GaN chargers have been available for a long time. Although, they only got into the mainstream when the price of gallium nitride dropped. Their compact size and impressive power output are their most significant advantages. In addition, it is a modern alternative to silicon, which goes to say; more efficient power bricks are on the way.
What Is Gallium Nitride?
Gallium nitride is a semiconductor compound that came to popularity in the 1990s as a component in the production of LEDs. GaN generates the blue light that reads the DVD data in Blu-ray players. It was also utilized to make the first visible white LEDs, blue lasers, and full-color LED displays.
For decades, silicon producers have worked ceaselessly to enhance silicon-based transistors. Moore's Law states that the number of transistors in an integrated silicon circuit doubles every two years. This observation was made in 1965 and has mostly been confirmed over the subsequent 50 years.
Many experts believe that Moore's Law will be outdated by 2025. For this reason, GaN transistor production increased in 2006. However, semiconductor progress dipped below this rate for the first time in 2010.
GaN transistors may now be fabricated in the same facilities as silicon transistors due to improved manufacturing techniques. This reduces prices and encourages more silicon manufacturers to employ GaN instead of silicon to create transistors.
GaN Chargers
Standard power adapters, like the electronic gadgets they charge, are made of silicon. GaN is an additional semiconductor option. This is because GaN is not a naturally occurring material and is somewhat challenging to produce, making GaN chargers a costly rarity in the past.
Advantages of GaN Chargers
There are significant benefits to using GaN power bricks rather than silicon ones, and it is always worth it. For starters, they are far better at carrying current. This implies that much more power can be packed into a much smaller brick.
They also produce less heat than conventional methods because of the reduced energy loss. Given that overheating is a common cause of electronic failure, this is a welcome feature. It also means that silicon chargers don't require the massive heatsinks used by other charging technologies.
Physically, GaN chargers are more compact than standard chargers. This is because there are fewer moving parts in a gallium nitride charger than in a silicon charger. Much greater voltages can be maintained in the material than in silicon.
Consequently, when GaN is more widely used, chargers will be substantially more compact. Additional advantages include increased 'air gaps' between the charger and the device, which allows for speedier wireless power transmission, and a greater switching frequency.
GaN semiconductors now have a higher price tag than their silicon counterparts. However, supplementary materials such as heatsinks, filters, and circuit parts are no longer required because of the increased efficiency. Comparison in research shows how a producer claims a 10–20% reduction in expenses in this area.
Once the cost savings from mass manufacturing begin to accrue, this situation may improve further. Since more efficient chargers result in less wasted energy, you may even see a reduction in your monthly electricity costs. Low-powered gadgets like laptops and cell phones probably will undergo a gradual transformation.
Another advantage to consumers is that they need one charger.
GaN Chargers versus Regular Battery Chargers
There are several similarities between the GaN charger and the conventional battery charger. Both power distribution and power charging are done using them. Their differences, though, are far more notable.
Port
Most newly manufactured GaN chargers feature USB C connectors. The GaN chargers also feature numerous USB C ports, unlike standard battery chargers with only one Micro USB port, one USB port, or one lightning port. Compared to a standard battery charger, the GaN charger benefits greatly from USB C connectors in terms of charging ports.
GaN charger employing the USB C ports may achieve rapid charging speed of up to 10Gps and increased power delivery of up to 100W when connected with the data connection. However, the bulk of GaN chargers uses multiple USB C ports or USB C with USB A connections to simultaneously rapidly charge many devices.
Charging efficiency
This is entirely dependent on their different bandgap widths. Because of its relatively narrow bandgap and eventual physical restrictions, the semiconducting silicon material utilized in conventional battery chargers is unable to handle high voltages, large power densities, or achieve quick charging. The GaN used in the GaN charger chip, however, has a significantly wider bandgap than silicon, making it capable of carrying much greater voltages and enduring much more power over time.
The GaN charger is 1000 times more efficient in transmitting electrons than the silicon-based battery charger. As a result, it can charge more quickly while using less power. This distinguishes the GaN charger from its competitors in the charging war.
Size
The GaN charger is much smaller. The GaN charger allows you to quickly charge your laptop or smartphone on the move with a compact footprint that may fit conveniently in your purse or backpack. The GaN battery charger is made more compact because of the high power density of the GaN components' ability to switch more power.
The GaN charger enables more power to be transferred for quicker charging while preserving its overall size to be smaller than the standard battery charger.
Should You Switch to GaN Charger?
Without a doubt, GaN USB chargers offer a ton of benefits. But does this imply that you should replace your outdated chargers with new ones? In all honesty, it all comes down to preference regarding your need for a charger.
Note, however, that 61 or 65 watts won't charge your system as quickly as an 85 or 87-watt brick. It works well for portable use and is superior for keeping a system charged. Suppose you need a smaller, more excellent USB charger right now. We strongly advise you to go with a GaN charger since you get all the advantages of contemporary technology for a reasonable price.
If you feel the need to replace your old chargers, you may choose to go for our GaN USB charger. Please complete the contact form below to get in touch with us.