Ctek CS One Gen 2 review: the smartest smart battery charger adds app control and diagnostics (aff)
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A connected upgrade to Ctek’s flagship charger aims to make long-term battery care effortless for modern drivers
Keeping your car battery charged is a really important step if you leave your vehicle standing for long periods, if the weather's cold, or if you know you're getting low on lifespan.
Chargers can be cheap and cheerful, and most do the job absolutely fine, but I've been testing the cream of the crop - a new smart charger from the best-known brand in the business, Ctek.
It's called the CS One, and this is the second edition of a popular charger that originally set out to simplify the process of charging a battery.
Like its predecessor, the new CS One can automatically detect battery type, size and condition – there are no modes or buttons, just a smart black box which plugs into the mains at one end, and hooks up to the battery terminals at the other end.
Unlike Ctek's best-seller, the ubiquitous MXS 5.0, this button-free approach makes this a true “connect & forget” system for maintenance charging.
The new features on the Gen 2 include proper smart-device integration and extra diagnostics. And this is done through a bespoke app that links the charger with your smartphone through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
In real terms, this means you can monitor charging status remotely, which is surprisingly useful if your car lives outside or tucked away in a garage.
It’s not essential for everyone, but it adds a layer of convenience that aligns with how connected cars have become.
Instead of checking lights on the charger itself, you can glance at your phone and know exactly where things stand.
The app will build up and convey your charging history, keep logs, and give you notifications when they're needed.
It also unlocks extra modes, such as a very useful reconditioning cycle for rescuing dead batteries, a wake-up function, and the supply function.
You won't be surprised to learn that all this smart tech puts it at the premium end of the charger market, and that will be the sticking point for some buyers.
I've found one Demon Tweeks for £171.43, but the RRP is £205. And £200 is a lot to spend on a charger, however smart it is, especially if you're maintaining the batteries in a small collection of classic cars.
But if you do happen to have a small collection of classic cars, there's a likelihood you can afford a decent charger. And it's even more likely you have a healthy budget for keeping them in fine fettle.
And that's where the use case for the CS One comes in. If you value reliability, simplicity, and you don’t want to second-guess settings every time you connect a battery, the higher price starts to make more sense.
The Ctek CS One Gen 2 blends solid engineering with genuinely smart automation, making battery care feel less like a chore and more like a background task.
For drivers who want a modern, stress-free solution to keeping their car ready to go, it’s an easy recommendation.