GaN, Power Delivery & wattage: choosing your USB-C chargers wholesale.
The USB-C wall charger has become a technical product. Between GaN, the 20W-to-140W tiers, USB Power Delivery, PPS and the matching e-marker cable, sourcing the right assortment depends on your end buyer — not on a marketing sheet.
By Mehdi Bouhamel · Founder, Cable Avenue · Updated June 8, 2026
1. What GaN is (and vs silicon)
GaN stands for gallium nitride, a semiconductor used for the power transistors that drive a charger. Compared with classic silicon, GaN switches faster and has lower losses. The concrete consequence for a charger: at equal wattage, it dissipates less heat and allows a more compact enclosure.
| Criterion | Classic silicon | GaN | What it changes at the point of sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compactness | Standard brick | Smaller form factor at equal wattage | The #1 argument beyond 45W |
| Heat | Runs hotter | Lower temperature rise | Comfort + perceived lifespan |
| Relevance | Enough up to ~20W | Takes off from 45-65W | No point paying for GaN on a 20W |
| Cost | Cheapest | Slightly higher | Justified by the form factor at the high end |
Practical verdict: GaN isn't a box to tick everywhere. On a 20W smartphone charger, a silicon cube does the job and stays the most cost-effective. GaN comes into its own from 45W and especially 65W / 100W, where the compactness gain becomes the selling argument against the laptop's stock brick.
Worth knowing: "GaN" is a power-electronics technology, not a charging-performance label. A GaN charger and a silicon charger of the same PD wattage charge a device at the same speed. What GaN changes is the form factor and the heat, not the watts delivered.
2. The wattage tiers that matter
Useful wattage depends on the target device. Below are the real tiers from the Cable Avenue catalogue, with their dominant use and the matching reference — all USB-C, EU/US plugs (UK/AU on the GaN models).
| Tier | Typical target | Cable Avenue reference | Tech |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20W | iPhone 15+, Android, iPad, AirPods | GAN20W-EU (PD 20W) | Compact wall |
| 45W | Samsung Galaxy native 45W, premium smartphones | GAN45W-EU (PD 45W · PPS) | GaN |
| 61W | MacBook Air, Pro 13/14, iPad Pro + smartphone | GAN65W-EU (PD 61W) | GaN |
| 96W | MacBook Pro 16, Dell XPS, Asus ROG, ThinkPad | GAN100W-EU (PD 96W) | GaN |
| 140W | MacBook Pro 16 M-Max, Razer Blade, creators | GAN140W-EU (PD 3.1) | GaN III |
B2B read: a smartphone-focused buyer does perfectly well with 20W at volume. As soon as you want to address laptops, the 61W (GAN65W-EU) is the Swiss Army knife — it charges a MacBook Air and an iPhone. The 96W and 140W target more demanding machines and sell individually, at a higher margin, not by the pallet.
Marketing trap: a multi-port charger advertised as "100W" often shares that wattage across its ports. On the car side, for example, the CAR-PD60 is a "dual USB-C 40W" = 20W + 20W simultaneously, not 40W on a single port. Always check the per-port wattage and the split, not just the headline total.
3. Power Delivery, PD 3.1 & PPS
USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) is the standard that lets the charger and the device negotiate voltage and current. It's what unlocks real fast charging: without PD, you fall back to the basic 5V. Three concepts to know so you can talk straight to a buyer:
USB-PD (Power Delivery)
The basicsThe protocol that negotiates voltage/current profiles (5V, 9V, 15V, 20V…). It's the foundation of all modern USB-C fast charging. A charger with no PD mention is probably a plain 5V unit to avoid for fast charging.
PD 3.1 (EPR — Extended Power Range)
Up to 240WThe USB-PD extension that opens up high voltages (up to 48V) and allows exceeding 100W — up to 240W in theory. It's the standard behind 140W chargers like the GAN140W-EU for the MacBook Pro 16 and workstations.
PPS (Programmable Power Supply)
Fine modeAn optional USB-PD mode that adjusts the voltage finely (20 mV steps) instead of fixed steps. The result: less heat and an optimised charge. It's what Samsung uses for its native 45W charging — an argument to highlight on 45W+ models like the GAN45W-EU.
B2B verdict: to defend a charger wholesale, the key is knowing how to state which PD profiles it negotiates and whether it does PPS. At the high end (45W+), PPS and PD 3.1 are the details that reassure a serious reseller; on a 20W smartphone charger, standard USB-PD is enough.
4. The cable: the e-marker beyond 60W
A powerful charger is useless if the cable throttles the current. It's the most frequent support error on 100W+ charger sales. The technical rule is simple:
| Need | Cable limit | Cable required | Catalogue example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 60W | 3A — standard cable | No e-marker required | PDTC-60W01 (60W) |
| Up to 100W | 5A — e-marker mandatory | 5A e-marker cable | PD100W-01 (100W, USB-IF) |
| Beyond 100W (EPR) | 5A + EPR declaration | Compatible e-marker cable | PD200W-01 (200W, USB-IF) |
The USB-C standard caps a cable without a chip at 3A (~60W). To carry 5A — i.e. up to 100W in classic PD, and beyond in PD 3.1 (EPR) — the cable must embed an e-marker: a chip that declares the cable's capability to the charger. Without it, the charger stays cautious and throttles to 60W. In the catalogue, the PD100W-01 (e-marker, USB-IF) and the PD200W-01 (USB-IF) are the cables to pair with high-power chargers.
