Improve your charging sport with a modern, compact, and extremely environment friendly charger with a number of ports that may stay cool underneath heavy use and cost every little thing from earbuds to laptops. There’s really by no means been a greater time to improve your charging gear.

However navigating the huge array of accessible chargers — from essentially the most respected manufacturers to these you need to avoid — can certainly be overwhelming. Nevertheless, over the previous yr, I’ve undertaken in depth testing, evaluating near 300 GaN (gallium nitride) chargers of various sizes, energy outputs, and producers. This testing and evaluation has culminated in a fastidiously curated checklist of the easiest chargers out there in the present day.

Additionally: This portable power station has a standout feature that makes camping safer than ever

Whether or not you are in search of the final word journey charger, a powerhouse for a number of gadgets, or essentially the most environment friendly charger in your high-demand devices, this checklist has you coated. Say goodbye to the times of gradual, overheating chargers and step into the longer term with these top-notch choices.

What’s the greatest GaN charger proper now?

Primarily based on my in depth testing, my prime choose for the very best GaN charger total is the Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN 5-Ports Desktop Charging Station, which is highly effective sufficient to interchange a complete array of standalone chargers. Whether or not you are trying to find a modern, moveable charger or a strong desktop possibility able to charging a number of gadgets concurrently, this checklist is crafted that can assist you discover the proper charger to satisfy your wants.

The most effective GaN chargers of 2024

Present much less

Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN 5-Ports Desktop Charging Station

Greatest GaN charger total

This Ugreen GaN charger is an absolute beast. Constructed like a brick and geared up with 5 ports, it may possibly substitute a complete financial institution of standalone chargers. It is highly effective, too, able to a complete output of 300W, which is greater than twice what Apple’s commonplace single-port 140W MacBook Professional charger can ship.

Learn the overview: Ugreen Nexode 300W

Whereas many chargers falter when positioned underneath sustained heavy load, that is not the case with the Nexode 300W. This factor can output the complete 300W indefinitely. It is a very steady, high-quality charger.

One other factor I like about this charger is that the topmost USB-C port can all the time output 140W, irrespective of what number of different ports are in use.

Ugreen Nexode 300W tech specs: Ports: 4 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A | Max single port output: 140W | Total energy output: 300W | Dimensions: 105 x 105 x 35mm/4.1 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 622 g/22 oz

Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN 5-Ports Desktop Charging Station

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Present much less

Satechi 145W 4-Port USB-C charger

Greatest GaN charger for touring

Being a frequent traveler, I’ve usually felt that the gear I take advantage of on the street is a compromise, missing the flexibility, energy, or high quality of the gear I’ve left at house or within the workplace. The necessity to stability weight and international compatibility invariably imposes constraints and limitations.

Learn the overview: Satechi 145W USB-C 4-Port GaN travel charger

Not anymore! Not solely does the Satechi 145W, 4-Port charger have 4 USB-C ports to maintain all my gadgets topped up, nevertheless it additionally comes kitted with 4 interchangeable worldwide adapters (EU/AU/UK/US), complemented by a mesh carrying bag for the final word comfort whereas touring. And in contrast to some chargers I’ve examined, the adapters are simple to interchange on this unit.

And regardless of being smaller than Apple’s 140W USB-C charger, two of its ports make the most of Energy Supply 3.1 expertise, every able to offering as much as 140W of energy individually, whereas the opposite two ports assist Energy Supply 3.0 and may every provide as much as 45W when used singly.

The opinions of this charger emphasize its construct high quality and stable design, however do not make the error that some appear to do and purchase this charger in the event you want legacy USB-A charging assist, as a result of that is one designed for contemporary workloads.

Satechi 145W tech specs: Ports: 4 x USB-C | Max single port output: 140W | Complete energy output: 145W | Dimensions: 96 x 76 x 28mm/3.1 x 3.78 x 1.22 inches | Weight: 357 g/12.6 oz

Satechi 145W USB-C 4-Port GaN travel charger

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Present much less

Anker 200W Prime 6-port charger

Greatest GaN desktop charger

Proper out of the field, it is exhausting to not discover that this can be a beefy charger that weighs over a pound. The burden is a bonus as a result of it retains the charger planted on the desk whereas different lesser chargers get dragged about by the load of the connected cables.

Learn the overview: One of the best GaN USB-C chargers I’ve tested can top up 6 devices at once

It is a highly effective, well-made charger that is good for individuals who must energy a number of gadgets. I notably like that this charger can assist twin 100W output on the USB-C ports, as this implies it may possibly energy a few MacBook Professionals concurrently. Positive, you aren’t getting the complete 140W that the laptops can take, however 100W is completely ample in the event you do not want the quickest attainable cost fee.

