The dreamGEAR Multi Charger comes with very useful 4-in-1 USB charger for the Nintendo DS Lite, the PSP Slim and PSP, the GBA SP and Nintendo DS (original) and the GBA Micro. Also included in the blister-pack (which nearly took my fingers off, be well prepared before attempting the opening of it) is an emergency USB power pack which allows you to use 4 AAA batteries to supply power to a USB device. The obvious use is to plug the USB charger into it and charge your portable game players, thus acting as a spare battery. The pack is rounded off with a tiny wall charger that is rated from 100 to 240 Volts and supplies a USB socket to use along with the multi-charging USB cable, but it only fits a US two-prong socket so to use it in South African plug points you’ll need a universal socket adapter.

I tested out the multi-charging USB cable along with the power adapter (using a South African to US socket adapter), and I was able to charge my DS Lite, GBA SP, GBA Micro and PSP (original) with it successfully. The user’s guide says to only charge one device at a time which decreases its usefulness for at-home use a little.

Nevertheless, if you go travelling it is much easier just to pack the multi-charging cable, the wall charger and a socket adapter than to pack a charger for each portable. Another big advantage to the USB connector is that it doesn’t matter if you have a US, European or Japanese portable device – they will all be able to be charged using this, a useful property if you’re travelling overseas too. The emergency USB power pack works well enough and might be a good alternative to buying extra battery packs for your systems when you’re not able to plug them in on long trips.

The value of the package is a little diminished because of the necessity of having to buy another socket adapter in order to use it. To use the emergency USB power pack you will also need to buy a pack of 4 AAA batteries too as they’re not included. I would also like to be able charge multiple devices at the same time using the USB charger, but as is this is a very useful package.

Priced at R368, the dreamGEAR Multi Charger is very useful for travelling because of its size and multi-function. The dreamGEAR range is available at Budget Tech, Incredible Connection, Look ‘n Listen, Pick ‘n Pay, Makro, Dion Wired, Kalahari, E-Dream, Digital Planet and CNA.

Thanks to TCM Warehouse for the cool sample.