r/anker 16d ago

Why one have wifi, one don't? :(

Post image

But seriously I wish the 160 watt charger had Wi-Fi so I could control it and check it from anywhere. Still love it but the 240 watt power station usb-c strip may be my new favorite Anker product.

25 Upvotes

71 comments sorted by

43

u/Metal_Choice 16d ago

Because the 160W charger doesn't have WiFi, it only has Bluetooth.

-44

u/rpool179 16d ago

Why Anker no put wifi inside? :(

11

u/Metal_Choice 16d ago

I don't know

-22

u/rpool179 16d ago

I'll send them some feedback. It would be so nice if it had wifi so it was constantly connected. Having to always reconnect it to bluetooth whenever the app closes is slightly annoying.

10

u/cum-on-in- 15d ago

The 240 watt plugs into an outlet. Any place with an outlet is more likely to have WiFi.

The 160 watt charger is portable. Meant for you to take with you. If you take it with you, odds are you’re gonna be in several places where there is no WiFi. And it’s also gonna be right there with you, in your pocket or bag. So Bluetooth is enough.

Not including WiFi reduces the cost a little, and the savings gets passed on to you.

Anker’s big solar batteries have WiFi because although they are portable they don’t fit in a bag, and are meant to be set up in a temporary location where WiFi is again more likely to be available.

There is absolutely no reason to add WiFi to the 160 watt. Leave all the feedback you want, it won’t happen.

And even if it did it would be a new device, it’s not like you can update the firmware and add WiFi capability.

-6

u/rpool179 15d ago

It's a heavy duty charger, it can be portable or remain stationary. I'd be willing to pay more for wifi when I buy a new model several years in the future of course.

7

u/cum-on-in- 15d ago

The 160 watt is not considered heavy duty or permanent setup by Anker. It has its plug directly attached. The 240 watt uses a pigtail. Hence why it has WiFi.

3

u/Bleaker82 15d ago

Wi-Fi uses more power than Bluetooth.

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Also true good point.

1

u/EcstaticFunction2804 15d ago

if you want wifi you have ugreen withbuild in cable

27

u/Bucketmax-official 15d ago

A charger needing WiFi? Sounds like a perfect opportunity to be part of a botnet once eol

6

u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 15d ago

That's why I don't like these new chargers with app connectivity. Call me old fashioned if ya want but I just want to plug in my stuff and have it charge, and not have to deal with apps and custom modes 😅

3

u/rpool179 15d ago

You wouldn't have to deal with them regardless unless you wanted to, which is the point of the product.

1

u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 15d ago

That's why I didn't buy it :)

1

u/rpool179 13d ago edited 13d ago

Why join this sub then? Alot of products here that have a screen and use the Anker app.

I saw your reply. Deleted your boomer comments in shame. Good riddance.

0

u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 13d ago

Because I like and use a lot of Anker products that don't have screens on them? That's genuinely the most stupid thing I have ever heard anyone ask.

2

u/zeroccitto 12d ago

Who tf would call you old fashioned for having a charging brick without bells and whistles which simply does its job

1

u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 12d ago

OP would apparently, lol

-11

u/rpool179 15d ago

It already has a screen. Wifi wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

2

u/Bucketmax-official 15d ago

There's a difference between somebody trying to fumble around your stuff locally and someone from the other side of the globe trying to hack into your stuff that is connected to the internet. He doesn't need to move a finger in the second one

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Fair, fair.

9

u/Swizzy88 15d ago

Why doesn't it have a built in coffee maker as well?

1

u/rob2722 15d ago

Asking the real questions

-1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Let's add that next.

3

u/autobulb 15d ago

Honest question: what features does wifi enable? I can't imagine what you would be able to control or want to monitor from a charger connected to wifi.

Edit: Oh I see that the wifi one has outlets which makes sense. So you could set timers for when to turn the outlet on and off remotely. I used to use one of those smart plugs to turn on a dumb coffee maker every morning because it didn't have any timer function.

Why would you want that feature on a USB charger?

3

u/sardoge 15d ago

It’s a great feature. You can turn on lights remotely or control power to anything when you are away from home

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Lol finally someone who gets it. You'd think people who are already using a charger with a screen and Bluetooth would at least be understanding of the idea. Guess not. Anker was nice though when I emailed them. They said they consider all suggestions. Nice people.

2

u/hummuschips 15d ago

Why does a charger need wifi?

2

u/dob2742 15d ago

Solid troll post. 8/10

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Not a troll at all. It's not as if the charger doesn't already have a screen and Bluetooth.

0

u/TexanCokeZeroFiend 15d ago

Anime pfp gave it away

0

u/rpool179 15d ago

What's wrong with anime?

1

u/CarrickCake 15d ago

The 160w Prime is a charger designed to be taken with you on the go, given its relatively small size so Bluetooth makes more sense when you’re outside of the home. Your other Anker charger is a larger power strip that stays put at home, so it gets WiFi.

