Gitryin Desktop Charging Station 12‑in‑1 (40W Combo)
- RWAR
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
Final word: “Best cable‑clutter killer I’ve tried: reliable, modular, and loaded with ports in a nice compact form factor.”
I’m a Human Factors nerd, a lifelong gamer since the NES era, and a gamer‑dad juggling three kids, four dogs, and a heap of gadgets. When something earns permanent space on my desk, charging cart, and office workbench, it’s doing a lot right. The Gitryin Desktop Charging Station 12‑in‑1 (40W Combo) is that kind of product for me.
What it is (and the exact version I’m using)
There are a couple Gitryin “12‑in‑1” configurations floating around. The combo I own uses a base with 4 AC outlets and 4 USB‑C ports, plus four 40W retractable chargers slotted into the front (twelve total charging points in one compact cube). Gitryin’s page and imagery acknowledge this mixed‑port base for the combo, even though other site copy and bundles reference an 8‑AC‑only strip; the Amazon listing clearly highlights the 4 AC + 4 USB‑C + 4 retractables variant as well.
The big idea is simple: keep four retractable, 31.5‑inch cables always available at the front, while the AC outlets and USB‑C ports on the base handle dongles, docks, lamps, whatever needs steady power. Size is about 4.5 × 5.75 × 4 in and ~2 lb, so it sits solidly without hogging space.
How I’m using it (yes, I bought four)
My use case is “random charging chaos”: phones (personal and work test units), Xbox controllers, mice, Stream Deck, ROG Ally, iPads and other tablets, flight controllers, and an Anker conference puck. I own four Gitryin stations (16 retractables total). One lives on my desk, two are stacked on a charging cart, and one is on my workbench. The day‑to‑day win is the retractable workflow: pull a cable to charge, let it zip back when done - no mess, no rummaging for the “right” cord. That friction reduction matters when you’re context‑switching all day.
I also bought some Micro‑USB and Lightning retractable modules so the older gadgets still have a home. Gitryin sells the retractables in multiple cable/port flavors (USB‑C, Lightning, Micro, even mixed), which is handy if your household spans old and new tech.
Human Factors notes (where this shines)
Reach and retrieval. The 31.5‑inch flat cable is the sweet spot for desks and carts—long enough to hit a tablet stand or controller dock, short enough to retract cleanly without loops. The pull‑and‑retract action has been smooth so far.
Clarity & access. I like the “four‑up” row of retractables on the front: each cable is visually obvious and easy to grab. The USB‑C ports just below them are positioned well for short jumpers or dongles, but TBH I haven't even had to use these yet.
Stability & footprint. The weighted base and silicone bottom keep it planted; the cube footprint packs ports densely without hitting adjacent plugs for the most part. I did have some issues with larger block chargers, but nothing that is a deal breaker.
Two nitpicks from daily handling:
Top shell pop‑off. If I grab it by the top when moving it, the lid can lift and the unit may slip. It’s not a failure, just not confidence‑inspiring when I’m in a hurry to reposition it, especially on my work bench where I often reorganize to make space for whatever i'm working on / need to plug in.
Stacking feel. I originally had all four units stacked on my desk, but ended up splitting them up. I still have stacked two units on my make shift charging cart slash Cricut maker station. They don’t mechanically interlock, so they can shift if bumped. For me it’s a minor annoyance since the rubber feet keep the top unit pretty stable, and I could solve it with 3M Velcro strips, and the pain is so small I literally haven’t walked the eight feet to grab the box and do it. That said - just seems like missed opportunity by the OEM to have a setup where you change the top cover out so it can receive a unit on top that would then also drawn power from the base.
Specs at a glance
Base I’m using: 4× AC outlets + 4× USB‑C ports + 4× front‑bay retractable chargers (12 “in‑1”).
Retractable modules: up to 40W single‑port; built‑in 31.5‑inch flat cable; dual‑port shared at 5V/3A.
Safety: ETL certified; 1020J surge protection.
Plug & cord: 45° flat plug; 1 m lead.
Size/weight: 4.17″ × 5.71″ × 3.98″, ~1.85 lb.
How it compares (briefly)
Most “charging stations” I’ve tried are either (a) a surge strip with a couple USB ports, or (b) a big desktop USB power brick, either way you add your own cables and the clutter creeps back. I have probably one through four of the little phone / tablet charging stations that let you stack them up vertically and then have USB plugs underneath so you can organize them. To be fair, I kept one of these on my charging cart, but just to hold my tablets and Ally's in an organized manner (i.e., its not even plugged in).
Gitryin’s trick is building the cable management right into the workflow via the retractables.
Wish list for v2 (small stuff)
Latching power switch. So after any brief outage or generator test, it comes back “on.”
Tighter top‑shell fit. Just to avoid the “did I grab it wrong?” moment when moving it.
Stacking nubs/rail. Not essential, but a keyed top/bottom would make multi‑unit carts feel pro. Again, 3M Velcro would fix it in seconds—I just… haven’t bothered.
Who it’s for
If your household or workspace looks anything like mine (controllers, handhelds, tablets, test phones, and the steady drip of tech that always needs a quick top‑up) this is a fantastic way to wrangle the madness. The modularity and the front‑facing “grab‑and‑charge” UX are what make it stick.
The bottom line
Best cable‑clutter killer I’ve tried: reliable, modular, and loaded with ports in a nice compact form factor.
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