NexBlue Point 2 vs Andersen Quartz

> V2G boundary: A “V2G-ready” label or ISO 15118 support does not by itself provide bidirectional power conversion, export approval or a live energy service. Confirm the compatible car, genuinely bidirectional hardware, certified complete system, installer, service and network approval before assigning value to the claim. Read the UK V2G explainer.

The £138 between tomorrow's tech and today's good looks

The NexBlue Point 2 costs £534 and arrives packed with protocol support most rivals won't match for another product cycle — V2G readiness, OCPP 2.0.1, lifetime 4G, tariff automation. The Andersen Quartz costs £672 and arrives looking like it belongs on the wall of a design magazine, with a seven-year warranty and eleven colour options. The £138 between them buys entirely different things depending on what you value.

• NexBlue Point 2 — the spec-sheet maximalist. ISO 15118 communication support, EcoPilot tariff integration, 4G eSIM, five-year warranty. Untethered only.
• Andersen Quartz — the charger you choose with your eyes. IP65, up to 8.5 m tethered cable, seven-year warranty, Andersen's finish catalogue. Narrower smart features.

What the NexBlue's £534 actually includes

At this price the Point 2's feature list reads like a misprint. ISO 15118 and OCPP 2.0.1 compliance mean the hardware is ready for vehicle-to-grid and Plug & Charge — standards that are arriving but not yet mainstream. A built-in 4G eSIM with lifetime-free connectivity means the charger stays online even if your home Wi-Fi drops. The included CT clamp handles both dynamic load balancing and solar surplus charging without an accessory purchase, though solar diversion is less refined than the Zappi GLO's dedicated Eco+ mode. EcoPilot covers Octopus Intelligent Go, Octopus Agile, and other time-of-use tariffs — a breadth the Quartz can't match.

The honest caveat: NexBlue is a new entrant. There is no five-year reliability track record to point to, and the installer network is thinner than Andersen's established one. The five-year warranty provides a floor, but it remains a bet on a young brand delivering on ambitious specs. If that uncertainty bothers you, the Ohme Home Pro at £539 offers proven tariff smarts with a larger UK install base — see the Ohme vs NexBlue comparison for that specific question.

Why the Andersen Quartz costs £138 more — and whether it should

Andersen charges for craft, not protocol compliance. The Quartz is compact at 286 × 172 × 110 mm, IP65-rated for exposed walls, and available in finishes from matte black to Accoya wood inserts. It comes tethered or untethered — a meaningful practical advantage, since the NexBlue is socket-only and you must supply your own cable. The 8.5 m tethered option (£99 extra) reaches driveways that defeat most 5 m cables.

The seven-year warranty is two years longer than the NexBlue's, and Andersen has the track record to back it. PEN fault detection is built in, removing the need for an earth rod — a saving of £80–£150 on install in some cases.

Where the Quartz falls behind is smart capability. It supports Intelligent Octopus Go and OVO Charge Anytime, but it has no answer for half-hourly tariffs like Octopus Agile. There is no V2G readiness, no OCPP 2.0.1, no 4G fallback. If your priority is squeezing every penny from a variable tariff or preparing for vehicle-to-grid, the Quartz is the wrong charger at any price.

One further wrinkle: the Andersen Quartz is not confirmed on the current OZEV eligible-chargepoint list. The NexBlue Point 2 is OZEV-approved. For eligible renters and flat owners, the £500 grant covers most of the NexBlue's £534 unit price, widening the effective gap between the two considerably.

The grant question

Because the NexBlue is OZEV-approved, an eligible buyer sees the £500 grant wipe out most of the £534 unit price, leaving the grant to chip into install costs too. The Quartz, lacking confirmed OZEV status, offers no such offset. That turns a £138 difference in sticker price into something closer to £638 in effective outlay — a gap that makes the Andersen a hard sell for anyone who qualifies.

The verdict

Buy the NexBlue Point 2 if:

• You want ISO 15118 communication support and OCPP 2.0.1 without paying a premium for it
• You use or plan to use Octopus Agile or another half-hourly tariff
• You qualify for the OZEV grant and want the lowest effective cost

Buy the Andersen Quartz if:

• Finish and colour choice matter to you — eleven options, Accoya and carbon inserts available
• You need a tethered cable, especially the 8.5 m length
• A seven-year warranty from an established UK brand is worth more to you than future-facing protocols

For most buyers, the NexBlue Point 2 is the stronger proposition. It does more, costs less, and qualifies for the grant. The brand is young, and that is a legitimate reason for caution — but the spec sheet is not aspirational; it is present-tense hardware at £534. The Andersen Quartz is a fine charger bought for a specific reason: you want your wall to look a certain way, and you are willing to pay £138 — or considerably more after the grant — for that. If the aesthetic argument does not move you, the NexBlue is the one to fit.