What Does a Really Fast 65W GaN Charger Look Like?
Translated from the Chinese original.
Not long ago, I was talking with a friend about how we charge our devices and realized that most products have now entered the fast-charging era.
Charging ports may be becoming more standardized, and manufacturers keep trying to make chargers smaller, but plenty of devices still need different connectors. I’m interested in chargers that are compact, high-powered, and offer multiple ports. They lighten my load and can flexibly charge a laptop and other devices, reducing charging time while maintaining high output.
Really Compact
Zendure has just launched the second-generation SuperPort S3. It keeps the same power while getting even smaller—10% smaller than the previous generation. That’s the kind of compact portability that makes GaN worthwhile. It weighs just 100 g.
If you still can’t picture how small it is, don’t worry. I put it next to an AirPods Pro and a one-yuan coin for comparison.
Its distinctive fluted, Roman-column texture feels better in the hand than the usual charger finish and also increases the surface area for heat dissipation.
I’m also a fan of the rounded shape. At last, it doesn’t dig into my hand.
Really Convenient
The foldable plug gets a thumbs-up: it’s easy to carry and pack for a trip.
I often travel for work with a bunch of electronics, and this one charger handles all kinds of needs.
Compared with other GaN chargers on the market, some don’t have enough ports while others are simply too big.
Pretty Impressive
What makes me especially fond of it is the GaN (gallium nitride) technology. It delivers high output from a smaller body, so the second-generation S3 can fast-charge a laptop, phone, tablet, and other high-power devices at the same time while staying compact.
One persistent issue with many 65W chargers is how hot they get. The 65W GaN SuperPort S3 Gen 2 uses copper plates to dissipate heat, spreading it out and drawing it away faster during high-power output to maintain good performance.
Plenty of Ports and Protocols
I used a Power-Z meter for this test. The SuperPort S3 Gen 2 supports PD 2.0/3.0, Qualcomm QC 4+/4.0/3.0/2.0, 5A PPS, Huawei FCP/SCP 5A, Samsung AFC, MediaTek PE 1.0/2.0, Apple 2.4A, and many other fast-charging protocols—very comprehensive!
It has three output ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. USB-A tops out at 30W, and either USB-C port can deliver 65W when used on its own. That’s very user-friendly.
The two USB-C ports are marked with iPad and PC icons because their output drops when both are used at once: C1 can provide up to 45W and C2 up to 18W. That’s why they’re labeled for iPad and PC.
My iPhone 12 successfully negotiated PD fast charging, and the output jumped to 19W.
Then I tested it with a 15-inch MacBook Pro. PD fast charging worked, with a peak charging power of 63W.
Hard to Put Down
I don’t ask much of a charger; fundamentally, it just needs to charge my devices. But with the fast pace of everyday life and the hours we spend using electronics, charging speed matters too. As compact, high-power chargers keep evolving, laptop makers are also working to shrink their original chargers.
Even as laptop chargers get smaller, compact high-power chargers like this can still become a user’s main charger thanks to their size and protocol support.
Compared with other GaN chargers on the market, the 65W SuperPort S3 Gen 2 offers better value. It delivers 65W in such a small body and supports a wide range of devices. I take it with me on most work trips now.