The Verge has been informed by Apple that the new 140W USBC power adapter is its first charger to be based on gallium Nitride or "GaN" technology. This allows for lighter and more efficient chargers than those made from silicon.
The 140W power adapter would have likely been larger without the use of GaN due to its wattage. Over the past few years, many other brands such as Anker and Belkin introduced GaN-based charging solutions for Apple products.
Apple also confirmed that the 140W power adapter can support the USB-C Energy Delivery 3.1 standard. This means that other devices that support the standard can be charged with it. This means that users who purchase the new 16-inch MacBook Pro will be able to use compatible chargers made by third-party brands in order to charge their notebooks if they wish.
We are continuing to learn more details about the new MacBook Pro models than Apple did not mention at its "Unleashed". This includes that fast charging can only be done with the MagSafe port on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Thunderbolt 4 ports for the 14-inch MacBook Pro can be used to charge the 14-inch model using either MagSafe, or any other Thunderbolt 4 ports. It shouldn't matter much, considering that the MagSafe port is only used for charging. But it's important to know.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro have key features such as Apple's next-generation M1 Pro chips and M1 Max chips. There is also the return of an HDMI port, SD card slot, mini LED displays with ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and up to 10 more hours of battery life. You can order the notebooks now, and they will be available for purchase starting Tuesday, October 26.
Apple's 140W power adapter, which is now included in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, is also available separately for $99.