The 2 USB-A ports are useful for legacy gadgets that do not draw loads of energy, whereas the financial institution of 4 USB-C ports is greater than sufficient for almost all of customers.

Then there’s the worth: $80. Sure, this charger is just $80.

Anker 200W GaN 6-port charger tech specs: Ports: 4 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | Max single port output: 100W | Complete energy output: 200W | Dimensions: 112 × 76 × 35 mm/4.4 × 3.0 × 1.4 inches | Weight: 563 g/1.24 lb

Anker 200W Prime 6-port USB charging station

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Present much less

Zendure Common 65W Journey Adapter

Greatest light-weight GaN charger

With this Zendure charger, you possibly can cost as much as six gadgets concurrently (a type of gadgets being AC-powered). It is good for touring as a result of it combines a journey adapter for changing socket pins between totally different nations, together with a multi-port charger, right into a single unit.

And whereas 65W won’t appear to be a lot, this can run and prime up a MacBook Professional; you probably have a smaller laptop computer, this unit might very effectively cost it at full energy.

The Zendure Common Journey Adapter integrates the US, UK, EU & AU plugs right into a modern all-in-one unit, so it may possibly plug into and settle for just about any plug or socket you encounter. (Be aware that it doesn’t alter the voltage of the outlet — the voltage in that nation is the voltage you’re going to get out of the unit.)

Zendure Common Journey 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

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Present much less

Anker 312 25W USC-C charger

Greatest GaN charger for a smartphone or pill

That is the proper charger to purchase in the event you’re in search of a further charger in your smartphone or pill. Compact and small, prime quality, and at a worth you can’t beat.

Learn the overview: Anker 312

I’ve a number of of those in use and all the time preserve a couple of of those in inventory as a result of they’re nice to offer individuals who solely have some scabby charger that takes ages to cost their gadget and will get pink sizzling within the course of.

Anker 312 tech specs: Ports: 1 x USB-C | Max single port output: 25W | Complete energy output: 25W | Dimensions: 50 x 46 x 28mm/2.0 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 69 g/2.5 oz

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Present much less

Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charger with MagSafe

Greatest MagSafe GaN charger

The Nexode 100W charging station options three USB ports — two USB-C and one USB-A — that share 100W of output energy between them. This implies house owners can cost a variety of gadgets, from the most recent MacBook Professional to an Apple Watch, AirPods, an iPad, or something that has a USB port.

And this gadget is not any slouch, because it’s able to charging the brand new Apple M2 MacBook Professional from zero to 50% in simply half-hour.

Learn the overview: Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charger with MagSafe

The magnetic charging plate — which is nice with any iPhone from the iPhone 12 to the very newest iPhone 15, or an Android gadget that has wi-fi charging and a magnetic case — might be angled as much as 65 levels, so customers can select the proper viewing angle for the smartphone. And because of sturdy magnets, the iPhone can rotate 360 levels to comfortably watch movies or take part in teleconferences whereas charging, all with out the cellphone slipping off.

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 | Complete energy output: 100W | Dimensions: 92 x 60 x 60 mm/3.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 862 g/30 oz

Present Knowledgeable Take Present much less

Which is the very best GaN charger? That is determined by what you need from a charger. Some customers need a lot of ports and excessive energy output. Some desire a journey charger that is simple to hold round. For others, it could be having a mixture of legacy USB-A and fashionable USB-C ports.

This chart will assist you to choose the suitable GaN charger for you.

Charger	Worth	Ports	Max single port output	Max whole output
Ugreen Nexode 300W	$170	4 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A	140W	300W
Satechi 145W	$120	4 x USB-C	140W	145W
Anker 200W Prime	$85	4 x USB-C and a couple of x USB-A	100W	200W
Zendure Common 65W	$39	4 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A	65W	65W
Anker 312	$14	1 x USB-C	25W	25W
Ugreen Nexode 100W	$110	2 x USB-C and 1 x USB-A and 1 x MagSafe charging pad	100W	100W

That is determined by what you need. Would you like energy or one thing small you can throw right into a backpack while you journey? Do you want one port or many? Are you charging a smartphone or an array of gadgets?

That can assist you slender down the charger selections for you, I’ve put collectively a desk highlighting the strengths of every charger.

