Home Comparison Two months ago, the USB-IF Association released the latest USB PD 3.1 fast-charging standard. This not only made an impression on users due to the specs and features it comes with, but comparisons were also created between this and previous versions. In case you don’t know them, today we are going to show you this new USB PD 2.0 vs 3.0 vs 3.1 comparisons. What's Inside ToggleWhat is USB PD Charging Technology?What’s the difference between USB PD Charging vs Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) Charging?USB BC 1.2 vs PD 1.0 vs PD 2.0 vs PD 3.0 vs PD 3.0 PPS vs USB PD 3.1 – Specs SheetUSB PD 2.0 vs 3.0 vs 3.1 In-depth ComparisonThe Verdict What is USB PD Charging Technology? USB Power Delivery, or USB PD, is a charging protocol that allows USB Type-C cables and connectors to be able to deliver higher levels of power to the devices to which they are connected. The use of this technology allows the cables and connectors to provide a faster charge, more power for those devices that are larger, a shorter total charge time, and simultaneous charging between devices, the latter being a feature that has gained much popularity these last few years. Also, this charging technology reaches a power of up to 100W, so it is capable of providing power to computers without any problem. What’s the difference between USB PD Charging vs Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) Charging? USB PD Charging It can be found in devices with any type of chipset.Its voltages and currents are higher.It is designed for larger devices like computers.It allows reverse charging.It has a maximum current power of 5A.Works with the connector type USB-C. Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) It is found in devices with Qualcomm chipsets.Its voltages and currents are lower.It is designed for smaller devices like smartphones.It has a maximum current power of 4.6A.Works with the connector types USB-A, Micro USB and USB-C. USB BC 1.2 vs PD 1.0 vs PD 2.0 vs PD 3.0 vs PD 3.0 PPS vs USB PD 3.1 – Specs Sheet VersionUSB BC 1.2 USB PD 1.0 USB PD 2.0USB PD 3.0 USB PD 3.0 PPS USB PD 3.1 Release date201020122014201520172021 USB typeUSB Type-AUSB Type-A, USB Type-BUSB Type-CUSB Type-CUSB Type-CUSB Type-C Output support5V1, 5A5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 2.25A, 20V 3A, 20V 5A5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 2.25A, 20V 3A, 20V 5A5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 2.25A, 20V 3A, 20V 5A PPS: 3.3V-5.9V 3A, 3.3-11V 3A, 3.3-16V 3A, 3.3-21V 3A, 3.3-21V 5A5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 3A, 20V 5A PPS: 3.3V-5.9V 3A, 3.3-11V 3A, 3.3-16V 3A, 3.3-21V 3A, 3.3-21V 5A AVS: 15-28V 5A, 15-36V 5A, 15-48V 5A USB PD 2.0 vs 3.0 vs 3.1 In-depth Comparison USB PD 2.0 Starting with the USB Power Delivery 2.0 fast charging standard, it was presented to the public in August, 2014. This has the USB Type-C interface, being one of the best known and more used around the world, and although it does not have another type of interface, which could be seen as negative, it has very good functions, among which are charging, data transmission, and audio transmission. With the USB PD 2.0, you can get the voltages 5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V5A, in addition to its maximum charging power that reaches the 100W. It is worth noting that, although it was launched in 2014, it did not become popular until a year later, in 2015, when Apple released a new MacBook, which featured the USB PD 2.0 fast charging standard. USB PD 3.0 Continuing with the USB Power Delivery 3.0 fast-charging standard, it was presented to the public in November 2015. With the launch of the USB PD 3.0, it was possible to see a big difference when compared to the USB PD 2.0, and that is that you can see three big changes and improvements in its functions. First, a more detailed description of the device’s built-in battery characteristics has been added to this new standard. In addition to that, the device software and hardware version identification, and software update functions through PD communication have been added. Finally, and being the third improvement, the number has been added to a certificate and digital signature function. In relation to the voltages with which it is compatible, the USB PD 3.0 does not present differences compared to the USB PD 2.0, since, like that version, you can get the voltages 5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V5A, in addition to its maximum charging power that reaches the 100W. Likewise, they also have the same interface, being the USB Type-C interface. USB PD 3.0 PPS Now, there is the USB Power Delivery 3.0 PPS, presented to the public in February 2017. This version was the result of an important update that the USB-IF Association made to the previously mentioned USB PD 3.0, being based on adding a programmable power supply PPS al anterior fast-charging standard. PPS belongs to a type of Power Supply supported in USB PD3.0 and is a power supply that can realize voltage and current regulation using USB PD protocol output. This PPS specification integrates the current two charging modes of high voltage and low current, and low voltage and high current, making them more precise and functional. In relation to its interface, and as seen with the USB PD 2.0 and USB PD 3.0, the USB PD 3.0 PPS has the USB Type-C interface, a maximum charging power that reaches the 100W, and also has the voltages 5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V5A, although in relation to this there is a difference in relation to the version without PPS. Thanks to the important update that the USB-IF Association did, it now has specific PPS voltages, which are 3.3V-5.9V 3A, 3.3-11V 3A, 3.3-16V 3A, 3.3-21V 3A, 3.3-21V 5A. USB PD 3.1 Finally, there is the USB Power Delivery 3.1 fast-charging standard, which was presented to the public in May 2021, this being the last version released by the USB-IF Association so far, and being an improved version of USB PD 3.0 PPS. Being the latest version, and with great improvements, the USB PD 3.1 divides the power into two ranges: the standard power range (SPR for short) and the extended power range (EPR for short), while the standard power range is currently the mainstream USB PD3.0 PPS fast charging standard on the market. In relation to its interface, has the same seen in the USB PD 3.0 PPS, the USB Type-C interface, and also has the voltages 5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V5A, although it has some more voltages. As in the USB PD 3.0 PPS, it also has the special voltages 3.3V-5.9V 3A, 3.3-11V 3A, 3.3-16V 3A, 3.3-21V 3A, 3.3-21V 5A, although a few more are added to these, and they are about three sets of adjustable voltage files (AVS for short) in the expanded power range, this being 15V-28V 5A, 15V-36V 5A, and 15V-48V 5A. Also, the USB PD 3.1 has a maximum output power that can reach 240W, which is a huge improvement compared to its predecessors. The Verdict It has been so long since the development of the USB PD fast-charging standard, and they have changed in an exponential way, thus providing different changes, functions, and features that improve with each update and launch. Among them, USB PD2.0 is a fast-charging standard for real mass production and commercial use, and it also lays the foundation for realizing the unification of USB PD fast-charging. The, there is USB PD3.0, which is more updated in terms of protocol recognition function. On the other hand, the USB PD3.0 PPS fast charge standard has added a programmable voltage level, which is compatible with most private fast charge protocols, becoming the most widely used fast charge standard in the Android market. And lastly, we have USB PD3.1, which is mainly to expand the scope of application of the USB PD fast charging standard. This last one can be used in fields such as monitors, servers, power tools, and security POE power supply, which gives it enormous power. Do you think we missed something out? Or do you think we skip some special features? If so, let us know in the comments!
