Power Delivery Explained: How USB-C Charging Really Works

## What Is USB Power Delivery?

USB Power Delivery (PD) is the standard that lets USB-C deliver up to **240 watts** of power. Without PD, USB-C is limited to 15W (5V/3A).

## PD Wattage Tiers

| PD Version | Max Power | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| USB PD 2.0 | 100W | Laptops, tablets |
| USB PD 3.0 | 100W | PPS for fast phone charging |
| USB PD 3.1 | 240W | Gaming laptops, workstations |

## Why Your Phone Charges Slowly

Three things must match for fast charging:
1. **Charger** supports the right PD wattage
2. **Cable** rated for the required current (3A or 5A)
3. **Phone** supports PD (or Qualcomm QC, Samsung AFC, etc.)

## Cable Matters

- **3A cables**: Support up to 60W (most standard USB-C cables)
- **5A cables** (e-marked): Support 100-240W (for laptops)
- Never use a thin, cheap cable for laptop charging — it may overheat

## Quick Tips

- Look for 'E-Marker' or '100W' on cable packaging for laptop charging
- A 100W charger with a 60W cable = 60W charging (cable is the bottleneck)
- GaN chargers are smaller and cooler than traditional ones