Stop! Your Apple charger may be a counterfeit, and this tiny gadget can tell

USB testers have gone far beyond just testing the output voltages and power of ports, and can now test and check for counterfeit Apple chargers and cables.

I have dozens of different testers, but undoubtedly the most powerful is ChargerLab’s Power-Z KM003C USB-C meter.

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This can tell you anything and everything you need to know about a USB-C port, cable, or charger. 

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ChargerLab’s Power-Z KM003C USB-C meter

A powerful USB-C tester that includes all the normal functions you’d expect of a USB-C meter (such as the ability to measure voltages and current), but also adds features such as Apple charger and cable testing

ChargerLab’s Power-Z KM003C USB-C meter tech specs

• Size: 1.44 x 1.4 x 0.34 inches (36.5 x 35.5 × 8.7 mm)
• Weight: 16.5g (0.58 oz)
• Screen size: 1.54 inches
• Typical operating current: 15~50mA
• Processor: ARM Cortex-M4 192MHz
• Backup power: Supercapacitor 

The Power-Z KM003C features a 1.54-inch 240 by 240-pixel IPS color display, and can carry out a range of tests, including voltage/current detection, capacity/energy test, USB-C E-marker identification, protocol test, and more.

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Everything is controlled using four buttons, which is a lot easier than some of the other meters I’ve seen that have a bewildering array of rotating dials and tiny click switches on them. I often find I’m wasting a lot of time trying to figure out how the meter works, randomly jabbing at buttons and flicking switches.

There’s USB-C in and out, and a port for connecting to a PC or power source. The ports are good quality, too — sometimes these meters are kitted out with poor-quality components. The last thing I want is to be connecting devices to poor-quality USB ports that could cause damage.

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The screen is also big, clear, and easy to read. I can switch between a number of color schemes, and it rotates automatically thanks to a built-in gravity sensor, allowing me to see the readout no matter what the orientation.

In addition to all the power and protocol information that this meter can deliver, two features that I really like are its ability to detect genuine Apple chargers and read the E-Mark chip in USB-C cables. 

Built into the Power-Z KM003C is a supercapacitor that acts like a short-term battery, allowing the unit to continue to run for a few seconds even when disconnected from power — a handy feature!

At $110, the ChargerLab Power-Z KM003C USB-C meter isn’t cheap. In fact, that’s a premium price for a USB-C meter. However, this is a quality, well-made, functional meter that I find is a cut above the rest, and offers up features that you don’t see on cheaper testers.

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And if you buy a lot of Apple chargers and cables, this tester can be worth its weight in gold for weeding out any counterfeit products that unscrupulous sellers might try to foist on you.

If you’d rather go for something a bit cheaper, then the ChargerLAB Power-Z AK001 might be a better choice. This device is essentially a USB-C-to-USB-C cable with a power meter fitted in the middle, and has a more palatable $30 price tag.