The befuddling world of USB-C charging, explained
Now, having just one socket, one cable, and one power supply for all devices is simple: computers, smartphones, tablets, headphones, and other peripherals.
So much for the theory, but in reality, the truth is far more complicated when it comes to USB.
Not all USB-C power supplies are compatible with every device. Not all Type-C ports can be used for fast charging or even charging at all. And not every Type-C cable provides reliable power transfer.
We conduct extensive, hands-on tests that go far beyond the information available on many other websites.
Thinking of buying a USB-C cable? Be on the lookout for these 6 things!
USB Type-C: The Standard Charging Connection
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Now, just about all portable electronics can be charged via USB Type-C; for smartphone, Apple was the last big maker to switch from the proprietary Lightning connector to USB-C last year with the iPhone 15.
In addition to those, there are few smartphones that are very affordably priced and still come with micro USB charging ports. The same is true for tablets - market leader Apple started using USB-C with its iPad 9 three years ago, it's rare to find any devices that don't use USB-C. You will also find that even small devices like headphones and portable speakers, as well as e-book readers, are now almost exclusively using USB-C.
connection for charging.
Although powerful gaming and multimedia laptops have USB-C, they also often come with a dedicated power connector that has a higher charging capacity and matches the original power adapter. Many business laptops with a USB-C port and power adapter still use a traditional power plug connection so that companies can continue to use power adapters from older models.
A traditional Type-C connection on a laptop does not always transmit power. The only way to determine if a Type-C socket has the capability to transmit power is by checking its technical specifications. A Type-C port with Thunderbolt, however, is generally capable of charging.
We tested 43 older USB-C to USB-A adapters. 1 was excellent. Unfortunately, 10 of them proved to be hazardous.
9. Safely Supplies Power: The sophisticated thermal management and electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection of USB-C makes it a safe option for power delivery.
The superiority of Type-C technology is quite evident, and it owes this to several significant benefits for users and manufacturers alike:
Cables can be connected rapidly and effortlessly due to the stable, twist-resistant connection provided by the symmetrical plug.
The socket is compact, allowing devices to be made more slender and space-efficient.
Type-C can handle both data and video transmission, as well as charging, which means you may only need a single cable between your computer and peripherals, keeping your desk organized and clutter-free.
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Devices can also be charged faster with USB-C: Power supplies that only use micro USB typically deliver up to 10 watts, while chargers with a Type A connection usually have 15 to 18 watts. In contrast, chargers with a Type-C connection support the advanced USB Power Delivery (PD) protocol, which usually allows charging capacities of up to 100 watts and as much as 240 watts in the current version.
Our go-to USB-C charging cable
Belkin BoostCharge 240-watt USB-C charging cable
$31.69 at Walmart Electronics
However, this doesn't apply to all USB-C connections, devices, and cables: Although everything fits together mechanically, not every combination has to deliver the optimal charging power — for example, because different levels of the Power Delivery standard are supported or devices and power supply units may not implement the standard correctly.
USB-C and Power Delivery: How the Charging Technology Works
The basis for charging using a USB-C is the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) standard. This standard specifies voltage levels ranging from 5 to 48 volts and current levels of either 3 or 5 amps within "power profiles" or "power rules." The capabilities for charging vary based on the power supply unit, power cord, and device, allowing for capacities of up to 240 watts, depending on the setup.
A typical smartphone charger with 30 watts, for example, offers power settings for charging at 15, 27, and 30 watts, whereas a laptop charger also offers power settings for 45, 60, 65, or 100 watts.
Before transmission starts, the power supply unit (source) and consumer (sink) agree on the necessary voltage and current: The power supply unit first checks the cable to see if it can send up to 3 or 5 amps and provides a base voltage of 5 volts.
It then informs the consumer of the various voltages it can provide. The consumer indicates the one it requires, so that both agree on a suitable power profile.
Ugreen
In most cases, any USB-C power source with a Type-C charging port should be able to charge a device efficiently and as quickly as possible. If a power source doesn't meet the device's full requirements, it should still provide a minimum amount of charging power, albeit at a slower rate than ideal charging conditions.
Conversely, using a power supply unit with a higher output than what the device needs will not accelerate the charging process because the device can't utilize that extra power.
Since version 3 of USB Power Delivery, the power supply and consumer can adjust the voltage and current more dynamically. To do this, they both must support the optional standard extension Programmable Power Supply Protocol (PPS).
Best 3-port USB-C Charger
Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W 3-Port GaN Fast Charger
$55.99 at Ugreen
The device can then request slightly lower or higher voltage and current from the power supply unit than the prescribed power profiles: This accelerates the charging process, but also helps to reduce stress on the battery during charging or to provide the correct charging power for a smartphone or notebook in real time based on the system's current load.
Labels such as Fast Charge or Super Fast Charge 2.0, as seen on Samsung smartphones and power supply units, indicate support for PPS.
Top USB-C Power Delivery Laptop Chargers for 2024: More Portable Options
To determine whether a power adapter fits your device, check the device's power adapter port, which might be labeled "Input: [Type of charger universal], Universal Power Input 6A."
The easiest way to do this is to use the power adapter recommended by the manufacturer for charging. This is often the case for laptops, since new devices usually come with a suitable power supply unit.
Many smartphones and tablets no longer come with a power adapter in the package: You can purchase an appropriate charger from the device's manufacturer.
USB-C should make this investment unnecessary and put an end to the confusion caused by power adapters that only work with one device. A charging unit that can charge all your devices without any issues is therefore the ideal solution.
