USB-C and Power Delivery upgrades offer 240W Extended Power Range support

At a time where many people use multiple different electronic devices at any given moment, the 240W charger offers a single, central power source for them all. Beginning with the 100W charger back in 2019, which could charge everything from your earbuds to your Google Chromebook, the standards became USB Type-C and Power Delivery.

Most recently, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has released Revision 2.1. This updated version contains a descriptive 415 pages of updates, including preparation for USB4 device as well as approaching revisions for Power Delivery, centering on 240W charging using the new Extended Power Range sub-specification. This means that while your smartphone typically charges at 18-25W, your Chromebook at 45W and your Macbook Pro at 96W, the new Extended Power Range provides over twice that charging capacity.

Moreover, the USB-IF is currently working to enable safer charging at speeds beyond the existing 100W limit. These plans involve preparing Type-C for its new Extended Power Range as well as the specific new cable/connector issues and limits that can result from far higher voltages, such as electricity arcs when the device is unplugged from a power outlet.

As of now, it seems that these new chargers should become available by 2022. In the meantime, all cables that transfer power above three amps will still be e-marked. That said, if users can wait to purchase these new chargers, the USB-C cables promise a more secure and rapid charging experience.