Apple Reportedly Planning Smaller and Lighter GaN-Based Chargers

[MacRumors]

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.

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.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Planning Smaller and Lighter GaN-Based Chargers

 

[Baymowe335]

Good. I’m ready to move on from standard power bricks.

 

[Serban55]

Finally...this is a great move for us, the consumers, and for our planet Earth

 

[coachgq]

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...

 

[Numbah One]

Hope Apple will switch their laptop chargers over to GaN first and include an extra port or two for simultaneous phone/tablet charging.

 

[aesc80]

No surprise here. Anker must be making bank off the "no charger" plan Apple has went to. Why bother with a POS slower unit when you can get a better developed and cheaper charge brick (bricklett?). Apple won't stand for someone making a better product and make a profit at the same time! 😜

 

[farewelwilliams]

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

 

[whyamihere]

Half the size, twice the price!

 

[Reason077]

I'm surprised the new 20W charger isn't using GaN components already. It's pretty tiny and seems to run cool & efficient. Can't wait to see what GaN will bring!

 

[ghanwani]

When will more countries be like Brazil and force Apple to include a charger?

 

[citysnaps]

No surprise here. Anker must be making bank off the "no charger" plan Apple has went to. Why bother with a POS slower unit when you can get a better developed and cheaper charge brick (bricklett?). Apple won't stand for someone making a better product and make a profit at the same time! 😜

I will not even consider chargers that are not UL Listed. Apple's are.

 

[Braderunner]

They definitely won’t be $19.

 

[cmaier]

When will more countries be like Brazil and force Apple to include a charger?

probably never?

 

[TheDailyApple]

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.

 

[subi257]

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...

Smaller size has nothing to do with being environmentally good. It's still a piece of electronics that is unneeded. all of the chargers in the past few years will work with any new device. There is no need for more new one...except to replace a dead one.

 

[mikedis]

what's the point, it still won't be included in the box.

 

[gallico916]

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

This article is from 2012, which was correct at that time, this days there is no difference between Apple and Quality charges

 

[drewyboy]

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

I think its a little disingenuous to not mention that the article is over 8 years old. Lots of high quality 3rd party alternatives now, but yes, if you go for the $2 amazon charger regardless of 2021 or 2012, you're just asking for it.

Edit: Ninja'd by gallico916

 

[apparatchik]

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.

 

[paradox00]

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

You mean USB-C chargers that aren't compatible with their own products (29W charger and magsafe duo)? I checked your link, but sadly it lacked the information necessary to back up your claim. I didn't see a comparison between Apple and other quality brands, just a link after the story to teardowns of bargain bin chargers (yes Apple is better than those, and no it's not a secret). Apple is still playing catch up to the likes of Anker, Aukey, and more in price, features, and tech. I've heard nothing bad about them with respect to quality either, but if you have sources, I'm more than willing to read them. All that said, I kind of agree with you on the last point. $19 isn't all that bad for an Apple 20W charger... it's almost a competitive product (GaN at the same price and smaller size would be an appealing product).

 

[RumorConsumer]

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.

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.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Planning Smaller and Lighter GaN-Based Chargers

Terrific. Great change and upgrade. If the Apple one rocks Ill use it over my 3rd party ones.

 

[name99]

I'm surprised the new 20W charger isn't using GaN components already. It's pretty tiny and seems to run cool & efficient. Can't wait to see what GaN will bring!

GaN has had a rocky path to commercialization. The GaN power supplies from a few years ago tended to last for a year or two then randomly die. A company like Anker can get away with that, Apple can not (if 1000 Apple power supplies die, the media will have a field day talking about "Apple Quality Control Issues").

Of course Apple knows about GaN (Apple is investigating tech that won't be commercially viable till ten years from now); the delay has been not because they are stuck in the mud but because GaN needed to becomes reliable enough for long enough.

 

[ajfahey]

Leading from behind on this one and just when Apple decided to stop including power bricks with their products.

Clever.

 

[cmaier]

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.

View attachment 1706769

Maybe it’s just me.

Yeah, I don’t see it.

 

[cmaier]

what's the point, it still won't be included in the box.

For Macs?