New Trends in Charging Technology: Guide to the Combined Use of GaN (Gallium Nitride) Chargers and Power Banks
Ⅰ.Core Advantages of GaN Technology: Redefining the Performance Boundaries of Charging Devices
Smaller Size: The electron mobility of GaN material is 3 times that of traditional silicon material. At the same power, GaN chargers can be 30%-50% smaller. Tests show that a 65W GaN charger has a volume of approximately 10cm×6cm×3cm and weighs only 120g. In contrast, a silicon-based charger with the same power has a volume of about 15cm×8cm×4cm and weighs 250g. GaN chargers are more portable, making them suitable for outdoor or commuting scenarios.
Lower Heat Generation: The conduction loss of GaN material is 40%-60% lower than that of silicon material, resulting in less heat during charging. Tests indicate that when a 65W GaN charger charges a power bank for 1 hour, the maximum surface temperature is 42℃. Under the same conditions, the maximum surface temperature of a silicon-based charger reaches 58℃. GaN chargers can reduce the aging impact of high temperatures on device components.
Higher Efficiency: The energy conversion efficiency of GaN chargers is generally 92%-95%, higher than the 85%-88% of silicon-based chargers. Based on charging 1 kWh per day, a GaN charger can save approximately 10.95 kWh of electricity per year (1 kWh × (95%-85%) × 365 days), making it more energy-efficient for long-term use.
Ⅱ. Adaptation Logic Between GaN Chargers and Power Banks
Protocol Compatibility: Ensure the GaN charger supports the input protocol of the power bank (such as USB-C PD, QC, PPS). Tests show that a GaN charger supporting the USB-C PD 65W protocol can fully charge a 20000mAh power bank that also supports this protocol from 0% to 100% in 2.5-3 hours. If the protocols of the charger and power bank are incompatible, the charging power will drop below 18W, and the charging time will extend to 6-7 hours.
Power Matching: The power of the GaN charger should match the maximum input power of the power bank. For example, if the maximum input power of the power bank is 65W, selecting a 65W GaN charger can achieve full-speed charging. If a 100W GaN charger is used, the charger will automatically adjust the output power to 65W without damaging the device. If a 30W GaN charger is used, the fast-charging potential of the power bank cannot be fully utilized.
Interface Adaptation: Prioritize GaN chargers and power banks equipped with USB-C interfaces. The USB-C interface supports bidirectional fast charging, which can not only charge the power bank but also supply power to other devices through the power bank. Some high-end GaN chargers also feature a multi-interface design (such as 1 USB-C + 2 USB-A), allowing simultaneous charging of the power bank, mobile phone, and tablet.
III. Key Data Comparison Between Traditional Silicon-Based Chargers and GaN Chargers
Energy Consumption Comparison: In tests charging a 20000mAh (74Wh) power bank, a 65W GaN charger consumes 82Wh of electricity throughout the process with an energy conversion efficiency of 90.2%. A 65W silicon-based charger consumes 93Wh with an energy conversion efficiency of 79.6%. A GaN charger saves 11Wh of electricity per charge, equivalent to the standby power consumption of an ordinary mobile phone for 2 days.
Heat Dissipation Comparison: In a 3-hour continuous 100W full-power output test, GaN chargers adopt synchronous rectification technology combined with heat sink design, which can control the internal temperature within 50℃. Due to insufficient heat dissipation capacity, the internal temperature of silicon-based chargers will rise above 65℃, requiring the activation of overheating protection, resulting in a temporary drop in charging power.
Lifespan Comparison: GaN material has stronger stability, and the cycle service life of GaN chargers can reach more than 5000 times. Silicon-based chargers have a service life of about 3000 times due to long-term high-temperature operation. The service cycle of GaN chargers is more than 60% longer than that of silicon-based chargers.
Ⅳ. Frequently Asked Questions: Addressing Concerns About GaN Combined Use
Will GaN chargers damage device batteries? No. Regular GaN chargers comply with the “Safety Requirements for Lithium-Ion Battery Chargers for Portable Electronic Products” (GB 4943.1-2011) and are equipped with overvoltage, overcurrent, overtemperature, and short-circuit protection functions. Tests show that using a 65W GaN charger to cycle charge a mobile phone battery 500 times results in an 8% battery capacity attenuation rate. Using an ordinary silicon-based charger leads to a 10% battery capacity attenuation rate, so GaN chargers offer better battery protection.
What are the advantages of power banks supporting GaN input? Power banks supporting GaN input usually have higher input power (such as 65W, 100W) and more precise voltage regulation capabilities. Tests show that a 20000mAh power bank supporting GaN input can be fully charged in 1.8 hours with a 100W GaN charger. A power bank of the same capacity not supporting GaN input has a maximum input power of 30W and takes 5 hours to fully charge, representing a 177% improvement in charging efficiency.
Ⅴ. Multi-Device Fast Charging Matching Schemes and Compatible Combination Recommendations
Multi-Device Fast Charging Scheme (Mobile Phone + Laptop + Tablet): Select a 100W multi-port GaN charger (1 USB-C 100W + 1 USB-C 65W + 1 USB-A 30W) paired with a 20000mAh 65W input power bank. The specific configuration is: the USB-C 100W interface charges the laptop (such as MacBook Pro 14-inch), the USB-C 65W interface charges the power bank, and the USB-A 30W interface charges the tablet (such as iPad Pro). All devices can achieve full-speed fast charging when charged simultaneously, and all devices can be fully charged within 3 hours.
Cost-Effective Cross-Brand Compatible Combinations:
Entry-Level Combination: 65W GaN charger (such as Xiaomi 65W GaN Charger, priced at approximately 129 yuan) + 20000mAh 65W input power bank (such as Redmi 20000mAh Power Bank, priced at approximately 199 yuan). It supports USB-C PD and QC protocols, is compatible with most Android phones and thin and light laptops, with a total budget of 328 yuan.
High-End Combination: 100W GaN charger (such as Anker 100W GaN Charger, priced at approximately 349 yuan) + 27000mAh 100W input power bank (such as Ugreen 27000mAh Power Bank, priced at approximately 399 yuan). It supports PPS and PD 3.1 protocols, is compatible with high-power devices such as MacBook and Lenovo Xiaoxin, with a total budget of 748 yuan.
Ⅵ. Details and Safety: Ensuring the Reliability of Combined Use
Material and Craftsmanship: High-quality GaN chargers adopt flame-retardant PC shells with a temperature resistance of 120℃, which can prevent high-temperature fires. Power banks use lithium-polymer batteries, and the cycle life of the cells reaches 1000 times, 40% longer than traditional 18650 cells.
Safety Protection: In addition to basic overvoltage and overcurrent protection, some high-end products also have battery balancing protection (to avoid inconsistent cell voltages) and electrostatic protection. Tests show that the combination of GaN chargers and power banks with multiple protections has a protection response time of less than 0.1 seconds in scenarios such as voltage fluctuations or short circuits, which can effectively avoid device damage.
