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01PPS in plain terms
PPS charging is a smarter mode of USB-C Power Delivery. Instead of picking from a short menu of fixed voltages, the phone tells the charger exactly what it wants, many times a minute, and the charger follows.
Standard USB Power Delivery offers set steps: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V. A lithium battery charges at roughly 3.6V to 4.4V, so the phone has to convert whatever arrives down to battery level. That conversion happens inside the phone, and it makes heat right next to the battery.
With PPS, the charger can deliver something very close to what the battery needs, adjusted in 20 mV and 50 mA increments. The phone does less converting, runs cooler, and can hold a high charging speed for longer before heat forces it to back off.
Fixed PD: the phone adapts to the charger. PPS: the charger adapts to the phone.That shift moves heat out of your pocket and into the brick.
02Which phones actually use PPS
| Phone | Uses PPS? | Without PPS you get |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S, Z and recent A series | Yes, for every Super Fast Charging tier | Slower standard charging, often around 15W |
| Google Pixel | Yes, for top wired speed | Slower standard PD charging |
| iPhone | No | Full speed from any USB-C PD charger |
| iPad, MacBook, most laptops | No | Full speed from fixed-voltage PD |
That last point is why we'd buy PPS whenever the price is close. It costs you nothing on an iPhone and covers any Galaxy or Pixel that turns up in the house. If you're shopping for a Samsung specifically, Samsung Super Fast Charging explained breaks down the 25W, 45W and 60W tiers.
03How to tell if a charger supports PPS
Marketing copy rarely says it clearly. The spec printing on the charger, or the output line in a listing, is where the answer lives.
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Find the output line
On the charger body, look for the small print that starts with Output or USB-C. On a listing, check the specifications tab.
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Look for "PPS" and a voltage range
Fixed PD reads like 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓3A, 15V⎓3A, 20V⎓3.25A. PPS adds a range with a dash, such as PPS: 3.3-11V⎓3A or 3.3-21V⎓5A. No range, no PPS.
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Check the current at 11V or 21V
For a 25W Galaxy, a PPS range up to about 11V at 2.25A or more is enough. For 45W, Samsung's mode runs at about 10V and 4.5A, so you want a PPS range rated near 5A.
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Test it on the phone
Plug a Galaxy in with the screen on. "Super fast charging" on the lock screen or battery screen means PPS negotiated. Plain "Fast charging" means it didn't, or the cable or setting is holding it back.
Plenty of 65W and 100W laptop chargers have no PPS at all, or offer it only on one port. If a Galaxy charges slower on your laptop brick than on a cheap Samsung 25W, that's why. Our Samsung fast charging fixes cover the other causes.
The same label rules apply to power banks and car chargers. Many advertise "PD fast charging" without PPS, which is perfectly fine for an iPhone but leaves a Galaxy at standard speed. On multi-port gear, PPS is often limited to one USB-C port, usually the top or highest-rated one, so check which port the spec line refers to before you plug in.
04What PPS fixes, and what it doesn't
+What you gain
- Less heat inside the phone during fast charging
- Galaxy Super Fast Charging at 25W, 45W or 60W
- Faster sustained speed on Pixels
- Still works as normal PD for every other USB-C device
–What it won't do
- Won't make an iPhone charge any faster
- Can't push a phone past its own maximum
- Doesn't help if the cable is only rated for 3A and the phone wants 45W
- Won't stop the normal slowdown after about 80%
Cooler charging is also kinder to the battery over time, which is the real argument for PPS beyond speed. If you worry about wear, is fast charging bad for your battery explains where the damage actually comes from.
05Don't forget the cable
For 25W PPS, any decent USB-C to USB-C cable is fine. For Samsung's 45W mode the phone needs to pull about 4.5A, which only a 5A cable can carry. Those are sold as 100W or 240W cables and contain an e-marker chip that tells the charger it's safe to go above 3A.
A USB-A to USB-C cable rules out PPS entirely, because PD only runs over USB-C on both ends. If your charger has a USB-A port, that port is doing something older like Quick Charge or basic 5V.
Rated for 100W and 240W, so the cable is never the bottleneck on a 45W Galaxy or a laptop.
Shopping for the brick too? Check the output line on any listing in our charger collection for a PPS range before you buy for a Galaxy. Not sure what wattage you need? Our 20W vs 30W vs 45W comparison helps you size it.
Questions people ask
Is PPS the same as USB PD?
PPS is part of USB PD 3.0, but optional. Every PPS charger is a PD charger, while many PD chargers lack PPS. A PPS charger works with any PD device, so you lose nothing by buying one.
Does iPhone support PPS charging?
iPhones don't use PPS for fast charging. They charge at full speed from any USB-C PD charger, 20W or higher. Plugging an iPhone into a PPS charger is completely fine; it just uses the fixed PD voltages.
Do I need PPS for Samsung Super Fast Charging?
Yes. Samsung's Super Fast Charging at 25W, 45W and 60W all run over USB PD with PPS. Without it, a Galaxy falls back to standard fast charging, usually around 15W, even on a powerful charger.
How do I know if my charger is PPS?
Read the output specs on the charger or listing. A PPS charger lists a voltage range such as 3.3-11V or 3.3-21V, often with the letters PPS. If you only see fixed values like 5V, 9V and 20V, it's plain PD.
Is PPS charging better for battery life?
It tends to be gentler. Because the charger handles more of the voltage conversion, less heat builds up inside the phone, and heat is the main thing that wears a lithium battery over time.