GaN charger: A black technology that subverts the traditional charging experience, is it a gimmick or a real deal?

As electronic devices become more and more powerful, users' requirements for chargers have long gone beyond "being able to charge", but are pursuing smaller, faster, and more versatile. In recent years, GaN (gallium nitride) chargers have emerged as a new force and are known as "revolutionaries in the charger world". But what is so special about it? What is the difference between it and ordinary chargers and PD chargers? Are there any hidden shortcomings? This article will analyze it in depth.

GaN charger vs. ordinary charger: What is the core difference?

The core material of ordinary chargers is traditional silicon (Si) semiconductors, while GaN chargers use Gallium Nitride , a new semiconductor material. The upgrade of materials has brought four disruptive changes:

1 Volume and weight

Ordinary chargers: Limited by the physical properties of silicon materials, high-power chargers are often bulky (for example, a 65W laptop charger is comparable to a mobile phone in size).

GaN charger: The electron mobility of gallium nitride is 1,000 times that of silicon, and the energy loss is lower, so the volume can be reduced by more than 50%, even to the size of a "lipstick".

2. Efficiency and heat generation

Ordinary chargers: high power output has large energy loss and obvious heat generation, and cooling is required through heat dissipation holes or fans.

GaN chargers: higher switching frequency, power conversion efficiency of more than 95%, 30%~50% less heat generation, no need for additional heat dissipation design.

3. Power density

Ordinary chargers: power is proportional to volume, and 100W chargers are often thick and heavy.

GaN chargers: with high power density, 100W chargers can be palm-sized and even support fast charging of multiple devices at the same time.

4.Compatibility

Ordinary chargers: mostly limited to a single protocol (such as only supporting PD or QC).

GaN chargers: generally compatible with multiple protocols such as PD, QC, PPS, etc., and suitable for mobile phones, notebooks, game consoles and other types of devices.

GaN charger vs. PD charger: complementary or competitive?

Many users tend to confuse these two concepts. In fact, they belong to different dimensions of technology:

PD (Power Delivery): a fast charging protocol developed by USB-IF, which dynamically adjusts voltage and current through the USB-C interface.

GaN (gallium nitride): a semiconductor material used to improve the efficiency and power density of the charger.

Relationship between the two:

Complementarity: GaN is the hardware basis, and PD is a software protocol. Most GaN chargers support the PD protocol, but PD chargers do not necessarily use GaN materials.

Performance difference:

PD charger (non-GaN): limited by silicon materials, it is larger in size at high power (such as Apple's 96W charger).

GaN+PD charger: Combining the advantages of both, it supports intelligent fast charging while remaining compact and portable

In a word: PD determines whether the charger can "charge quickly", and GaN determines whether the charger is "efficient and portable".

Disadvantages of GaN chargers: These problems you may not have thought of

Although GaN chargers have obvious advantages, they still have the following limitations:

1.High cost

GaN materials are difficult to prepare, resulting in prices that are 30%~100% more expensive than ordinary chargers

2.The market is mixed

Some low-priced GaN chargers use inferior gallium nitride chips, or falsely mark the power, which poses a safety hazard.

3.Heating problem under high power

Although GaN itself generates low heat, when multiple ports are fast charged at more than 100W at the same time, the surface temperature may still rise (about 40℃~50℃) due to concentrated heat dissipation.

4.Compatibility still needs to be verified

Although it claims to support multiple protocols, some brand devices (such as Huawei SuperCharge and OPPO VOOC) still require dedicated chargers to trigger full-speed fast charging.

How to avoid pitfalls and maximize the value of GaN?

1. Choose power as needed

• For mobile phones and tablets: 30W to 65W (compatible with iPhone 15 series and Android fast charging).
• For thin and lightweight notebooks: 65W to 100W.
• For gaming laptops or charging multiple devices simultaneously: 100W or higher with a multi-port design.

2. Look for certification logos

Give priority to brands that have passed USB-IF certification and CCC certification (such as Anker, Belkin, Xiaomi), and avoid miscellaneous brands.

3. Pay attention to heat dissipation design

For high-power models, it is recommended to choose products with heat dissipation silicone or metal casing to avoid long-term high-temperature use.

4. Multi-port devices need to pay attention

When multiple ports are used at the same time, the total power may be distributed (such as a dual-port 65W charger, a single port up to 45W), you need to check the manual.

Buy early and enjoy early, but be sure to keep your eyes open and choose the right brand and model!

If you pursue extreme portability, need a multi-purpose device (such as charging a laptop and a mobile phone at the same time), or have high requirements for charging efficiency, GaN chargers are undoubtedly the best choice at the moment. Although the price is high, its convenience and durability in long-term use are enough to offset the initial cost.

However, if you only need to slowly charge a single device (such as a backup device), ordinary chargers are still cost-effective. In short, GaN technology is gradually becoming the mainstream of the industry. In the future, as the cost decreases, it may completely change our charging habits like fast charging did in the past.