Fast-charging technology is a promising field, and Gallium Nitride (GaN) chargers have recently joined the race in terms of availability. GaN chargers are physically smaller and lightweight. Also, they are more efficient compared to their silicon-based counterparts. GaN chargers lose less energy to heat when charging and that makes them more efficient in the long run. That’s why you might want to watch out for GaN chargers and even buy one.
The best part about some of the emerging charging tech is that a single charger is enough to charge your phone, tablets, and laptop, provided it has enough ports and the right wattage.
Because GaN chargers are efficient and have a large amount of power, they are good enough to top up both laptops and smartphones. At the same time, they provide better safeguards against overcharging and overheating, which is a plus.
Add the advantage of USB-C Power Delivery (USB-C PD) to the mix, and there’s no going back to your stock charger.
So if you want to upgrade the USB-C wall charger of your phone or laptop, here are a few of the best GaN chargers out there. Because it’s still an emerging tech, they are expensive when compared to other conventional chargers. But before that,
- Fed up with the stock lightning cable? Take a look at these braided lighting cables for your Apple iPhone.
- iPhone not charging beyond 80%? Here’s how to fix it.
1. RAVPower GaN PD 90W Wall Charger
If you have a single charger for your MacBook Pro, iPhone, and tablet, you can’t go wrong with the 90W RAVPower GaN PD wall charger. It’s small, robust and works as advertised. And the good thing is that even if you connect two USB-C laptops at the same time, it has enough power to juice them both. When connected, it will give a maximum power of 45W at each port, while connecting a phone and laptop will yield a power output of 30W and 60W, respectively.
RAVPower is quite popular when it comes to the quality of its power banks and chargers, and this GaN PD wall adapter is no exception. The company also ships a USB-C to USB-C charging cable with the charger.
As noted earlier, GaN chargers are small and this one is no different. It adopts a square shape that is synonymous with RAVPower. It has a solid build and the folding pins make it easily portable. There’s a tiny LED indicator light at the front to show you the charging status.
It’s available in Black and White color options.
2. Anker PowerPort Atom III Slim 65W
The Anker PowerPort Atom III doesn’t have as many USB-C ports as its counterpart above. However, it tries to make that up by adding three additional USB-A ports. And boy, is the slim look of the charger worth a second glance! The PowerPort Atom III bundles a flat (and slim) look, and you can attach it to the undersides of tables and desks if you want a clean look. Its total output is 65W from which 45W is reserved for the USB-C port and the rest of the 20W is distributed among the three USB-A ports.
Anker claims that this charger can fuel the MacBook Air 2018 at full speed, and several reviews on Amazon have backed this claim. The USB-A ports support the in-house PowerIQ-enabled USB-A ports charge compatible devices at an optimum speed (not fast-charging).
The device is lightweight and sleek. It weighs just 4.8 ounces and measures 3.54 x 3.41 x 0.79 inches, making it easily portable. However, it’s not a wall charger in the strictest sense and ships with a 5 ft detachable power cord.
Both the performance and the sleek form factor have attracted a fair share of reviews. As per Fakespot’s estimates, around 58% of these reviews are reliable.
3. RAVPower 61W Wall Charger
If you are looking for a compact laptop charger, you can check out the RAVPower RP-PC112 GaN charger. This wall charger has a single USB-C PD port and has a power output of 61W, much like Apple’s USB-C Power Adapter, only this one is much smaller and compact. RAVPower claims that this charger is 50% smaller than its Apple counterparts.
It charges fast and doesn’t get hot, one of the primary features of GaN charger. And like its counterparts above, the lightweight structure means you can carry it easily in your pockets or bag.
USB-C PD means it has a variable output power. This one can pull power based on the connected device and switch between the following voltages—5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/3A, and 20.3V/3A. So yeah, you can connect your iPhone, and it will charge at the stipulated 18W.
4. Aukey 65W Dual Port PD Wall Charger
Another 65W GaN wall charger is the AUKEY Omnia. Aukey keeps things simple with this 2-port charger. The upper port is supposed to be used for charging laptops, and when used alone, it will provide a maximum power of 65W. However, when it’s hooked to a secondary compatible phone, the power output will dwindle to 45W on the upper port.
And, if you plug in a compatible smartphone to the second port, it will be charged at 18W.
It’s a travel-ready accessory and bundles two folding pins. When it comes to performance, it delivers a solid performance and charges phones and laptops fast and quick. Plus, it doesn’t overheat and works well, even on Samsung phones.
5. Choetech 61W Power Delivery Wall Charger
At 61W, this USB wall charger is intended to power USB-C laptops and phones alike. The Power Delivery support ensures that the plugged device will receive only the rated power. It’s a single port charger. If we go by the company claims, it will be able to fully charge the 13-inch MacBook Pro in just 1.8 hours.
Like most chargers and adapters, there are a couple of failsafe mechanisms built into the device to safeguard it against over-current, over-voltage, and over-heating.
Other than that, it comes with the usual fares such as LED indicators and foldable pins. It doesn’t ship with a USB-C cable, though. So, you will have to get a compatible cable on your own.
Users of Samsung Note devices will have to make do with the 18W fast charge as it doesn’t support 25W fast charging.
6. Baseus 65W Fast Portable 3 Port Charger
The Baseus 65W bundles an impressive feature set for its size. For a three-port charger, this one has an elongated body and measures a mere 5.6 x 3.2 x 1.6 inches. Yep, you read that right! It has two USN-C PD ports and a standard USB-A port. And the small size means it fits seamlessly into power outlets. The upper port has a maximum output power of 65W, while the other two have a maximum power output of 30W. Quite obviously, when multiple devices are connected, the power will split among the three.
The good news is that it has one of the better power split strategies. The power reduces to 45W on the primary port when two of the ports are used. The secondary port receives 18W. However, when all the three ports are used, the primary port’s power output remains fixed at 45W, while the other two dips down to 15W, which is decent if you ask me.
Though it’s a three-port GaN charger, it’s not as steeply-priced as its counterparts. It costs around $35, and considering the design and the charging speed, it’s a steal.
7. Blitzforce 65W 2-Port Wall Charger
If you want the legacy USB-A charging port and a high-speed USB-C port, the Blitzforce Wall Charger will prove to be a good choice. It’s a 65W charger and like most of its counterparts, it evenly distributes the wattage between both the ports when connected. If we talk numbers, the USB-A port provides a maximum of 18W, while the power supply of the USB-C port switches between 60W, 45W, 30W, and 18W, depending on the connected device.
It has all the usual features like LED lighting, foldable pins, and a small build. It’s 40% smaller than the standard MacBook charger, meaning it will easily fit into your pocket or if you wish to put it inside a wire-management box.
Pinsized Powerhouse
The combination of GaN tech and USB-C PD means faster charging time and eliminates the need to carry brick-sized power adapters. However, the products are expensive at this point, primarily because that it’s an emerging tech. Hopefully, we will find more implementations in the future.
So, which of these chargers will you get for yourself?
Last updated on 02 February, 2022
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.