With the disappearance of mobile phone chargers and laws like the European one that support this disappearance, if you buy a new smartphone and need a charger, you will have no choice but to check. And I usually pay attention to one element besides the charging power: that the charger is GaNthe acronym for gallium nitride. It is definitely worth opting for these chargers.
Perhaps the most eye-catching thing about a charger is that it supports the highest possible fast charge, but that’s not the only key information to consider when choosing one. For example, I think it’s important that it supports the widest range of charging systems: Power Delivery and Quick Charge ensure maximum compatibility (which is not complete, each brand uses its own systems). And the internal components are important: the efficiency of the charge and even the size of the charger depend on it.
Gallium nitride or GaN increases charger quality by reducing its size
Image from Baseus
Silicon is the basis of integrated circuits, and much of today’s electronic technology is based on it. Processor wafers are made of silicon, as are most of the components that circuit boards are built with. Including chargers, the devices that power our everyday gadgets.
Silicon continues to be essential in electronic components, although that doesn’t mean there aren’t any alternatives. Gallium nitride is one of them: this chemical compound formed of nitrogen and gallium offers advantages over silicon in certain applications, such as the construction of more efficient, powerful and compact circuits. GaN does not completely replace silicon, it complements it.
Advantages of GaN chargers
Applied to chargers, one of the devices in which manufacturers have integrated gallium nitride, GaN has the following advantages:
- Greater energy efficiency. GaN chargers transform electricity more efficiently and with less energy loss as heat.
- They don’t get as hot. This comes from the previous point: GaN chargers, being more efficient, heat up much less than normal chargers. As a general rule, everything will depend on the specific load used with the mobile.
- More compact and lighter size. Gallium nitride allows for smaller internal components and integrated circuits. This results in smaller and much more portable chargers.
- Higher charging power. GaN chargers can handle higher charging power, thanks to their better efficiency capabilities. Of course, this does not mean that all of them have maximum power: everything will depend on the model and the charging systems for which it is available.
Disadvantages of GaN chargers
Since not everything is positive, gallium nitride also has its more or less dark side. Here are its main disadvantages:
- There is not too much difference in loading speeds. Ultimately, day-to-day usage won’t be much different between chargers either: GaN and non-GaN include similar charging systems.
- They can be more expensive. Little by little, their price is going down, but I can’t ignore it: a GaN charger usually has a higher price than its counterpart without gallium nitride. However, the difference is usually not exaggerated.
- They are not so easy to find. Manufacturers usually differentiate those that include gallium nitride among their components. And they are not very popular yet.
Device manufacturers typically do not include GaN chargers
In fact, lately they don’t even include chargers (and this will be something that will reach all ranges). Therefore, to acquire one with this technology it is usually essential search among third party manufacturers. And if you do have to buy a charger, I think it’s important to choose one that incorporates the most efficient technology.
Manufacturers like Anker or Baseus, very good quality brands, offer gallium nitride chargers in their catalog. My recommendation is to compare the type of charge used by the phone (if it is compatible with Power Delivery, Quick Charge, fast charging in W …) and look for a GaN charger that meets these needsHaving a compact, small charger with efficient technology ends up making daily charging much more comfortable.
Cover image | Ivan Linares
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