GoKawiilWe tested the top 20 chargers on the market across different power segments to find out which models provide the most consistent power and the best charging experience without thermal throttling. For most people, charging their electronics is a normal, mundane part of life. Between our smartphones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, and other random devices, many of us simply plug the device into the included charger and never think of it again until it's complete. And while that’s fine most of the time, sometimes we lose the original or need something with more ports and power.
So, what should you get? Do you need a 140W charger, or is a 30W charger fine? Can I get away with a cheap $8 charger, or do I want/need something more advanced? How many ports, and what type, do I need? Is GaN technology necessary? Are these chargers safe when delivering full power for extended periods? This article aims to provide you with the answers you need and help you choose the right charger.
Truth be told, the answers aren’t terribly complicated, and the lion’s share of today’s electronics are smart enough not to accept the wrong voltage or overcharge, sparing us all from the potential of destroying expensive equipment like a gaming laptop or even a smartphone with the ‘wrong’ charger. We’re testing to verify output and output over time, check efficiency (the difference between output and wall usage), ensure safety (overheating, etc.), maximize charging speeds, and, of course, protect our devices from damage.
Latest Videos From Watch full video here:
What are GaN and PD/PPS/QC/FCP/SCP technologies? Why does it matter?
Over time, new technologies and protocols have been released, said to improve charging capability. There’s the USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) standard (up to 240W) using USB-C, and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (vendor-specific protocol) works on top of USB-PD in newer versions (QC 4.0/5). The former offers superior universality, whereas QC tends to focus on optimizing Qualcomm-powered Android devices.
GaN (short for Gallium Nitride), on the other hand, is a technology that, upon its 2018 launch, represents a leap forward for charging devices, offering increased efficiency and the potential to be more compact than traditional, less efficient silicon-based chargers. The change in materials allows for faster charging, lower temperatures, and are generally smaller, allowing for higher wattage in a more compact size. The latest generation, 5th (not counting UGreen’s 7th-gen introduction on their new chargers), offers even more output, to 240W, increased efficiency and heat management upgrades over the previous generations, for faster charging, higher power density, and smaller, even more efficient designs. You’ll most frequently see GaN 3 and 4 in the wild.
PPS (Programmable Power Supply) chargers use fast-charging technology that supports USB-PD 3.0, enabling on-the-fly adjustments to current and voltage to increase efficiency. In essence, instead of fixed-voltage steps (like 5V or 9V), PPS lowers conversion loss and heat by adapting to the device’s battery condition.
Finally, FCP (Fast Charge Protocol) and SCP (SuperCharge Protocol) are Huawei’s proprietary fast-charging technologies, with SCP reducing heat generation compared to FCP, so you can charge faster without overheating the charger.
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
... continue reading