Resale reflex: whenever you sell a 96W or 140W charger, offer the 5A e-marker cable as a bundle. Without it, the customer plugs in their old 3A cable, charges at 60W and thinks the charger is faulty. The bundle avoids the return and raises the average basket.
5. Certifications & EU compliance
A wall charger plugs into 230V: electrical compliance isn't optional — it's the condition for placing it on the European market.
CE marking
EU mandatoryAttests conformity with the applicable directives (low-voltage safety, electromagnetic compatibility). Essential to sell a wall charger in the EU. Its absence exposes you to removal from the market — it's not a sales argument, it's a prerequisite.
RoHS
SubstancesRestricts the use of hazardous substances (lead, cadmium, mercury…) in electronic equipment. Like CE, it's an obligation and not a sales argument. The chargers in the Cable Avenue catalogue are declared CE · RoHS.
PD & PPS profiles
Technical argumentWhere CE/RoHS are obligations, the list of negotiated USB-PD profiles and PPS support are, by contrast, genuine differentiating arguments to document on the listing: they prove the charger delivers the advertised fast charge.
B2B verdict: for a reseller, CE + RoHS are the non-negotiable baseline of a wall charger. What then distinguishes good sourcing is the technical documentation (PD profiles, PPS, per-port wattage) — not a stack of logos.
6. A reseller's stock assortment
No need to line up every tier on the first order. The logic: start with the high-turnover wattages, expand towards the high end once cash flow is stable. A reasonable starting base:
| Priority | Reference | Role in the assortment | Price tiers (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — volume | GAN20W-EU (20W) | Smartphone best-seller, high B2C volume | €7.99 → €4.49 → €2.79 |
| 2 — versatile | GAN65W-EU (61W) | Light laptop + smartphone, the Swiss Army knife | €24.99 → €16.99 → €11.99 |
| 3 — powerful laptop | GAN100W-EU (96W) | MacBook Pro 16, workstations, unit margin | €39.99 → €26.99 → €18.49 |
| 4 — premium niche | GAN140W-EU (PD 3.1) | Creators / gaming, sold individually | €97.99 → €54.49 → €32.99 |
The 3 Cable Avenue tiers apply to the full cart: retail (1-49 cumulative units), half-wholesale (50-499), wholesale (500+). As with cables, it's the cumulative cart units that trigger the tier, not the quantity per SKU — mixing chargers and cables helps you cross the threshold faster.
Assortment tip: add the GAN45W-EU (Samsung native 45W charging, PPS) if your customer base is premium-Android oriented, and the PD100W-01 e-marker cable as a bundle whenever you sell 96W or 140W. These two targeted additions close assortment gaps without weighing down dead stock.
Handy tool: add the references to your cart on cableavenue.fr — the active tier grid updates in real time and you see how many units are left before moving to the next tier.
7. Frequently asked questions
GaN or silicon: what does it change for my end customer?
GaN (gallium nitride) is a semiconductor that switches faster and dissipates less heat than classic silicon. In practice, at equal wattage, a GaN charger is more compact and runs cooler. The difference is marginal at 20W (a silicon cube is enough), but becomes clear from 45-65W: that's where GaN enables a form factor that fits in a pocket. It's the argument that closes the sale of a 65W or a 100W against the laptop's stock brick.
Which wattage covers the majority of my sales?
For a smartphone-focused buyer, 20W (USB-C PD) covers the essentials: it charges an iPhone 15 or a recent Android at full fast-charge speed. To also target light laptops (MacBook Air, 13-14" ultrabooks), you need 45W to 65W. The 96-100W targets more powerful laptops (MacBook Pro 16, workstations), and the 140W is reserved for creator/gaming workstations. An assortment that starts strong on 20W and 65W covers the vast majority of uses.
Are Power Delivery and PPS the same thing?
No. USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) is the standard that negotiates voltage and current between the charger and the device. PPS (Programmable Power Supply) is an optional USB-PD mode that fine-tunes voltage in 20 mV steps, which reduces heat and optimises charging — Samsung uses it for its native 45W charging, for example. A charger can do PD without PPS; PPS is a plus to highlight on 45W+ models.
Do you need a special cable for high wattages?
Yes, beyond 60W. The USB-C standard limits a cable to 3A (so ~60W) unless it embeds an e-marker chip. To carry 5A — i.e. up to 100W in classic PD, and up to 240W in PD 3.1 (EPR) — the cable MUST contain an e-marker that declares its capabilities to the charger. Selling a 100W or 140W charger without reminding the buyer they need a 5A e-marker cable is a guaranteed support return: the device will charge, but throttled to 60W.
Which certifications should I check on a wall charger for the EU?
CE marking is mandatory to place a wall charger on the European market (electrical safety, low voltage, EMC). RoHS governs hazardous substances. These aren't sales arguments, they're market-access conditions: the absence of either marking exposes you to removal. The chargers in the Cable Avenue catalogue are declared CE · RoHS.
How many charger references should I stock to start?
No need to pile up every tier from the start. Three SKUs are enough to cover 90% of demand: a 20W (B2C smartphone volume), a 65W GaN (light laptop + smartphone, the most versatile), and a 96-100W for powerful laptops. Add the 45W (Samsung native 45W charging) and the 140W (workstation) once the turnover of the first three is stable.
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