Learn about USB-PD

There are many different charging methods for phones as well as devices and USB-PD is one of the fastest ways. In fact, existing Android phones use this technology to charge faster.

So what is USB-PD and how does it help? Find out in the following article.

What is USB-PD?

USB in USB-PD stands for 'Universal Serial Bus' . It is familiar to you because it is the same technology that allows you to plug a mouse, keyboard and other peripherals into your computer. However, the new PD cluster represents 'Power Delivery'.

So what is Power Delivery and what is its role? The goal of this technology is to charge devices faster than regular USB. It uses the USB-C format, which many modern devices are using.

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The USB-PD charger can charge devices up to 100 watts and power certain USB-C devices. Of course, if you plug a 100-watt cable into the phone, it's likely to do more harm than good! That is why the cable 'listens' to the needs of the devices and adjusts the power stream accordingly.

With the universal USB-C standard combined with the USB-PD responsive power output, you get a cable that can plug and charge for a variety of devices.

Why is USB-PD important?

USB-PD competes with Qualcomm's Quick Charge, Huawei's SuperCharge, and Samsung's Adaptive Fast Charging technologies. So what makes USB-PD really different?

Eliminate exclusive barriers and reduce waste

The problem with the aforementioned technologies is that they are proprietary to the company. Manufacturers create them to charge their own devices. Things get more complicated if your Qualcomm-powered phone breaks down and you replace it with a Samsung phone. At that time, the Qualcomm charger will no longer fit the new phone specifications, so you have to use Samsung quick charger instead.

When technologies come and go, people throw away old chargers and cables that no longer work, which adds to the amount of technological waste generated.

USB-PD prevents this by introducing a new standard. You use a USB-PD charger to charge your phone quickly, then use the same charger to power a phone made by another company or even something bigger like a game console.

It doesn't matter which device the manufacturer makes is small or big, because the charger always adjusts the output to meet the device's needs.

USB-PD uses two-way charging

Any USB-PD device can receive or provide power. This handy feature means no different types of chargers are needed.

This is why USB-PD is so necessary. It has the potential to change the world of fast charging technology and create a simple solution for consumers and manufacturers alike.

USB-PD will be successful in the future?

If you love USB-PD, you'll be happy to know that it's not just a fad. The evidence for this comes from a digital news article, revealing that Google wants all future Android phones to support USB-C PD.

As such, USB-PD is not a luxury charging method. It will soon become a standard on Android devices.

How to take advantage of USB-PD?

So if you want to use this new technology, how do you get started? To get USB-PD charging speed, you need both a charger and a device that supports USB-PD.

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Check the device user manual and specifications to check if they support USB-PD. It is also advisable to perform some device compatibility tests, as some products support USB-PD but are not compatible with USB-C.

You may already own a USB-PD compatible charger. If you own a USB hub and wonder what PD charging ports are for, they are the only ports that match USB-PD specifications. You can use these ports to charge your USB-PD devices faster.

If you don't have a USB-PD compatible charger, you can easily find it in electronics stores. Just look for a charger with a port labeled USB-PD or PD and use that port to charge the device.

USB-PD at first seems confusing and even unnecessary. However, if developers apply this standard on their devices, users will soon see the future of fast USB charging, work on most gadgets and can charge in any way.