A new report from Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes claims Apple is planning to offer a smaller and lighter fast charging solution based on gallium nitride or “GaN” technology. The report says Navitas Semiconductor is expected to manufacture the chargers.
The report also claims that Apple chipmaking partner TSMC will supply Navitas with GaN chips as part of an existing partnership.
Navitas is the creator of GaNFast, a next-generation semiconductor technology that the company says “runs up to 20x faster than old, slow silicon (Si), and enables 3x more power, which translates to up to 3x faster and half the size & weight.” GaNFast chargers feature “USB-C” which means they can deliver enough power to fast-charge laptops and quickly and safely charge all other mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, headphones, and VR-headsets. GaNFast chargers are designed to save time, weight, and money.
Making GaN versions of its USB-C power adapters will allow them to be smaller and lighter, more power-efficient, and less heat-conductive compared to its current chargers, which are based on silicon.
Many companies, including Anker and Belkin, have debuted GaN chargers over the last few years. The report didn’t specify whether Apple’s smaller and lighter charging solution would be ready for release during 2021.