Andersen A3 vs Andersen Quartz

Same badge, different argument

Both chargers come from the same Sheffield-based design house. Both carry a seven-year warranty — the longest on the UK market. Both integrate with Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime. Electrically, the gap between 7.4 kW and 7.2 kW is negligible — roughly two minutes' difference over a full overnight session.

The Andersen A3 costs £900. The Andersen Quartz costs £672. That £228 buys exactly one thing of substance: the A3's hidden cable drum, which retracts the 5.5-metre tethered lead inside the unit when it is not plugged in. Everything else — the 247-option finish palette, the anodised aluminium front — is aesthetic elaboration on a theme the Quartz already plays in a quieter register.

• Andersen A3 — the charger as exterior design object. Hidden cable, 247 finishes, £900.
• Andersen Quartz — the Andersen you buy when the brand matters but the theatre doesn't. IP65, optional 8.5-metre cable, £672.

What the hidden cable is — and isn't

The A3's party trick is genuine. No other UK home charger hides its cable inside the body. When not in use, the unit sits flush and clean on the wall — no coiled lead, no holster, no cable tidy. On a street-facing Victorian terrace or a new-build front elevation, it makes the charger almost invisible. That is worth money to a certain buyer, and no competitor offers it.

The trade-off is cable length. The A3's hidden drum holds 5.5 metres, with no longer option. The Quartz offers 5.5 or 8.5 metres — the latter adds £99 but reaches a driveway where the A3 simply cannot. If the car parks more than four metres from the wall, the A3 is out of the running before you discuss finish swatches.

The Quartz's quiet advantages

Strip away aesthetics and the Quartz wins several practical arguments the A3 does not.

Weather resistance. IP65 versus IP54. The Quartz is sealed against low-pressure water jets; the A3 is rated only against splashing. On an exposed gable end or a coastal property, the Quartz is the safer pick.

Weight and footprint. The Quartz weighs 3.4–5.2 kg installed and measures 286 × 172 × 110 mm — noticeably smaller and lighter. It sits more discreetly on a side wall or in a garage where the A3's design statement goes unseen.

Three-phase option. The Quartz can be specified at 22 kW three-phase for an additional £195. The A3 is single-phase only. Most UK homes are single-phase, so this matters to few — but if yours is the exception, the Quartz is the only Andersen in the conversation.

Socketed variant. The Quartz comes tethered or untethered. The A3 is tethered only — the hidden cable is the whole point, so a socketed version would make no sense.

One caveat: the Quartz's OZEV approval is not confirmed on the current eligible-chargepoint list. The A3 is OZEV-approved. Eligible renters and flat owners eyeing the £500 grant should verify the Quartz's status before committing. The A3's grant eligibility is not in doubt.

Smart features are a draw — and neither leads the field

Both chargers run the Andersen app for scheduling, session tracking, and charger locking. Both support Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime. The Quartz includes a CT clamp for solar diversion via its Adaptive Fuse feature — a useful inclusion if you have panels, though dedicated solar chargers like the myenergi Zappi GLO handle surplus generation with more granularity.

Neither Andersen is the right charger for half-hourly variable tariffs like Octopus Agile. For that, the Ohme Home Pro at £539 — £133 less than the Quartz, £361 less than the A3 — remains the obvious choice. If tariff optimisation is the priority rather than the look of the thing on the wall, our Ohme Home Pro vs Andersen A3 comparison lays out that trade-off directly.

The verdict

Buy the Andersen A3 if:

• The charger sits on a prominent, street-facing wall where a dangling cable would bother you
• You want to colour-match the unit to brickwork, render, or a front door — the 247-option palette is unmatched
• The car always parks within 5.5 metres of the mounting point

Buy the Andersen Quartz if:

• You want the Andersen build quality and warranty without paying for the hidden cable
• The charger is on an exposed or side wall where IP65 and a smaller footprint matter more than finish theatre
• You need the 8.5-metre cable option, a socketed variant, or the 22 kW three-phase upgrade

The Quartz is the more rational purchase. It matches the A3's warranty, betters its weather rating, and costs £228 less. For most driveways — particularly those where the charger lives around a corner or inside a garage — the A3's hidden cable goes admired by nobody. Save the £228, or spend it on the longer cable and a better install.

The A3 earns its price only when it is seen. A period property, a front-of-house mount, a driveway that doubles as a first impression — that is where the hidden cable and bespoke finish do their work. If that describes your home, the A3 is the only charger on the market that disappears when you unplug. If it doesn't, the Quartz does everything else just as well.