Apple Reportedly Planning Smaller and Lighter GaN-Based Chargers

Navitas Semiconductor is expected to obtain orders from Apple in 2021 for fast charging solutions based on gallium nitride or "GaN" technology, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes. The report claims that Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC will supply Navitas with GaN chips as part of an existing partnership.

gan charger anker
This supply chain news suggests that Apple is planning GaN versions of its USB-C power adapters, allowing them to be smaller and lighter, more power efficient, and less heat conductive compared to its current chargers, which are based on silicon. Many other brands like Anker and Belkin have introduced GaN chargers over the last few years. It's unclear if Apple's first GaN chargers would be ready for release this year.

Navitas is the creator of GaNFast, a gallium nitride solution that the company says is found in some of the most popular fast chargers in the world. GaNFast has been adopted by several brands, such as Aukey, Dell, Lenovo, and Xiaomi. Last year, the company said GaNFast-based solutions include wall chargers ranging from 24W to 300W.

Apple no longer includes power adapters in the box with iPhone and Apple Watch models that it sells, but it continues to sell a variety of power adapters on a standalone basis, including 5W and 12W USB-A options and 20W, 30W, 61W, and 96W USB-C options.

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Top Rated Comments

coachgq Avatar
57 months ago
It's about time. With smaller chargers they can actually still include them in the box and be environmentally conscious. As we all know that's what the charger removal was about...
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Numbah One Avatar
57 months ago
Hope Apple will switch their laptop chargers over to GaN first and include an extra port or two for simultaneous phone/tablet charging.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
57 months ago
a lot of people don’t realize the quality of Apple chargers far exceed many third party chargers http://www.righto.com/2012/05/apple-iphone-charger-teardown-quality.html

considering usb-c type chargers are a much more risky investment, $19 isn’t all that bad for a 20w
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whyamihere Avatar
57 months ago
Half the size, twice the price! :apple:
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
57 months ago

The way the picture of the anker charger shows the plug folding up makes it look broken at first glance. Like one prong is bent or something.



Maybe it’s just me.
Yeah, I don’t see it.

Attachment Image
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
apparatchik Avatar
57 months ago
Due to the optimized size, Apple could consolidate the 5W, 12W, 20W & 30W models on a single 30W one, and the 61W & 96W on a single 100W one. Surely having less SKU's can have scale economics and simplify the experience for the user.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)