If your new charger is half the size of your old one but charges your laptop faster, you can thank a material called gallium nitride, or GaN.
Silicon versus GaN
For decades, chargers were built with silicon components. Silicon works, but it wastes some energy as heat, so chargers needed space and bulk to stay cool. GaN handles electricity more efficiently and switches much faster, which means less heat, smaller parts and a much more compact charger for the same power.
What this means for you
- One charger for everything: a 65 W USB-C charger like the Ampere 65W GaN Charger can power most laptops, tablets and phones.
- Lighter travel: fewer bricks and cables in your bag.
- Faster top-ups: USB-C Power Delivery negotiates the fastest safe speed with each device.
Watts, explained in one minute
Phones usually charge at 20 to 45 W, tablets at around 30 W and thin laptops at 45 to 65 W. Choose a charger at least as powerful as your most demanding device and it will happily charge the smaller ones too.
Don't forget a power bank
For days away from a socket, a high-capacity power bank with USB-C Power Delivery, such as the Ampere PowerBank 20K, can top up a phone several times or give a laptop an extra few hours.