Why do most chargers use gallium nitride (GaN) now?

During the emergency meeting, several colleagues felt extremely anxious because their laptops were critically low on battery. Just at that moment, one colleague took out a charger about the size of a lipstick from their pocket and quickly charged the laptops, ensuring the meeting proceeded smoothly.

This charger is a gallium nitride (GaN) charger. Some of you may be unfamiliar with the concept of "gallium nitride," but in fact, when we search for charger products, we often come across the option of "gallium nitride (GaN) chargers."

So what exactly is the background of GaN chargers? Compared with ordinary chargers, what characteristics do GaN chargers have? Today, we will take you to learn about this new type of product.

Gallium Nitride: From the Laboratory to Daily Life

This material, which has become a sensation in the charging field, actually originated in a laboratory.

Back in the 1960s, a group of scientists began researching gallium nitride (GaN) in laboratories and discovered that this special material possesses characteristics such as a large bandgap, high breakdown voltage, high thermal conductivity, and a high saturated electron drift velocity.

These properties make gallium nitride a material with theoretically high electro-optical and photoelectric conversion efficiency at present. Over the following decades, as technology continued to mature, the application prospects of gallium nitride in other fields were gradually explored.

With the continuous introduction of new electronic devices, traditional chargers made of silicon materials can no longer meet consumers’ demands for charging speed and portability due to their shortcomings such as low output power, average heat dissipation, and large size.

The emergence of gallium nitride materials, however, just happens to make up for the deficiencies of silicon materials. Against this background, gallium nitride, as a new type of charging material, officially stepped out of the laboratory and entered the charging field.

Some manufacturers at the forefront of technology began to enter the gallium nitride charger market, driving the arrival of the high-power charging revolution. Up to now, gallium nitride chargers—featuring fast charging, small size, and light weight—have allowed countless consumers to enjoy the convenience brought by technology and have become mainstream charging products on the market.

How to Choose a GaN Charger That Suits You?

Currently, major manufacturers have developed a wide variety of gallium nitride (GaN) charging products to cater to consumer trends. Many consumers are overwhelmed by the diverse range of parameters, and they also need to comprehensively evaluate the quality of these GaN charging products.

As the saying goes, "the expensive one isn’t necessarily the best one"—it’s far more important to choose a GaN charger that fits your needs. In fact, selecting a GaN charger isn’t that complicated. You just need to align it with your own requirements and focus on a few key indicators.

First, choose the power and ports based on your devices. If you need to charge a laptop, you may need to select a high-power charger with an output of over 65W. If you want to charge multiple devices simultaneously—such as a smartphone, laptop, and Bluetooth earbuds—you should opt for a charger with multiple ports.

Compatibility is another key factor. Many brands support different fast-charging protocols, such as mainstream ones like PD (Power Delivery), QC (Quick Charge), SCP (Super Charge Protocol), FCP (Fast Charge Protocol), and PPS (Programmable Power Supply). For convenience, a GaN charger that is compatible with multiple fast-charging protocols will obviously have wider applicability.

Safety is the bottom line for any charger, especially for families with children, who need to pay extra attention to this. A high-quality GaN charger should not only provide fast charging but also be equipped with protective functions to reduce potential safety hazards.

Beyond performance, the portability of the charger itself greatly affects the user experience. If you often travel and need to carry the charger with you, choosing a small and lightweight GaN charger will be more convenient.

What’s it like to charge multiple devices quickly without any hassle?

After saying so much, it’s still recommended that you choose GaN chargers from well-known brands, as they offer better reliability.

For example, the Ugreen 65W GaN Charger, a bestseller across online platforms, is a well-established product that has stood the test of the market. Alone on JD.com’s official flagship store, the number of product reviews for this charger has reached over 200,000.

In terms of appearance, it has an overall long cylindrical shape. The front side is made of matte dark gray material with a high-gloss finish, while the ring around the port side is black—boasting a simple and elegant design.

English Translation

The prongs at the bottom of the charger can be folded. This design not only protects the prongs but also prevents accidental scratches on other items.

Thanks to the use of gallium nitride (GaN) material, the charger is extremely compact—it is 47% smaller than a standard 61W charger, roughly the size of a lipstick, and weighs only 123 grams, making it easy to hold in the palm of your hand.

Despite its small size, this GaN charger features a high level of integration, accommodating three ports: two Type-C ports and one USB-A port. It can fast-charge three devices simultaneously.

When using a single Type-C port to charge a laptop, it supports 65W fast charging. For impromptu meetings, bringing this charger allows you to quickly top up your laptop’s battery, letting you focus on work presentations without worrying about a dead battery affecting your performance.

For frequent business trips or travels, carrying this charger is equivalent to bringing three chargers. It takes up almost no space in your suitcase—just find a power outlet, and you can charge three devices anytime, anywhere, significantly improving socket utilization efficiency.

Additionally, this charger intelligently distributes power across its different ports, effectively reducing the overall charging time.

In actual tests, when charging two smartphones and one laptop at the same time, it can charge an iPhone 16 Pro to approximately 57%, a Huawei Mate 60 Pro to 64%, and a 13-inch MacBook Pro to 36% in just 30 minutes.

Furthermore, it is compatible with multiple protocols such as PD (Power Delivery), QC (Quick Charge), PPS (Programmable Power Supply), SCP (Super Charge Protocol), and AFC (Adaptive Fast Charging). It can provide fast charging for smartphones, tablets, game consoles, and laptops. In an era where everyone owns multiple devices, this brings great convenience to our digital lives.

In terms of safety, it has passed a series of national safety tests for chargers and obtained China’s 3C certification (China Compulsory Certification). Its casing is also made of fire-retardant material, which is resistant to softening or deformation even during prolonged charging. It also has excellent flame-retardant properties, helping to reduce the risk of fire.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a comprehensive understanding of GaN chargers. It is important to note that due to the higher manufacturing cost of gallium nitride, GaN chargers are generally more expensive than standard chargers.

If you want to experience fast charging, this 65W GaN charger—available for around 100 yuan, capable of charging three devices at once—can definitely be described as a "cost-effective choice."

Which aspect of a charger do you value most? Would you consider trying a GaN charger?