UGREEN Nexode Air 100W USB-C GaN Charger Teardown: Compact Design and Advanced GaN Technology

1. UGREEN Nexode Air 100W GaN Charger Overview

UGREEN has introduced the Nexode Air 100W USB-C GaN Charger, a compact high-power charging solution designed for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other USB-C devices. Despite delivering up to 100W of power, the charger adopts a remarkably compact column-shaped design with a space-gray metallic-style housing and a fine matte finish, giving it a clean and premium appearance. The body also features an anti-slip textured section near the AC input, while the foldable US plug helps reduce the space required during storage and makes the charger more convenient for travel. With a measured weight of only 117.4g, the Nexode Air offers a noticeable portability advantage over larger traditional laptop adapters such as Apple's 96W USB-C charger. Thanks to its compact size and laptop-class power output, it can easily fit into a business bag or backpack while still providing enough power for many high-performance USB-C laptops. The charger is equipped with a single USB-C port supporting up to 100W output and is compatible with several mainstream fast-charging standards, including USB PD 3.2, PPS, AVS, QC 3.0, QC5, Apple 2.4A, and DCP.

2. Packaging, Exterior Design and Product Specifications

The retail packaging follows UGREEN's familiar visual style, with the brand logo positioned in the upper-left corner and a 3D rendering of the charger and charging cable displayed prominently on the front. The 100W maximum output is clearly marked on the package, highlighting the product's main selling point. Inside the box are the UGREEN Nexode Air 100W GaN charger, a black USB-C to USB-C braided charging cable, and the product manual. The included cable uses a high-density braided outer layer designed to improve resistance to pulling, bending, and daily wear. The charger itself features a compact rectangular column-shaped housing with a dark space-gray finish and a slightly textured surface. A single USB-C output port is located on the front panel, while a ring of grooves near the plug improves grip when plugging the charger into or removing it from a wall outlet. According to the product label, the charger is model X880, with an input rating of 100-240V~ 50/60Hz 2.3A Max. Its USB-C output supports 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, and 20V/5A, with a maximum output power of 100W. The product also carries FCC, Level VI energy efficiency, TÜV Rheinland, and PSE certification marks.

3. Compact Dimensions and Travel-Friendly Design

One of the strongest selling points of the UGREEN Nexode Air 100W charger is its high power density. Measurements show that the charger is approximately 50.21mm long, 34.34mm high, and 35.14mm wide, while the included 100W USB-C braided cable measures around 103.5cm from end to end. The charger itself weighs approximately 117.4g, making it relatively lightweight for a 100W power adapter. When compared with Apple's original 96W USB-C power adapter, the Nexode Air has a clear advantage in terms of overall volume and portability. The foldable US plug further improves its travel-friendly design, as the prongs can be folded into the body when the charger is not in use. This makes the product particularly suitable for business travelers, remote workers, and users who regularly carry a laptop charger between the office and home. Its compact footprint also reduces clutter when the charger is used on a desk or connected to a crowded power strip.

4. USB-C Fast-Charging Protocol and Power Output Test

Using a POWER-Z KM003C USB power tester, the UGREEN Nexode Air 100W charger was found to support a wide range of charging protocols, including QC 3.0, USB PD 3.2, AVS, PPS, QC5, Apple 2.4A, and DCP. The USB Power Delivery PDO information reveals five fixed voltage profiles: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, and 20V/5A. In addition, the charger provides 9-20V AVS profiles at 3A and 5A, as well as a 5-21V/5A PPS programmable voltage range. This broad output configuration allows the charger to adapt to different categories of USB-C devices. Smartphones and tablets can use lower-voltage PPS profiles for more efficient fast charging, while compatible notebooks can negotiate the full 20V/5A output to receive up to 100W of power. The combination of PD 3.2, PPS, AVS, and QC support gives the charger strong compatibility across modern Android smartphones, tablets, portable electronics, and USB-C laptops.

5. Internal PCBA Structure and High-Density Layout

After opening the charger from the AC input side, the internal PCBA assembly can be removed from the enclosure. A large amount of gray thermal compound fills the space around the PCBA, helping transfer heat from internal components to the outer housing while also improving mechanical stability. The internal power module measures approximately 43.30mm × 30.48mm × 29.55mm, showing how tightly the circuit is packed inside the compact enclosure. After removing the thermal compound, it becomes clear that UGREEN uses a multi-board stacked PCBA architecture rather than a traditional single flat circuit board. Separate compact boards are used for the transformer, high-voltage capacitors, output stage, and EMI filtering circuit. This three-dimensional arrangement maximizes the available internal volume and allows more components to fit into a smaller footprint. The charger adopts a QR + SR power architecture, combining quasi-resonant flyback conversion on the primary side with synchronous rectification on the secondary side. This topology is widely used in high-efficiency USB-C fast chargers because it can balance circuit complexity, efficiency, thermal performance, and component count.

