What is a GaN charger? And why the one in your drawer is lying to you
What is a GaN charger — and why the one in your drawer is lying to you
That old white brick is slower, hotter and three times the size it needs to be. Here's what GaN actually means, and how to pick the right one — from £12.85.
You've seen "GaN" on chargers and scrolled past it. It's not marketing fluff — it's the single reason a modern charger can be half the size of your old one, run cooler, and refill your phone in a fraction of the time. Here's the plain-English version, and how much power you actually need.
The short version
GaN (gallium nitride) is a newer material that handles power with far less heat than the old silicon. Less heat means a charger can be smaller, cooler and faster all at once. Most phones want 30W, a phone-plus-tablet setup wants 45W, and laptops want 65W. Gibutech GaN starts at £12.85.
01What GaN actually is
Chargers have always used silicon to switch power. Silicon runs hot, so it needs bulk to stay safe — that's why the old bricks are big. Gallium nitride switches the same power with far less wasted heat. That one change cascades: less heat means less bulk, less bulk means a pocketable charger, and the freed-up headroom means more watts. Smaller, cooler and faster aren't a trade-off with GaN — they arrive together.
02Why your old charger is lying to you
Two ways. First, size implies power — that chunky brick feels serious but often pushes just 5–10W, trickling your phone for hours. Second, "fast charge" printed on the box means nothing without USB-C Power Delivery, the standard that lets a charger and phone agree on a safe, high speed. A proper GaN charger negotiates that handshake and delivers the watts your phone can actually take. The old one just doesn't have the conversation.
03How much power do you actually need?
More watts isn't automatically better — it's about matching the charger to what you plug in. Here's the honest guide:
| What you're charging | Aim for | Gibutech pick |
|---|---|---|
| Just a phone | 30W | 30W GaN · £12.85 |
| Phone + tablet, or the family | 45W, 3 ports | 45W GaN · £22.49 |
| Laptop, or charge everything at once | 65W, 2 ports | 65W GaN · £29.95 |
04"But won't fast charging hurt my battery?"
It's the most common worry, and the answer is no — as long as the charger is a good one. A quality GaN charger negotiates a safe voltage and backs off as the battery fills. The real enemy of battery health is heat, and running cool is exactly what GaN is built to do. The chargers that actually cook your battery are the cheap, unregulated ones that run hot. More on that in our charging myths guide.
Pick your GaN
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Frequently asked
What does GaN stand for?
GaN stands for gallium nitride, the semiconductor material a GaN charger uses instead of traditional silicon. It wastes far less energy as heat, which lets the charger be smaller, run cooler and deliver more power than an old silicon brick of the same size.
Is a GaN charger actually worth it?
Yes, for most people. You get faster charging in a much smaller, cooler plug — and a single GaN charger with multiple ports can replace several old bricks. Gibutech GaN chargers start at £12.85, so the upgrade is inexpensive.
Will a GaN charger charge my laptop?
A 65W GaN charger will fast-charge most USB-C laptops, plus a phone alongside from its second port. Lighter ultrabooks are happy on 45W. Check your laptop's original charger wattage and match or exceed it.
Are GaN chargers safe for my phone's battery?
Yes. A quality GaN charger uses USB-C Power Delivery to negotiate a safe voltage and eases off as the battery fills. Because GaN runs cool and heat is what ages batteries, a good GaN charger is gentler on your battery than a hot, cheap one.