Fast charging depends on three things working together: the charger, the cable and the device. If any one of them is slower than the others, that is the speed you get. Here is how to match them.
What is USB Power Delivery?
USB Power Delivery, or PD, is the fast-charging standard used over USB-C. The charger and the device agree on a power level before charging starts, so a device only draws what it is built to take. That means a higher-wattage PD charger will not overpower a smaller device; it simply gives your phone what it asks for and has room to spare for a tablet.
How many watts do you need?
- Phones: many recent phones fast charge at around 20W or more. Check the charging wattage in your phone's specifications.
- Tablets: usually more than a phone, so a 45W charger is a comfortable fit.
- Laptops: USB-C laptops often need 45W or more, and some need up to 100W. Check the wattage printed on the laptop's original charger.
The cable matters too
A cable has its own power limit. A standard USB-C cable carries up to 60W. For anything above that, you need a cable rated for 5A with an E-Marker chip, which tells the charger it is safe to deliver up to 100W.
If your iPhone has a Lightning port (iPhone 14 and earlier), fast charging needs a USB-C to Lightning cable paired with a PD charger.
Quick Charge and USB-A
Quick Charge (QC) is a separate fast-charging standard, mostly used over the older rectangular USB-A port. A charger with both a USB-C PD port and a USB-A QC port covers most devices in one household or one car.
Which one should you get?
- At home or the office: the GadgetJuice 45W USB-C charger comes with a 5A USB-C cable and suits phones and tablets that charge over USB-C PD.
- In the car: the 36W dual port car charger has a USB-C PD port and a USB-A QC 3.0 port, so two devices charge at once.
- For a laptop, or a long reach: the USAMS 100W USB-C cable is 3m long, has an E-Marker chip and shows the live charging power on a built-in display.
- For a Lightning iPhone: the GadgetJuice USB-C to Lightning cable supports PD fast charging up to 27W and has a connector that rotates 180 degrees.
Not sure what your device needs? Send us the make and model and we will confirm before you order. Browse all phone accessories.
Device and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to show compatibility.