Compare · Fixed rails vs 20mV steps
PD vs PPS: fixed rungs against a smooth ramp.
Power Delivery offers a ladder of fixed voltages — 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V. PPS is an extension that lets the phone request any voltage inside a range in 20 millivolt steps. For a Galaxy S Ultra that distinction is the difference between 25W and 45W.
Spec sheet, side by side
| USB PD (fixed) | PPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage control | Fixed rails: 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V (+28V/36V/48V on PD 3.1) | Programmable range, 20mV voltage steps and 50mA current steps |
| Relationship | The base standard | An optional extension of PD 3.0 — every PPS charger is also a PD charger |
| Efficiency | Device drops the excess voltage internally as heat | Charger tracks the battery voltage, so less heat in the phone |
| Who needs it | Everything | Samsung Galaxy S/Tab Ultra, Pixel, most fast-charging Android |
| Apple devices | Fully supported | Not required — no speed gain |
| Typical wattage class | 20W upward | 25W, 45W, 65W and up |
PPS is not a rival standard. It is a mode inside PD, which means the question is never "PD or PPS" but "does this PD charger also do PPS". The full mechanism is in PPS explained and USB-C Power Delivery explained.
Where each one matters
Fixed PD is all an Apple household needs. iPhones, iPads and MacBooks negotiate fixed rails and gain nothing from a programmable range. Buying a PPS charger for an iPhone is harmless and pointless in equal measure.
PPS is mandatory for Samsung's top tier. Super Fast Charging 2.0 at 45W engages only when the adapter advertises a suitable PPS range and the cable is rated 5A. Without PPS a Galaxy S24 or S25 Ultra falls back to roughly 25W no matter how many watts the brick claims. Pixel phones and most Chinese-brand flagships behave similarly, if less dramatically. See Samsung Super Fast Charging and 45W adapters.
Verdict: buy PD with PPS — it costs almost nothing extra
Since PPS is a superset, the only correct answer for a mixed household is a charger that lists both. It charges Apple devices exactly as a fixed-rail unit would and unlocks the full speed of every Android device that asks for it, at a price bracket that is now essentially the same at 45W and above. Judged strictly: if you own a Galaxy S Ultra, a Galaxy Tab Ultra or a Pixel, PPS is a requirement and a charger without it is the wrong purchase. If your devices are all Apple, PPS is a feature you will never invoke — buy on wattage and ports instead and spend nothing on it. Related: Samsung 25W vs 45W, USB PD vs Quick Charge, 30W vs 45W.
- PPS
Samsung 45W Power Adapter
The PPS side. The reference implementation for Super Fast Charging 2.0, 5A cable included.
- Output
- 45W PD/PPS
- PPS
- Yes — required for 45W
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- PD
Apple 30W USB-C Power Adapter
The fixed-PD side. Four fixed rails, no PPS, and nothing Apple sells misses it.
- Output
- 30W USB-C PD
- PPS
- No
- Rails
- 5V/9V/15V/20V
- Both
Statik 65W GaN 3-Port
The both-worlds pick: PD for laptops, PPS-class charging for Android, three ports.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Tech
- GaN
Full index at charger comparisons.
FAQ
Is PPS better than PD?
PPS is part of PD, not an alternative. It helps only on devices that request it — mainly Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones — by letting the charger track the battery voltage directly and generate less heat in the phone.
Do iPhones use PPS?
No. iPhones negotiate the fixed 9V rail and gain nothing from a programmable range. A PPS charger works perfectly with an iPhone; it simply is not using that mode.
Can a PPS charger damage a device that does not support it?
No. PPS is only entered when the device explicitly requests it. Everything else negotiates ordinary fixed rails.