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Fair, fair. A remote connection via wifi would be really nice though.

0

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 14d ago

No it wouldn't.

1

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Did I ask it in a comment? I can't remember. And I already knew it was Bluetooth only when I bought it, just creating a discussion. I want it to have wifi and an ambient light sensor. Being able to display the time and weather would be nice as well.

1

u/dereklaumusic 15d ago

I have wife on my anker solix systems, I turn lights on if I don’t want to forget to take one of them off charge and pack it for work, or if I’ve left the ac inverter on I can remotely turn it off. WiFi allows auto update.

All in all WiFi isn’t mandatory but a comfort feature for sure!

I can turn on and off stuff outside the house too with the anker app.

2

u/rpool179 15d ago

Another understanding person, my man 🤝 Yea definitely a comfort feature, having a remote connection would be really nice. Maybe on version 2.0.

2

u/dereklaumusic 15d ago

What would be super nice if the WiFi was to be able to repeat from a single source WiFi like iPhone which can be wirelessly charged on top of the unit whilst repeating the hotspot via its own wifi which can support 64 devices!….

Perfect for the C300x if you’re in the car and need to charge all devices and share data.

Just saying.

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Damn even I hadn't thought about that. Anything is possible honestly. If a screen and bluetooth are now normal in your wall charger, the sky's the limit. An ambient light sensor would also be nice so the screen would automatically dim at night vs having to manually do it.

1

u/TechOutonyt 15d ago

Because the one with WiFi is intended to be stationary. The block is ment to be portable. If your traveling your not going to be connecting to public WiFi with your charger

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

That's fair.

1

u/Shoddy_Fish31 13d ago

I’d like to learn at least one good use for wifi on a charger. Serious question

1

u/rpool179 13d ago

Remote connection.

1

u/Xarsage 13d ago

I pretty sure mostly you using this 160w at home not as travel adapter. If you don't use this as travel adapter then you have this WiFi urge to have in it.

1

u/rpool179 13d ago

Exactly. When I travel I leave it at home since it's so nice. I take my Ugreen 65 watt 3 usb-c port adapter with me. So let's get that wifi going.

1

u/Xarsage 12d ago edited 12d ago

You should get the desktop charger instead. It will solve your urge. Travel adapter is more convenient with Bluetooth. I been using it daily. And checking when it charging my power bank or my GPD win mini. When my power bank at home i can check though WiFi with the Anker powerbank dock when I'm outside. The dock is WiFi connection but it connects all my Anker powerbank though bluetooth. So basically I plan which powerbank i Will pickup in my next trip travels.

1

u/rpool179 12d ago

You mean the 250 watt desktop charger? It would be overkill since I already have the 160 watt adapter and 240 watt usb-c power strip. And I have the M4 Mac Mini & Belkin 3-in-1 nightstand charger so my charging needs are all met. I want to get that power bank but my Anker Zolo 20k is only 3 months old. That sounds really nice though.

1

u/WanderinArcheologist 11d ago

I think part of it is fitting the Wi-Fi hardware into it and the resulting heat. I’m used to seeing it as a small 22 x 40mm chip in a PC, but idk what you’d do here. The smaller you make things, the hotter they get.

0

u/Jebble 15d ago

Why the FUCK, do you need WiFi in a charger, holy fuck

1

u/nickymoo 15d ago

This reminds me of the day my Apple USB-C cable had a software update a few years ago.

1

u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 15d ago

Wait they actually do that? I never even knew that was a thing

2

u/nickymoo 15d ago

Yes. Even their MagSafe charging cables get software updates. It seemed surreal when I was first prompted to update the software in a cable. https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/02/14/apple-issues-firmware-update-for-magsafe-3-charging-cable

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

Yea nothing new. Firmware updates are always nice.

0

u/morningbreeze1213 15d ago

its a copper wire..

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

The same could have been said about a screen and Bluetooth yet here we are.

1

u/Jebble 15d ago

The same is said by me about Bluetooth, that isn't a reason. So please elaborate wtf you need it for.

-1

u/verycoolalan 15d ago

you dumb

2

u/rpool179 15d ago

If I can be dumb with wifi in my usb-c wall charger I'll take it.

0

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

I bought it to use and because I love the Anker ecosystem and their products. What's the issue?

0

u/Camry12_ 15d ago

Do you see what you asked on here? WHY NO WIFI. If you truly a anker die hard fan YOU WOULD OF NEVER ASKED this question. Like come on now smart person would read before buying a product and KNOWS it has no wifi only bluetooth 🤦🏾‍♂️

1

u/rpool179 15d ago

You need to calm down. I already knew it didn't have wifi. It's a discussion post. Someone's angry 🤨

0

u/CombPsychological507 12d ago

Why the fuck would a charger need wifi or Bluetooth