The best GaN chargers of 2024: Expert tested

Which is the best GaN charger? That depends on what you want from a charger. Some users want lots of ports and high power output. Some want a travel charger that’s easy to carry around. For others, it might be having a mix of legacy USB-A and modern USB-C ports. 

This chart will help you pick the right GaN charger for you.

That depends on what you want. Do you want power, or something small that you can throw into a backpack when you travel? Do you need one port or many? Are you charging a smartphone or an array of devices?

To help you narrow down the charger choices for you, I’ve put together a table highlighting the strengths of each charger. 

A variety of factors impact the quality and usability of GaN charger. Here are some things to take into consideration before buying one:

Type of ports: Are you happy with USB-C only, or do you still need USB-A for legacy devices?
Power output: If you’re charging smartphones and tablets, then a charger that can support 25W or 65W is ample, but if you are charging big devices such as laptops then you’re going to need a charger that will support 100W or even 140W of power.
How many ports: The more ports a charger has, the bigger and heavier it is.
Interchangeable plugs: If you are traveling abroad, having a charger that comes with interchangeable plugs is really handy.
Your actual needs versus your fantasy requirements: Some people — I’m one — are drawn to this “bigger is better” way of thinking when sometimes what you need is portability. There’s nothing wrong with having a massive charger brimming with ports, but remember, if you want to take this with you on the road or traveling, those extra ounces will start to feel like pounds.

Every year I test dozens of GaN chargers, both in the test lab and in real-world conditions, and there are certain things I look for in a charger if it is to make it onto my recommended list.

First, does it do what it says it will do? This isn’t as easy as plugging it in to see if it will work, but I also test the charger under heavy and sustained loads (because even a poor-quality charger might be able to work for a few minutes). I also test single port load and multi-port loads to make sure these are in line with the specs. To get a passing grade, a charger needs to output the rated power for several hours.
Is the charger safe? I carry out several electrical safety tests, and also thermal measurements — because no one wants an overheating charger in the home.
Is it robust? Can it handle being plugged and unplugged repeatedly? Are the ports good quality? Can the charger handle being dropped and kicked about, because this is the sort of abuse it’s going to get in day-to-day use, especially if it’s a travel charger.

Gallium nitride (the chemical formula for this is GaN) is a crystal-like semiconductor material with special properties. 

GaN has been used in electronics for decades, starting with LEDs in the 1990s, where it was used to emit light to TVs and computer displays before finding its way into transistors, and nowadays it is replacing the industry’s previous favorite semiconductor material: silicon.

And it is these transistors that are the key to making GaN chargers special. GaN transistors, also known as GaN FETs, are smaller, can carry more power, switch faster, and are more power-efficient than their silicon counterparts. This makes them ideal for applications in USB-C adapters, chargers, and power distribution systems.

A transistor is a tiny electronic switch that opens and closes really fast, and GaN has several advantages over silicon when used in transistors. Not only are GaN transistors smaller than silicon transistors, but they can carry more power, switch faster (around 40 million times a second, roughly four times faster than silicon transistors), and they are much more power efficient.

While silicon transistors have a power efficiency of around 87%, GaN transistors boost this efficiency to over 95%.

The reduction in transistor size means that newer GaN USB chargers can be physically smaller than the older silicon technology chargers. And while it’s nice to have smaller chargers, it is the increased efficiency that is the most important factor when it comes to USB chargers because the more efficient an electronic component is, the less waste heat it generates.

Consumers are, understandably, concerned when chargers feel hot to the touch. While it is common for chargers that use silicon transistors to get to the point of almost being too hot to touch, I find it rare for a charger using GaN technology to feel mildly warm.

The faster switching also means that a GaN transistor inside a charger can have better control over the charging and respond to events such as overheating or overvoltage much quicker than older transistors could, making them safer in use. 

Yes. (Bear in mind that these add yet another thing to lose or forget, and something else to break.) 

When I’m testing devices, I have set 45°C/113°F as the point at which I start to have concerns. This is the temperature at which things stop feeling hot and people start feeling pain, according to the safe “no injury” temperature range chart. 

The ASTM C1055 (the Standard Guide for Heated System Surface Conditions that Produce Contact Burn Injuries) states that the average person can touch objects up to 60°C/140°F for up to five seconds without sustaining irreversible burn injuries.

If you are looking for a more specific charger, consider these top picks for the best GaN accessories.