If you're like most professionals, your desk or travel bag is a tangled mess of charging bricks—one for your laptop, another for your phone, and maybe even a third for your tablet. The dream of a single, compact charger that can power all your devices simultaneously has felt just out of reach. But Lenovo's ThinkPlus brand is pushing us closer to that reality with a significant update to its popular GaN charger.
The tech world is abuzz as Lenovo has unveiled a new, more versatile version of its space-saving charger. The headline upgrade? The new ThinkPlus charger now features a three-port design, packing two USB-C ports and one legacy USB-A port into a form factor that’s identical to its older, single-port sibling. This move directly addresses the primary need for multi-device users, making it a potential all-in-one power solution for the on-the-go professional.
A Small Footprint with a Massive Punch
At first glance, the most striking feature remains its incredibly compact size. Despite its 100W total output, Lenovo claims the charger is a staggering 50% smaller than traditional chargers of similar power. This is thanks to the magic of Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. Unlike older silicon, GaN allows for more efficient power transfer in a smaller, cooler-running package.
The new model retains the user-friendly foldable prongs, making it an ideal travel companion that won't snag on the contents of your bag. But the real magic is inside. The integrated GaN Pro chip is touted to offer an impressive 93% energy efficiency, meaning less power is wasted as heat and more is delivered directly to your devices, potentially saving on energy costs and extending the life of your gadgets.
You can explore the official product page for the new 3-port charger here: Lenovo ThinkPlus 100W GaN Charger.
Port Power: Who Gets What Wattage?
Let's break down the port configuration, because this is where the strategic design truly shines:
- Two USB-C Ports: Each can deliver up to 100W when used alone. This is enough to rapidly charge a power-hungry laptop like a MacBook Pro or a high-end ThinkPad.
- One USB-A Port: Offers up to 30W, perfect for older smartphones, wireless earbuds, or other accessories that haven't yet made the jump to USB-C.
The intelligent power management system kicks in when all three ports are in use. In this scenario:
- The primary USB-C (C1) port takes the lion's share with 65W—still more than enough to charge a laptop at full speed.
- The second USB-C (C2) and the USB-A port share a combined 15W, suitable for trickle-charging phones or other smaller devices.
Real-World Charging Speed: Zero to Work in 30 Minutes
Specs are one thing, but what does this mean for your daily routine? Lenovo provides some compelling figures. They claim the charger can take a ThinkPad X1 from 0% to 44% in just 30 minutes. For Apple users, the results are similarly impressive, with the 16-inch MacBook Pro reaching 40% in the same half-hour window. This kind of speed means you can top up your devices during a short coffee break and have enough juice to power through hours of work.
Universal Compatibility for a Fragmented World
One of the charger's strongest selling points is its broad compatibility. You don't have to worry about whether your device will fast-charge. The ThinkPlus charger supports a wide array of fast-charging protocols, including QC 3.0, PD 3.0, AFC, FCP, and PPS. This means it will work optimally with most Samsung phones, Google Pixels, iPhones (with a USB-C to Lightning cable), and a vast range of other Android devices and laptops.
Lenovo sweetens the deal by bundling a high-quality 1.5-meter fast-charging cable rated for up to 240W (at least in the Chinese market), ensuring your cable won't be the bottleneck for future, even more powerful devices.
Pricing, Availability, and The Competition
The three-port ThinkPlus GaN charger has launched in China with a price tag of CNY 229 (approximately $32), positioning it as a very competitive option in the premium charger market. As of now, Lenovo has not announced plans for an international release, which is a common trend for the ThinkPlus accessory line.
For global consumers looking for a similar configuration, the market offers alternatives like the highly-rated Anker Prime 100W charger, which is currently listed for $41.99 on Amazon (Check current price on Amazon).
The updated Lenovo ThinkPlus 100W GaN charger appears to be a near-perfect fusion of portability, power, and versatility. It’s a clear sign that the future of charging is not just about getting faster, but about getting smarter and significantly less cumbersome. For anyone tired of carrying multiple power bricks, this could very well be the holy grail they've been waiting for.