This charger is for you…	In order for you…
Ugreen Nexode 300W	A giant, highly effective desktop charger with a legacy USB-A port. That is about as large — and nearly as good — as they get.
Satechi 145W	You desire a highly effective journey adapter for all of your USB-C gadgets. This can allow you to cost no matter you’ve, wherever you’re.
Anker 200W Prime	You need a lot of USB-C and USB-A ports and also you desire a charger with an enormous desktop presence.
Zendure Common 65W	Journey is your factor, and also you need one thing small and handy.
Anker 312	You need one thing small, moveable, and low cost. These are completely priced so you should buy one for each room in the home.
Ugreen Nexode 100W	You desire a desktop charger with the comfort of MagSafe

Quite a lot of components influence the standard and value of the GaN charger. Listed here are some issues to consider earlier than shopping for one:

Sort of ports: Are you proud of USB-C solely, or do you continue to want USB-A for legacy gadgets?
Energy output: For those who’re charging smartphones and tablets, then a charger that may assist 25W or 65W is ample, however if you’re charging large gadgets similar to laptops then you are going to want a charger that may assist 100W and even 140W of energy.
What number of ports: The extra ports a charger has, the larger and heavier it’s.
Interchangeable plugs: In case you are touring overseas, having a charger that comes with interchangeable plugs is admittedly useful.
Your precise wants versus your fantasy necessities: Some individuals — I am one — are drawn to this “larger is healthier” mind-set when generally what you want is portability. There’s nothing fallacious with having an enormous charger brimming with ports, however keep in mind, if you wish to take this with you on the street or touring, these further ounces will begin to really feel like kilos.

Yearly I check dozens of GaN chargers, each within the check lab and in real-world situations, and there are specific issues I search for in a charger whether it is to make it onto my really helpful checklist.

First, does it do what it says it’ll do? This is not as simple as plugging it in to see if it’ll work, however I additionally check the charger underneath heavy and sustained hundreds (as a result of even a poor-quality charger would possibly be capable of work for a couple of minutes). I additionally check single port hundreds and multi-port hundreds to ensure these are according to the specs. To get a passing grade, a charger must output the rated energy for a number of hours.
Is the charger secure? I perform a number of electrical security assessments, and in addition thermal measurements — as a result of nobody needs an overheating charger within the house.
Is it sturdy? Can it deal with being plugged and unplugged repeatedly? Are the ports good high quality? Can the charger deal with being dropped and kicked about, as a result of that is the type of abuse it’ll get in day-to-day use, particularly if it is a journey charger.

FAQs on GaN chargers

Gallium nitride (the chemical components for that is GaN) is a crystal-like semiconductor materials with particular properties.

GaN has been utilized in electronics for many years, beginning with LEDs within the Nineteen Nineties, the place it was used to emit mild to TVs and pc shows earlier than discovering its manner into transistors, and these days it’s changing the business’s earlier favourite semiconductor materials: silicon.

And it’s these transistors which can be the important thing to creating GaN chargers particular. GaN transistors, often known as GaN FETs, are smaller, can carry extra energy, swap sooner, and are extra power-efficient than their silicon counterparts. This makes them supreme for functions in USB-C adapters, chargers, and energy distribution methods.

A transistor is a tiny digital swap that opens and closes actually quick, and GaN has a number of benefits over silicon when utilized in transistors. Not solely are GaN transistors smaller than silicon transistors, however they will carry extra energy, swap sooner (round 40 million occasions a second, roughly 4 occasions sooner than silicon transistors), and are far more energy environment friendly.

Whereas silicon transistors have an influence effectivity of round 87%, GaN transistors increase this effectivity to over 95%.

The discount in transistor measurement implies that newer GaN USB chargers might be bodily smaller than the older silicon expertise chargers. And whereas it is good to have smaller chargers, it’s the elevated effectivity that’s a very powerful issue in terms of USB chargers as a result of the extra environment friendly an digital element is, the much less waste warmth it generates.

Shoppers are, understandably, involved when chargers really feel sizzling to the contact. Whereas it’s common for chargers that use silicon transistors to get to the purpose of virtually being too sizzling to the touch, I discover it uncommon for a charger utilizing GaN expertise to really feel mildly heat.

The sooner switching additionally implies that a GaN transistor inside a charger can have higher management over the charging and reply to occasions similar to overheating or overvoltage a lot faster than older transistors might, making them safer in use.

Sure. (Keep in mind that these add one more factor to lose or overlook, and one thing else to interrupt.)

One thing like this or this will do the job.

After I’m testing gadgets, I’ve set 45°C/113°F as the purpose at which I begin to have considerations. That is the temperature at which issues cease feeling sizzling and other people begin feeling ache, based on the safe “no injury” temperature range chart.

The ASTM C1055 (the Normal Information for Heated System Floor Situations that Produce Contact Burn Accidents) states that the typical particular person can contact objects as much as 60°C/140°F for as much as 5 seconds with out sustaining irreversible burn accidents.