Fast Charging Explained: USB PD, PPS, QC,
The Fast Charging Alphabet Soup
USB PD, PD 3.0, PD 3.1, PPS, QC 3.0, QC 4+, AFC, SCP, VOOC, SuperVOOC, FlashCharge, Warp Charge — the number of fast charging standards is overwhelming. Which ones matter? Which charger supports your device? And do you need to care about all of them?
Our chargers support the standards that matter most: USB PD, PPS, and QC 4.0. Here’s a clear, no-nonsense explanation of fast charging.
The One Standard That Matters: USB Power Delivery (PD)
USB PD is the universal fast charging standard adopted by the USB-IF (the organization that governs USB specifications). It’s supported by virtually every modern device:
- Apple: iPhone, iPad, MacBook — all use USB PD
- Samsung: Galaxy phones and tablets — USB PD with PPS extension
- Google: Pixel phones — USB PD
- Laptops: All USB-C laptops — USB PD for charging
- Nintendo Switch: USB PD
If your device has a USB-C port, it supports USB PD. The only question is how much power it can accept.
USB PD Versions Explained
USB PD 2.0 (2014)
The original USB PD standard. Fixed voltage profiles: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V. Maximum 100W (20V/5A). Most current chargers support at least PD 2.0.
USB PD 3.0 (2017)
Added PPS (Programmable Power Supply) extension. PPS allows voltage adjustment in 20mV steps for more efficient charging. Also added PD 3.0 messaging for better device communication. Maximum still 100W.
USB PD 3.1 (2021)
Introduced Extended Power Range (EPR), supporting up to 240W (48V/5A). Also added AVS (Adjustable Voltage Supply) for even finer voltage control. PD 3.1 chargers can deliver up to 240W for high-power devices.
PPS: The Samsung/Google Extension
PPS is part of PD 3.0 that allows the charger to adjust voltage in real-time based on the device’s battery state. This reduces heat and improves charging efficiency.
Samsung and Google use PPS for their “Super Fast Charging” features:
- Samsung Super Fast Charging: 25W (9V/2.77A via PPS)
- Samsung Super Fast Charging 2.0: 45W (11V/4.05A via PPS)
- Google Pixel fast charging: ~22W via PPS
Without PPS, these devices fall back to standard PD charging (15W for phones, 30W for tablets). The TE-PD65 GaN supports PPS via QC4.0 certification.
Quick Charge: Qualcomm’s Standard
QC 3.0 (2015)
Variable voltage from 3.6V to 20V in 200mV steps. Maximum 36W. Uses USB-A connectors. Largely superseded by USB PD but still found on older devices.
QC 4+ (2017) / QC 5 (2020)
QC 4+ is built ON TOP of USB PD — it’s not a separate standard. A QC4+ charger is a USB PD charger that also supports PPS and some Qualcomm-specific optimizations. The TE-PD65’s QC4.0 support means it’s fully PD and PPS compatible.
QC 5 supports up to 100W+ and is also based on USB PD. In practice, modern Quick Charge IS USB PD — there’s no longer a separate Quick Charge landscape.
Proprietary Fast Charging Standards
Some manufacturers use proprietary standards that only work with their chargers:
- OPPO/OnePlus VOOC/SuperVOOC: Up to 80W via proprietary protocol
- Vivo FlashCharge: Up to 80W via proprietary protocol
- Huawei SuperCharge: Up to 66W via proprietary protocol
- Xiaomi Mi Turbo Charge: Up to 120W via proprietary protocol
These proprietary standards require specific chargers and cables. A USB PD charger will charge these devices, but at standard USB PD speeds (typically 15-25W), not the proprietary high speeds.
What You Actually Need
For iPhone (15/16 series)
Any USB PD charger with 20W or higher. The A3365 PD40W charges iPhone at full 20W speed. USB PD 3.0 is sufficient — iPhone doesn’t use PPS.
For Samsung Galaxy S24/S25
USB PD charger with PPS support. The TE-PD65 GaN or JOYROOM JR-TG10 65W both support PPS for 25W Super Fast Charging. Without PPS, charging falls back to 15W.
For Google Pixel
USB PD charger with PPS for maximum speed. Any of our PPS-supporting chargers works. Pixel charges at approximately 22W with PPS.
For MacBook Air
USB PD charger with 30W or higher. The A3365 PD40W provides more than enough power.
For MacBook Pro 14″
USB PD charger with 65W or higher. The JOYROOM JR-TG10 or TE-PD65 GaN provides full-speed charging.
For iPad Pro
USB PD charger with 30W or higher. Any of our chargers works for iPad Pro.
Charger Selection Summary
| Device | Min. Power | PPS Needed? | Recommended Charger |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15/16 | 20W | No | A3365 PD40W |
| Samsung S24/S25 | 25W | Yes (for SFC) | TE-PD65 GaN |
| Google Pixel | 22W | Yes (for fast) | TE-PD65 GaN |
| MacBook Air | 30W | No | A3365 PD40W |
| MacBook Pro 14″ | 65W | No | JOYROOM JR-TG10 |
| iPad Pro | 30W | No | A3365 PD40W |
