Rumors indicate that Apple is planning to introduce improvements to its AC power adapters, including making them lighter, smaller, and more efficient.
A supply chain report released on Monday suggests that Apple is seriously considering implementing a couple of major changes to its AC power adapters. These include making the power bricks smaller and lighter, as well as making them more efficient.
Apple working on smaller and more efficient AC power adapters https://t.co/mT8bl1wgAO $AAPL pic.twitter.com/oqakOMkSKn — MacHash (@MacHashNews) January 4, 2021
In a report by Digitimes, it revealed that Navitas Semiconductor expects to receive orders in 2021 from the Cupertino tech giant for charging solutions based on GaN or gallium nitride. Industry observers say that GaN is an extremely hard and mechanically stable wide bandgap semiconductor often used for high-efficiency integrated circuits and power transistors. Some experts even say that GaN, a transparent and glass-like material, may unseat silicon one day and reduce energy use on a global scale. Perhaps the main reason why Apple is considering the material is that when compared to silicon-based AC power adapters, GaN power bricks are smaller and lighter, as well as more efficient in terms of power consumption and less heat conductive.
The DigiTimes report also revealed that Navitas expects to source GaN-based chips for its charging solutions. The company then intends to deliver these charging solutions or AC power adapters, as well as other charging accessories to the Cupertino tech giant and many other vendors this year. While the DigiTimes report did not elaborate on the plans of Apple as regards the GaN solutions, it suggested the company is currently working on a proprietary GaN version of its present-day AC power adapters. The report also suggested that Apple is serious about introducing improvements to its USB-C chargers, which include making them smaller, lighter, and more efficient.
Like many other products currently on the market today, such as Belkin and Anker, GaN chargers are much smaller than Apple's present-day AC power adapters. The Cupertino tech giant also recognizes this, which is why it is currently working on several improvements for its USB-C chargers, including making them lighter, smaller, and much more efficient. Very recently, Ming-Chi Kuo, the often accurate TF Securities analyst, predicted that Apple would launch anywhere between two to three new AC power adapters build on GaN technology this year. The analyst, however, did not specify whether Apple's version of GaN chargers would be available commercially.
What made the DigiTimes report appear like a rumor is that while the news outfit enjoys a solid track record when it comes to supply chain information, it is not that reliable when it comes to the Cupertino tech giant's product plans. Nevertheless, with oft-accurate analysts like Kuo saying that Apple is working on some improvements to its AC power adapters, which include considering GaN-based solutions to make their USB-C chargers smaller, lighter, and more efficient, then the report may ring true, after all.