6. AC Input, EMI Filtering and High-Voltage Components

The AC input stage includes several important protection and filtering components. A time-delay fuse provides overcurrent protection, while two green NTC thermistors help suppress inrush current when the charger is first connected to the mains supply. The EMI filtering section contains a 0.1μF X2 safety capacitor from Chengxi and a dual-wire common-mode choke, both of which help reduce conducted electromagnetic interference. AC input power is rectified by an RHBS810 bridge rectifier in an HBS package. For high-voltage filtering, UGREEN uses multiple electrolytic capacitors from Koshin, including four 400V 33μF capacitors. A separate Koshin 100V 68μF capacitor is used for the primary controller power supply. These components form the front-end filtering and energy-storage stage of the charger and play an important role in maintaining stable power conversion under different input voltages and load conditions.

7. HYASiC Primary Controller and Integrated 700V GaN Power Stage

The primary-side power solution is built around components from HYASiC. The main controller is the HY1659MI, a digital multi-mode flyback controller designed for compact high-power AC/DC applications. It integrates high-voltage startup circuitry and uses peak-current-mode control, while frequency jitter and adaptive MOSFET gate-driving technologies help improve EMI performance. The controller also integrates multiple protection functions, including output overvoltage and undervoltage protection, power-supply overvoltage protection, transformer saturation protection, overload protection, overtemperature protection, and current-sense resistor protection. Standby power consumption can be below 20mW, making the controller suitable for USB PD chargers and notebook adapters. The main switching device is the HYASiC HYC3682C Smart D-GaN power IC, which integrates a 700V GaN FET, current sensing, and an intelligent driver into a compact DPAK-4L package. This high level of integration reduces the number of external components and PCB space required, helping achieve the charger's high power density. The device supports a 5V to 30V VCC operating range and includes overcurrent, transformer saturation, and overtemperature protection.

8. Transformer, Feedback Circuit and Safety Isolation Design

The charger's transformer is marked 170-00821-A20 and forms the core of the isolated flyback conversion stage. To provide feedback between the primary and secondary sides while maintaining electrical isolation, UGREEN uses an Everlight EL1018 optocoupler. A Sichuan Teruixiang TMY1471K surface-mount Y capacitor is also installed between the primary and secondary sides. Compared with conventional through-hole Y capacitors, surface-mount safety capacitors can provide significant advantages in compact GaN charger designs because they occupy less PCB area and reduce overall component height. In a high-power-density charger, every millimeter of internal space matters, so the use of compact isolation components helps simplify layout design while maintaining required electrical safety and EMI performance. The extensive use of thermal compound around the transformer and surrounding circuitry also helps distribute heat throughout the enclosure and reinforces the mechanical structure of the internal assembly.

9. Synchronous Rectification, USB-C Protocol Control and Output Stage

On the secondary side, synchronous rectification is controlled by the HYASiC HY923C, a digital multi-mode synchronous rectification controller in an SOT23-6 package. The controller operates as a diode emulator, allowing an NMOS to replace a conventional Schottky diode and thereby reducing secondary-side rectification losses. It supports both high-side and low-side synchronous rectification and can operate across a 3.2V to 25V output range, with drain-voltage detection of up to 150V. The HY923C supports DCM, PFM, CCM, and QR operating modes and includes adaptive pre-turn-off control, shoot-through protection, low quiescent current, and programmable volt-second threshold functions. The synchronous rectification MOSFET is a PINGWEI PW040N10ES, rated at 100V with an on-resistance of approximately 3.4mΩ. USB-C charging negotiation is handled by the HYASiC HY5515M, which integrates a 32-bit MCU, 32KB MTP memory, and 4KB SRAM. It supports USB PD 3.2, Type-C specifications, UFCS, and proprietary charging protocols including Xiaomi fast charging. The USB-C VBUS switching MOSFET is a Vanguard Semiconductor VS3618BE, rated at 30V with approximately 5.2mΩ on-resistance, while two Koshin 25V 680μF capacitors provide output filtering.

10. UGREEN Nexode Air 100W GaN Charger Teardown Conclusion

Overall, the UGREEN Nexode Air 100W USB-C GaN Charger is a strong example of how modern GaN technology and highly integrated power-management components can significantly reduce the size of a high-power charger. Its stacked multi-board PCBA structure makes efficient use of the available internal space, while the large amount of thermal compound helps improve heat transfer and mechanical stability. The charger adopts a mature QR + SR architecture, with HYASiC providing most of the key semiconductor components, including the HY1659MI primary controller, HYC3682C integrated 700V GaN power IC, HY923C synchronous rectification controller, and HY5515M multi-protocol USB-C controller. Other major components come from established suppliers such as Koshin, Teruixiang, PINGWEI, Everlight, and Vanguard Semiconductor. With 100W USB-C output, PD 3.2, PPS, AVS, QC5 support, compact dimensions, foldable US prongs, and a weight of only 117.4g, the Nexode Air combines strong charging performance with excellent portability. For users looking for a compact 100W GaN charger for laptops, smartphones, tablets, business travel, or daily office use, its combination of power density, protocol compatibility, and internal engineering makes it a highly capable USB-C fast charger.