Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.
Question from Darla: I went online to search for a new wall charger for my phone and iPad and I noticed that some of them were labeled as GaN chargers.
I had never seen that before (but it’s been years since I bought a new charger).
What does the GaN mean? At first I thought it was a brand name but then I noticed that several different brands have GaN in the name.
Rick’s answer: Darla, when a charger is listed as a GaN charger that means it was made using Gallium Nitride instead of the traditional silicon that is used in most other modern chargers.
GaN chargers offer several advantages over traditional chargers:
1 – GaN chargers have a higher power density so they can be smaller (i.e. more compact) than traditional chargers and still produce the same amount of power output.
2 – They are more efficient and operate cooler than traditional chargers.
3 – They are capable of charging your device(s) faster.
It all boils down to this: While traditional PD (Power Delivery) chargers are great, GaN chargers are better for the reasons listed above.
You didn’t ask for a recommendation, but I’ve been using this one for over a year now and I really like it.
I hope this helps, Darla. Good luck!
Update from Darla: Thanks for the recommendation, Rick. It made my decision easy. I just ordered one.