In daily life, friends often confuse USB PD fast charging with Type-C interface, or call PD fast charging interface Type-C interface. In fact, this understanding is completely wrong. USB PD is a fast charging protocol, while Type-C interface is a USB interface appearance standard. The two are not the same concept at all!
Speaking of this, you may question Xiaoyou. Isn’t the Type-C interface of Apple Macbook computer the PD fast charging interface? Why are the two different? Don't worry, listen to Xiaoyou's words slowly.
1. What is USB-PD fast charging? What versions are there?
USB PD fast charging is a fast charging technical standard launched by the USB-IF Association. It is compatible with most private fast charging protocols and is the most widely used fast charging protocol at present.
Currently, this fast charging protocol has developed to this day, including PD2.0/PD3.0/PD3.1, etc. Among them, the latest version of , USB PD3.1, the biggest difference compared to USB PD3.0 is that on the basis of outputting 20V voltage, three new output voltage gears have been added, increasing the maximum output of 100W of USB PD 3.0 to 140W, 180W and 240W, allowing the interface to carry higher power, thereby serving more power equipment, such as gaming laptops, home appliances, and even power tools, battery cars.
2. The relationship between USB-PD fast charging and Type-C
At the beginning of the article, Xiaoyou has already said that the Type-C interface is a USB interface appearance standard. Its highlights are its thinner design, faster transmission speed, stronger fast charging and video transmission functions.
It should be noted that the Type-C interface supports up to 5V/3A charging by default, but after adding the USB PD protocol, it can support greater charging power. For example, the USB-C charger standard for Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 model adopts the USB PD3.1 fast charging standard, and the output power is up to 140W.
However, not all devices have standard Type-C interfaces that use the "full blood version" configuration. For example, Huawei's previous models did not have PD fast charging function.
In addition, devices with PD fast charging function may not necessarily be the Type-C interface. For example, the Lightning port of Apple iPhone 12/13 model can also support the PD fast charging protocol. (PS: Due to battery and technology restrictions, Apple iPhone 12/13 models only support PD 20W charging.)
So, USB PD fast charging ≠ Type-C interface, don't confuse it, especially when we choose PD fast charging accessories, don't just focus on whether the interface is compatible. The key is to look at the compatibility of the built-in PD fast charging chip of the product and the supported fast charging protocol version. OK, that’s all for today’s sharing. If you have different understandings of the content of this article, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss.
