USB PD
USB Power Delivery
An industry standard for fast (high-wattage) charging for battery-powered devices with USB-C connectors.
See: USB-C
The USB PD standard allows for USB-C chargers that deliver enough power (100 watts) to charge a large laptop relatively quickly. Smaller USB PD chargers designed for phones typically offer 30 watts, enough to charge a phone very quickly.
As an industry standard, chargers and devices compatible with USB PD are interchangeable. USB PD chargers automatically deliver the appropriate amount of power to each device. Therefore a single 60W USB PD charger (for example) can be used to charge either a laptop or a phone.
Cables must also be designed to handle the higher amount of power. Not all USB-C cables are rated to handle higher wattages that enable very fast charging and/or charging of larger devices.
Last updated Jan 26, 2024 by Rich Brome
Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
