One of the most positive tech developments of this decade has been the mass adoption of USB-C over the old micro-USB, USB-A, and other lesser-used gadget ports. Whether you’re powering your earbuds, smartphone, or laptop, one little port can charge them all — at least in theory. Unfortunately, if you’ve spent any time trying to charge all these gadgets optimally with even the best third-party adapters, you’ll doubtless be aware of the labyrinth of charging standards and protocols that must be navigated to have everything play nicely together.

At the heart of modern charging is USB Power Delivery (USB PD), the USB Implementers Forum’s official fast charging standard that can supply more power than a USB-C port’s basic capabilities. Apple, Google, and Samsung smartphones, as well as virtual

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