USB-A and two USB-C) power adapter seems like a great buy for $8.50 — until you realize it’s only listed as a 10W adapter. It’s even less of a great deal when you discover it can barely push out 10W with one port in use and fails completely when multiple devices are connected.

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Another issue is that the case separated from the plug easily. I just had to give it a little squeeze with pliers. This is a safety hazard if it happens while the unit is plugged into a socket.

From an electrical safety point of view, I’d call this acceptable, but as a usable charger, it’s pretty poor.

Bottom line: Avoid.

Alternative: You can pick up a decent 50W/4-port Anker Zolo power adapter for $30.

Travel adapter

This was one of the better products, but at $9.80, it’s not cheap. It features an EU plug on the back and a UK socket on the front, claiming to be rated for 3,250W. I tested it at this pass-through voltage, and it could handle the load, but the prongs got hot. I wouldn’t recommend using it at this load for long.

I also found a kinked wire inside the unit — this can cause overheating — and some examples of very bad circuit board soldering.

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The dual USB ports (one USB-A and one USB-C) can output a maximum of 12W, and it achieved this when one or both ports were in use. However, I found the USB-C output to be far from stable, which could cause issues when charging some devices.

Bottom line: Not the worst thing I’ve seen, but I’d still avoid it.

Alternative: The excellent Anker Nano 20W/5-Port Travel Adapter is only $26.

12-port charging station

This 12-port charging station features six USB-A and six USB-C ports. The problem is that the unit has a USB-A plug on the end, and inside, there’s no power management. It’s just a splitter for whatever power outlet you connect it to, which won’t exceed 30W. Because of this, you’ll never be able to charge a dozen devices simultaneously. In fact, with more than one device plugged in, charging became erratic.

Power management ensures that each connected device receives the appropriate amount of power without overloading the charger or causing erratic charging behavior. Chargers without proper power management, like this one, can lead to overheating, device damage, or inefficient charging.

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On the plus side, this charging station was better constructed than the power adapter and took more effort to open up.

Bottom line: It’s not harmful but doesn’t do much either.

Alternative: If you need to charge a dozen devices simultaneously, pick up two 100W Tessan charging stations. Each has three USB-A and three USB-C ports and costs $37.

3-foot 60W USB-A to USB-C nylon braided charging cable

A cable is just a cable, right? Well, yes and no.

This cable is rated for 60W, but it will only carry this wattage under specific circumstances. You’d need a Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0/3.0 charger, a compatible device, and a high-quality cable. Delving into the specs, a “high-quality cable” must have wires that are 20 AWG or thicker. This one doesn’t, so it’s susceptible to overheating at high wattages.

Another issue is that the metal caps on the ends of the cable came off easily, and the strain relief wasn’t effective.

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Bottom line: Since this cable cost less than $2, I wasn’t expecting much, but it isn’t suitable for 60W.

Alternative: If you need a USB-A to USB-C cable that can handle 60W, try the Chubbycable Chubby 2.0, a well-made cable for $19.

How to avoid bad tech products

Want to avoid products that might stop working prematurely or fail in potentially dangerous ways? Here are my top tips:

• Stick with quality brands. Not sure what’s a quality brand? Google it.
• Avoid overly generic branding: Products with no clear branding or overly generic names are often low-quality or counterfeit.
• Look for badly Photoshopped or AI-generated product photos. Typos are also a real giveaway.

• If it seems too cheap, it probably is. If you’re unsure what’s a decent price, check Amazon, Walmart, or BestBuy.
• Take reviews on sites like Temu with a grain of salt. I’m always surprised how products I’ve tested and found to be bad have loads of great reviews, which suggests manipulation or incentivized content.
• Check for certifications: Look for safety certifications like CE, FCC, or UL on electronic products. These indicate that the product meets basic safety standards (although these can be faked).
• Read independent reviews: Sites like ZDNET and CNET test and rank products, providing unbiased insights.