I've been using a GaN-based power supply for my MacBook Pro and it's just as good as advertised. Slightly bigger than a deck of cards, yet it runs cooler than the stock unit.
Hopefully this tech finds its way into more devices as it gets cheaper. It would be neat to have GaN based inverters for electric cars.
* Make sure they are UL listed for safety, as Animats pointed out in an earlier discussion. [1] Some aren't, even from well-known brands like Anker.
* If they are multi-port, make sure you're happy with how they distribute power. Most likely you want the majority of the power going to port 1 where you stick a laptop, but some drop it down to 50W or lower if you just have a cable in one of the other spots, much less any device connected.
I love the monoprice ones. They're small, inexpensive, inconspicuous, and meet the standards I described above. They also charge all my devices reliably, unlike my (larger, I think non-GaN) Nekteck chargers that spend their time in a drawer now. Buy a 5A cable to get the full 100W out of them at 20V.
Even-though the Anker brick I have does not have an Underwriters Laboratory logo on it, it does have a TUV and a CE logo. TUV is the equivalent to UL but is a testing house mostly geared towards Europe.
That being said, TUV like UL is listed as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) in the United States (for more information see: https://www.tuv.com/usa/en/ctuvus-certification.html) and thus is just as safe.
The UL logo may be more recognizable in the US, however they too certify for both markets, with UL also having their UL EU certification program.
A TUV mark would only be accepted in North America it was a cTUVus stamp on it.
What I wonder is if TUV in Europe just tests at just 240V if it’s labelled 100v-240v, or across the labelled voltages (though lower voltage should mean fewer problems).
I'm currently charging the Air M1 off a 20W Anker Nano which is kind of amazing it works for a 30g device although it charges very slowly but is quite handy to drop in your bag in case you run out. I've ordered a 45W one but they are out of stock presently.
I have a collection of RAVPower GaN chargers that are very solid so far. Been using them for about a year now.
In fact, the Apple power brick that came with my M1 MacBook Pro is still in its original packaging; I have not used it yet. The 65 Watt RAVPower one seems as if it's about half the size. More than half the mass, though.
(I have never needed to try warranty support for RAVPower things.)
It surprises me that GaN marketed power supplies cost extra. The actual GaN transistors are under 10 cents now, and by using one you can use a smaller inductor, smaller capacitor and smaller heatsinks. Those smaller components lead to a smaller plastic case and smaller circuit board.
All of those smaller things cost less, so the finished product has lower production costs.
The ones I've bought haven't been terribly expensive. About half the price of Apple chargers. I daresay you don't want to go too cheap with chargers as they can overheat/pack up/damage things.
Yes, it can, but that would be pricey with regards to how much current they can handle. GaN switches can't handle as much as silicon, or SiC, despite their higher efficiency.
