With the rapid development of technology, USB-C interface has gradually occupied a place in electronic devices, and its versatility and convenience have been widely praised. However, for high-power laptops, although the USB-C interface has achieved 200W fast charging, they seem to prefer using the traditional DC interface rather than the USB-C interface. Why is this? Let’s find out together.
Hardware Limitations: Security vs. Efficiency Tradeoffs
First, we need to understand the hardware limitations of the USB-C interface. Due to the limited cable thickness, the current and voltage are also limited. For laptops requiring 200W or more, achieving this requires extremely high voltages, such as 48V. However, the safety hazards caused by high voltage cannot be ignored. In the national standard "Safety Voltage", the maximum voltage limit for electronic equipment with electric shock hazards is 36V. Exceeding this voltage may cause harm to the human body. Therefore, from a safety perspective, there is a great risk in using a high-voltage USB-C interface to charge a high-power laptop.
Protocol Factors: The Game of Versatility and Performance
Secondly, protocol factors are also an important factor affecting the choice of charging interface for high-power laptops. Currently, although the universal protocol PD3.1 of the USB-C interface supports a maximum power of 240W, most manufacturers are unable to achieve this theoretical value in actual applications, and the actual power is often between 65W and 100W. For high-power laptops, this obviously cannot meet their performance needs. In contrast, the DC interface does not have complex protocol restrictions. As long as the voltage matches, charging can be achieved, so it has more advantages in terms of versatility and performance.
Cost considerations: choices between R&D and marketing
Finally, the cost factor cannot be ignored. If manufacturers decide to use the USB-C interface to charge high-power laptops, chargers, cables and other related accessories will need to be highly customized, which will undoubtedly increase R&D costs and production costs. Moreover, considering market acceptance and consumer habits, changing the type of charging interface may require huge marketing costs. Therefore, from a cost-benefit perspective, it seems wiser to continue using mature DC interface solutions.
In summary, although the USB-C interface has advantages in terms of versatility and convenience, in the field of high-power notebook computers, the DC interface still dominates due to various reasons such as its hardware limitations, protocol factors, and cost considerations. status. This does not mean that the USB-C interface has no advantages. It still has broad application prospects in portable devices and small devices. But for high-power equipment, the DC interface is still the preferred solution for high-power power supply due to its simplicity, high efficiency and low cost.
Of course, with the continuous advancement of technology and changes in market demand, let us wait and see whether new charging solutions will appear in the future.