Aukey USB Power Delivery
Posted by Maiko Pedragosa on
USB Power Delivery, or PD, is considered the future of fast charging. This article should help you get a grasp on this technology as well as answer some common FAQs.
Real World User
Capabilities
USB Power Delivery is a new universal multi-voltage charging standard that dynamically negotiates power output over a USB Type-C connection to safely and can efficiently recharge a wide range of compatible devices.
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• Charges your phone much faster than traditional 5W ports do to get you out the door faster.
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• Boosts the power output to charge those big ticket items, so your laptop can be truly mobile.
Background
In order to understand how Power Delivery works, it’s good to know a bit about how we measure power. The equation for electric power is how we base the relationship between power (how fast electricity is transferred), current (how much electricity is flowing), and voltage (electric pressure). Different technology companies manipulate these factors in specific ways to try to create the most powerful charging systems we’ve seen to date.
What do I get with USB Power Delivery?
Charging
PD has been called the future of charging because leaders in the tech industry like Apple and Google have moved towards this universal style of charging for their latest devices because it has proven to be a safe and efficient way to push the limits of voltage and current to boost energy flow to our peripherals and computers.
In order for the PD system to work from power source to power receiver, both ends must be compatible as well as using the right cable. Currently only USB-C to Lightning and USB-C to C are capable of PD technology.
Notes:
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1. You can use higher power chargers to charge smaller devices. The devices will only take the required amount of energy to charge.
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2. You can use a lower powered charger to charge bigger devices. It’s not going to charge at the normal rate and could even affect your use of the device, but it could be good in a pinch.
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3. This is not an exhaustive list of devices
Get More Out of Your Laptop with a Hub
If you’ve been trying to find a way to optimize your laptop’s USB-C port and want a better way to connect all your devices, a USB-C hub with Power Delivery is the way to go. USB-C hubs have the ability to plug devices in a series from the power source. If you have a single USB-C port on your computer, you can connect a power source to the computer through the hub to charge, while still having open ports to charge your peripherals. There's no need to compromise.
Charge flows from the power source through the HUB to all the devices. Each device is able to communicate how much energy it needs.
Other Fast Charging Technologies
Quick Charge, created by Qualcomm, is another charging standard, but it is limited to the devices using Qualcomm processors and has different profiles of power that make it incompatible with PD charging. This is changing with the introduction of Quick Charge 4+ which will be compatible with Power Delivery.
Another technology is Oppo’s VOOC, which is also used by OnePlus as Fast Charge (formally Dash Charge). To reach their advertised 20W peak charge, you must use the company’s proprietary cords and mounts. OnePlus phones are not compatible with PD or Quick Charge, but can use AUKEY Ai ports which can still safely charge your phone at the correct power levels.
If your phone is not compatible with these specific quick charging technologies, you can still use these PD ports to charge your phone, but will only reach the phone’s maximum charging capabilities.
Blown away by the benefits of Power Delivery? Have a gander at our PD compatible products. Hit us up on social media with your comments or questions.