Ugreen announces a faster and safer charger: The Nexode 140W PD3.1 Charger

[TheLostSwede]

Ugreen, a leader in mobile charging, is announcing the newest member of its Nexode Charger family: the Nexode 140 W Charger. This charger is setting the standard for being one of the faster, most convenient chargers available; capable of fast charging multiple devices simultaneously. It comes with 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A port, becoming a quick-charging charger for your mobile devices. With the inclusion of GaN chips, the Nexode 140 W and its family are at the forefront of what fast charging should be. In addition to GaN technology, the Nexode 140 W offers features like:

Charging Forward with PD3.1: Power Delivery (PD) 3.1 is the latest in fast charging protocols. With the implementation of this protocol, the Nexode 140 W can fast charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 0 to 56% in 30 minutes using the Apple C-MagSafe cable. With more tech companies expected to implement this cutting-edge protocol, the Nexode 140 W Charger is currently ahead of the curve.




Multiple Ports for Maximum Utility: With the Nexode 140 W Charger, providing the right amount of power to three ports is easier than before. Compared to other single-port 140 W chargers, the Nexode 140 W has 2 type-C ports providing the ability to fast charge two 14-inch laptops simultaneously.

More Charge in a Smaller Package: Portability is important, especially during a time where remote work is becoming more prevalent. The Nexode 140 W Charger is 22% smaller than Apple chargers of equivalent wattage, making the 140 W particularly easier to pack and carry, and a better companion for consumer charging needs.

Power Displacement & Energy Protection: Featuring the latest in power distribution, the Nexode 140 W Charger intelligently distributes the appropriate amount of energy to your device, extending the battery life of your device. Consumers will be welcomed with additional ease of mind know that Ugreen's Thermal Guard system scans temperatures 800 times per second, providing first-rate protection from overheating.

GaN & The Nexode Family
GaN, or Gallium Nitride, is the latest in semiconductor compounds with useful applications in radars, satellites, lasers, and now, chargers. With the inclusion of the GaN chips, Nexode chargers provide higher conversion efficiency, smaller size, and better heat dissipation than before.

Pricing and Availability
The latest Nexode 140 W, $149.99: Available at Amazon.com and Ugreen.com

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ugreen, a leader

They're not just saying that. I own a number of items from them and everyone of them is high quality and of reasonable cost.

GaN & The Nexode Family
GaN, or Gallium Nitride, is the latest in semiconductor compounds with useful applications in radars, satellites, lasers, and now, chargers. With the inclusion of the GaN chips, Nexode chargers provide higher conversion efficiency, smaller size, and better heat dissipation than before.

This is interesting.

 

[thewan]

Oh hey, finally something we can buy that can power the USB PD monitor that was advertised on TPU a while back.... I mean it won't do 170W peak, but that peak was obviously with a 65w PD device powered by the monitor's usb-c port. Meaning we just need abit more than those "cheaper" 100w PD chargers that flood the market, on a single port.

Yes I know this is not the 1st >100W charger we can buy that is not a magsafe adapter, but its probably the one most in reach by far for the majority of the planet. UGREEN has way more reach in developing countries than say Anker, which take forever to bring in their latest high end products to those same countries.

 

[R0H1T]

UGREEN has way more reach in developing countries than say Anker, which take forever to bring in their latest high end products to those same countries.

Not sure about that, they seem equally rare if not more than Anker here.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Not sure about that, they seem equally rare if not more than Anker here.

What part of the world are you in that UGreen and Anker are rare?

 

[bonehead123]

They're not just saying that. I own a number of items from them and everyone of them is high quality and of reasonable cost.

This is interesting.

Well, I bought a few of their cables a while back and they are holding up very well, and were a fair bit less $$ than comparable cables from some other well-known brands...

As for the interesting part, not really, as GaN has been around for a while in certain circles, but is just now coming into the mass-market/consumer electronics audience

 

[lexluthermiester]

as GaN has been around for a while in certain circles, but is just now coming into the mass-market/consumer electronics audience

Yeah, that's what I mean. GaN coming to the consumer market is an interesting development, not that it exists.

 

[Wirko]

As for the interesting part, not really, as GaN has been around for a while in certain circles, but is just now coming into the mass-market/consumer electronics audience

For a while? I haven't been following, my best source is this artice at SemiEngineering from December 2021. It describes GaN and SiC as barely ready to enter industrial use, in electric cars and car chargers first and foremost.

For GaN, the biggest issues relate to the maturity of the technology and fully understanding the failure mechanisms to allow for effective screening to isolate defective devices. “We’ve focused heavily on GaN’s industrialization processes and effective screening methodologies to ensure the highest levels of reliability,”

The modeling side is the issue. There’s still a long way to go. People need to understand the switching behavior for wide-bandgap devices under all conditions. To capture this in the model working under any conditions requires some time, but this will happen. I expect in a few years these materials are going to be easier to use.”

Another issue involves test. Defect density is still higher for GaN and SiC, which makes high coverage essential — especially when these are used in automotive or other safety-critical applications.
“Everyone is familiar with the silicon lifecycle diagram for these devices to ensure that we do not see the early life failures, which would result in early customer returns due to latent faults,” Harrison said. “Manufacturers of these devices run stress testing to ensure any latent faults in the device are uncovered before they end up in a vehicle. For this technology, that stress testing period can be quite extensive — many times longer than regular silicon. One of the challenges with SiC and GaN technology is low-temperature operation, which can impact the lifespan of the device. A lot of the risk can be removed by extensive testing. Differences in testing are more due to the conditions under which the test program is applied rather than the type of tests that are run.”

Doesn't sound like it's a mature technology (or didn't, ten months ago). Reliability may be good enough for less critical consumer stuff like USB chargers, though.

 

[R0H1T]

GaN chargers have been a thing for at least 2-3 years now, although still at a premium.

 

[bonehead123]

For a while? I haven't been following, my best source is this artice at SemiEngineering from December 2021. It describes GaN and SiC as barely ready to enter industrial use, in electric cars and car chargers first and foremost.



Doesn't sound like it's a mature technology (or didn't, ten months ago). Reliability may be good enough for less critical consumer stuff like USB chargers, though.

Well, I wasn't trying to imply that it was a 100% MATURE tech, only that the overall principles & designs, and a few early products have been around for ~2 years, which to me, is a "while"

I'm sure that in the next 12-24 months, we will see ALOT moar movement in this space, especially since the overall concepts & engineering designs have been essentially proven, and several products are gradually moving into the retail-consumer space, which almost always drives innovations, improvements, and reduced production costs

 

[Wirko]

Well, I wasn't trying to imply that it was a 100% MATURE tech, only that the overall principles & designs, and a few early products have been around for ~2 years, which to me, is a "while"

I'm sure that in the next 12-24 months, we will see ALOT moar movement in this space, especially since the overall concepts & engineering designs have been essentially proven, and several products are gradually moving into the retail-consumer space, which almost always drives innovations, improvements, and reduced production costs

Are these early product just USB chargers and similar consumer stuff where top efficiency and highest level of reliability are not demanded? Or is GaN already used in industrial power converters, electric cars, solar and wind power plants?
Sure, the potential is huge, I agree. Actually, SiC appears to be better suited for power conversion, while GaN will be more for RF power.