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Gone are the days of bulky, hot, low-power silicon-based chargers, and instead we have small, sleek, powerful, and highly efficient GaN (gallium nitride) based chargers. If you're buying a new charger then picking up a GaN charger makes perfect sense, because you are future-proofing your purchase.
There are a lot of different chargers out there to choose from, but fear not, because over the past year or so I've tested well over a hundred GaN chargers or various sizes and power outputs, and from a range of manufacturers, and have whittled that list down to a handful of the very best chargers you can buy.
So whether you're looking for a small, portable charger, or something that can power a load of devices on your desktop, you should be able to find your perfect charger here.
Ugreen Nexode 300W tech specs: Ports: 4 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A | Max single port output: 140W | Total power output: 300W | Dimensions: 105 x 105 x 35mm/4.1 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 622 g/22 oz
This is a absolute beast. A unit. Built like a brick, equipped with five ports, and can replace a whole bank of standalone chargers.
And it's powerful too, capable of a total output a total of 300W, which is more than twice what Apple's standard single-port 140W MacBook Pro charger can deliver.
Read the review: Ugreen Nexode 300W
While a lot of chargers falter when placed under sustained heavy load, that's not the case with the Nexode 300W. This thing can output the full 300W indefinitely. It's a very stable, high-quality charger.
Another thing I like about this charger is that the topmost USB-C port can always output 140W, no matter how many other ports are in use.
Don't need that legacy USB-A port? Read on...
Satechi 200W GaN 6-port charger tech specs: Ports: 6 x USB-C | Max single port output: 140W | Total power output: 200W | Dimensions: 105 x 105 x 35mm/4.1 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 622 g/22 oz
Satechi's new 200W USB-C GaN Charger is a charger that's up to the job, no matter what the device. Laptops, smartphones, tablets, earbuds, and power banks, this will charge them all.
Read the review: Satechi 200W GaN 6-port charger
On the front are six USB-C ports supporting a total power output of 200 watts combined. With a single device connected to the first or second port, the unit can output a maximum of 140W, enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed.
Alongside the six ports is a discreet LED indicator, while on the bottom are rubber feet to keep it from sliding around on the desk, and there's also a cradle to hold the charger in a vertical configuration.
Constructed of space gray aluminum and black polycarbonate, this gives it an elegant yet highly durable finish.
Zendure Universal Travel Adapter tech specs: Ports: 4 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A | Max single port output: 65W | Dimensions: 168 x 107 x 35mm/6.6 x 4.2 x 58 inches | Weight: 283 g/10 oz
With this you can charge up to six devices simultaneously (one of those devices being mains powered).
And it's perfect for traveling because it combines a a travel adapter for converting socket pins between different countries, along with a multi-port charger, into a single unit.
And while 65W might not seem like much, this will actually run and top up a MacBook Pro, and if you have a smaller laptop then this could very well charge it at full power.
The Zendure Universal Travel Adapter integrates the US, UK, EU & AU plugs into a sleek all-in-one unit, so it can plug into and accept pretty much any plug or socket you encounter (note that it does not alter the voltage of the outlet -- the voltage in that country is the voltage you will get out of the unit).
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Anker 312 tech specs: Ports: 1 x USB-C | Max single port output: 25W | Total power output: 25W | Dimensions: 50 x 46 x 28mm/2.0 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 69 g/2.5 oz
This is the perfect charger to buy if you're looking for an additional charger for your smartphone or tablet.
Compact and small, high quality, and at a price that you can't beat.
I have several of these in use and always keep a few of these in stock because they're great to give people who only have some scabby charger that takes ages to charge their device and gets red hot in the process.
Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charger with MagSafe: Ports: 2 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A and 1 x MagSafe charging pad | Max single port output: 100W | Total power output: 100W | Dimensions: 92 x 60 x 60 mm/3.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 862 g/30 oz
The Nexode 100W charging station features three USB ports -- two USB-C and one USB-A -- that share between them 100W of output power. This means owners can charge a wide range of devices, from the latest MacBook Pro to an Apple Watch, AirPods, an iPad, or anything that has a USB port.
And this device is no slouch, as it's capable of charging the new Apple M2 MacBook Pro from zero to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Read the review: Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charger with MagSafe
The magnetic charging plate -- which is good with any iPhone from the iPhone 12 to the very latest iPhone 15, or an Android device that has wireless charging and a magnetic case -- can be angled up to 65°, so users can choose the perfect viewing angle for the smartphone. And thanks to strong magnets, the iPhone can rotate 360° to comfortably watch videos or participate in teleconferences while charging, all without the phone slipping off.
Best is subjective ... do you want power, or something small that you can throw into a backpack when you travel? Do you need one port or many? Are you charging a smartphone or an array of device?
To help you narrow down the charger for you, I've put together a table highlighting the strengths of each charger.
This charger is for you…
… if this is what you want table
A big, powerful desktop charger with a legacy USB-A port
You want lots of USB-C ports and don't care about legacy USB-C
You want something small, portable, and cheap!
You want oa desktop charger with the convenience of MagSafe
Every year I test dozens of GaN chargers, and there are certain things I look for in a charger if it is to make it onto my recommend list.
Gallium nitride (the chemical formula for this is GaN) is a crystal-like semiconductor material with special properties.
GaN has been used in electronics for decades, starting with LEDs in the 1990s, where it was used to emit light to TVs and computer displays before finding its way into transistors, and nowadays it is replacing the industry's previous favorite semiconductor material -- silicon.
And it is these transistors that are the key to making GaN chargers special.
A transistor is a tiny electronic switch that opens and closes really fast, and GaN has several advantages over silicon when used in transistors. Not only are GaN transistors smaller than silicon transistors, but they can carry more power, switch faster (around 40 million times a second, roughly four times faster than silicon transistors), and they are much more power efficient.
While silicon transistors have a power efficiency of around 87%, GaN transistors boost this efficiency to over 95%.
The reduction in transistor size means that newer GaN USB chargers can be physically smaller than the older silicon technology chargers. And while it's nice to have smaller chargers, it is the increased efficiency that is the most important factor when it comes to USB chargers because the more efficient an electronic component is, the less waste heat it generates.
Consumers are, understandably, concerned when chargers feel hot to the touch. While it is common for chargers that use silicon transistors to get to the point of almost being too hot to touch, I find it rare for a charger using GaN technology to feel mildly warm.
The faster switching also means that a GaN transistor inside a charger can have better control over the charging and respond to events such as overheating or overvoltage much quicker than older transistors could, making them safer in use.
If you are looking for a more specific charger, consider these top picks for the best GaN accessories.
Not only is this a 7-port charger -- 3 x AC outlets, 2 x USB-C and 2 x USB-A ports -- built onto a 5-foot extension cord, but it also has a built-in surge protector to keep your connected devices safe from sudden power surges and voltage spikes, even in a storm.
A cheap, cheerful, yet safe and efficient GaN charger featuring one 60W USB-C port and one 18W USB-C port. Perfect for those wanting to charge smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smaller devices such as earbuds.
It's tiny, has 2 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A ports, has magnetic feet, has an LED screen "face," and looks like a robot.
20 W Charger What more do you want?