Redefining What a Charger Can Look Like: The Hard Candy 35W Charger
Translated from the Chinese original.
What Is It?
It is hard to believe that the “Hard Candy (硬糖) charger” I liked most in the past has received a second-generation upgrade this year. If you have heard of its predecessor, it is hard not to be tempted by this year’s new model. It supports all the fast-charging protocols you would expect, and its maximum output has reached 35W, giving every phone—including the iPhone 14 series—fast charging. Its practicality has taken another big step forward.
What Does It Look Like?
Pull open the sharply edged drawer-style packaging, and the Hard Candy charger numbered 003 comes into view. You can see that the classic Braun design philosophy has been carried through to the smallest detail, inside and out.
I also compared the two generations of “Hard Candy” chargers. Although the new one is a little bigger, having 35W output and foldable prongs is very convenient. This design greatly reduces the space it takes up when stored, which is simply very comfortable.
Compared with the first generation’s hard edges, the second generation’s rounded shape feels better in the hand.
This fast charger is surprisingly fashion-forward, rising above the plain look of ordinary chargers. The second-generation “Hard Candy 35W charger” has G2 (curvature-continuous) rounded corners, and the rounded transitions elevate the whole design. It is classic Braun: every inch is made small with a purpose.
It also comes with a candy wrapper sticker and a product manual.
Its own little red dot turns fast charging into something visual. The brightness of the breathing light changes across three charging states, from bright to dim, making the light serve the product itself. It is the finishing touch that brings the design together.
Is It Any Good?
Professional current-meter testing shows support for a range of mainstream fast-charging protocols, including PD 3.0, QC2.0, QC3.0, Huawei SCP, Samsung AFC, and Apple 2.4A.
In real-world testing, it was able to fast-charge my Samsung Galaxy S10+ and iPhone 14 Pro:
It provided up to 33W of fast charging for an iPad Pro 2018:
After running and charging for a long time at a room temperature of 24°C, it did not produce much heat. That is also thanks to the support of GaN, and the improvement over the first generation is very clear.
Overall
I have many different use cases, so a high-power, single-port charger with foldable prongs is still something I really need. Even when I bring a MacBook, it can meet my needs. I can charge most of my devices with this one charger. It is especially convenient when I am traveling for work—bringing a charger this small on a business trip could not be easier.
In today’s overcrowded charger market, what is still missing is distinctive design and a unique design language. Paying for good design has gradually become my main reason for making a purchase.
People who like this Hard Candy charger from ifanr’s Sugar Factory really like it. Who wouldn’t want to show off this practical yet hardcore charger to their friends?