To do this, the power supply and device must have a USB-C connection and support USB Power Delivery. You should be able to find this information in the technical data, often as an abbreviation such as "PD" or "PPS". If the power supply unit or device does not support USB PD despite having a Type-C connection, charging can still start but will be limited to 15 watts.
For a single power supply unit to charge all devices, it should have enough power to fully charge the most power-hungry device and separately, it should be able to adapt to the unique power needs of less demanding devices.
Typically, a laptop requires the most power to charge: Ultra-mobile laptops need a charger with 45 watts, standard laptops require 60 watts, and very powerful laptops need 100 watts.
For smartphones, tablets, and portable speakers or headphones, 30 watts or less is typically enough.
Beware of These DANGEROUS USB-C Accessories:
To guarantee that a USB-C power supply for a laptop can charge other portable devices, it should support power profiles of 15 and 27 watts via USB-PD.
You'll often find a list of other devices that can be charged with a third-party power supply in its technical specifications. If items like Apple iPad Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 are listed among them, it's likely that the power supply is also suitable for smaller portable devices.
To use the power adapter that came with your laptop, check the manufacturer's website for the power output specifications: If you see something like "9 volts – 3 amps,” the adapter is suitable for smartphones and tablets. These values can also be found on the power supply unit, typically under the "Output" label.
Alternatively, notebooks can also be charged using a smartphone charger: This is convenient when traveling, where you just want to bring a lightweight phone charger. The charger should have at least 27 watts of charging power and a voltage of 9 volts. This configuration is suitable for small and lightweight laptops.
It's a good idea to turn off the notebook when charging, as using it could cause the battery to drain when the charger is connected, even though the charger is supplying power. However, most notebooks require 15 volts and some require 20 volts to charge. If your phone charger delivers this voltage, you might be able to charge your notebook with it, but it may take a long time.
4. Price: USB-C cables can range in price from very cheap to very expensive, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase.
as standard.
This is suitable for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Notebooks can also be charged up to 60 watts with these cables - this is enough for small and lightweight laptops. However, for larger and more powerful laptops, the charging time may be longer, depending on the battery size and operating load.
Some smartphones and tablets with fast charging capabilities also need a suitable cable, such as Samsung's Super Fast Charging.
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These cables have a small chip embedded, commonly referred to as an e-marker: It holds details about the cable's capabilities, like its maximum power handling capacity, voltage, current values, and the charging protocols it supports.
It outputs this information when the power supply unit and the device it's charging negotiate the ideal power delivery via USB-PD to make sure the charger sends the correct voltage and current values for the cable and the connected device.
Samsung Galaxy owners: Consider purchasing this GAN charger for the quickest charging experience available
Most manufacturers refer to the corresponding cables as "100 watt cables." You will also often see a reference to the e-marker chip in the technical data.
In addition to power transfer, USB-C also supports data and image transfer - you should also pay attention to this if you're looking for a cable that can do it all. Typically, cables that can do all of this are a bit more expensive than standard charging cables. Cables for Thunderbolt are designed to support all types of USB-C transmission.
This USB-C charging cable offers great value.
Anker New Nylon Series 3 USB-C to USB-C 2-pack
$9.99 at Walmart Electronics
In order to know how well a charging cable transmits data: In theory, longer cables allow more voltage loss and limit the flow of current due to higher resistance. Thicker cables are designed to ensure a more stable transmission.
In reality, you should not rely on this as a hard and fast rule: The quality of a cable ultimately depends on how well it was built from the inside out.
Purchase cables with higher charging capacities from trusted brands like Anker, Belkin, or Ugreen. They are dependable and generally less expensive than the equivalent variants sold by laptop or smartphone manufacturers.
Devices with multiple ports: One charging solution for all
You typically need more than one power supply unit for many devices: people often want to charge multiple devices at the same time using USB-C. Therefore, power supply units with several USB-C and USB-A ports are available, allowing you to charge a laptop, smartphone, and headphones at the same time. This is also helpful when traveling, especially when you only have access to one outlet, like on a train.
When making your choice, think first about how many devices you want to charge at the same time and which ports they will use. There are numerous power supply units available with multiple connection combinations, so you should always find a suitable model.
Devices with two USB-C ports start around $20, while prices for those with three Type-C ports begin at around $40. Typically, the power supply units also have a charging port with a Type A connection in addition to the USB-C outputs.
You'll also need to choose a maximum charging capacity for the multi power supply: Up to 45 watts is enough for a smartphone and headphones. If you also want to charge a laptop, at least 60 watts is recommended.
USB power supply units with multi-port connections:
The maximum charging power determined by the manufacturer typically applies to the use of all ports at the same time, only when using a combination of specific ports, or only when one port is being used.
If you pick a 65-watt power supply not only for your computer, you'll commonly get this full charging power only when a single USB-C port is occupied. But if you also charge another device with the second Type-C port, the power will be split between 45 watts on one port and 20 watts on the other - this means your computer won't charge as quickly.
If all three power supply ports are being used, the power output on a single port can decrease even further. Moreover, not all type C connections on a power supply unit are created equal: for example, a laptop plugged into one port may only get up to 65 watts, while the same laptop connected to another port will only receive up to 45 watts.
best single-port usb-C charger
Anker 713 Nano 45W Compact Charger
$27.99 at Best Buy
The charger comes with 61W USB-C, 18W USB-A, and 12W USB-A fast-charging capabilities.
The required power supply should definitely support USB-C Power Delivery and ideally also PPS as well.
Many manufacturers advertise more expensive models with the abbreviation "GaN": This stands for the semiconductor material gallium nitride, from which, for example, the voltage converters in associated power supplies are made: They function very efficiently without overheating, allowing compact power supply units with high charging capacity.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
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