Update (2) | Volta previews the GIGA, a new compact USB type-C GaN charger set to launch via Indiegogo

Update: Volta has now released an "estimated" Indiegogo launch date for the GIGA charger: August 31, 2021. This is apparently 7 days later than originally planned, "due to some internal issues". Nevertheless, the OEM projects that the rest of this campaign should proceed as planned and on schedule.

Original Article: Volta, the maker of popular and high-powered accessories such as the Spark cable, has announced that it will follow this success up with the GIGA, its answer to the fast-emerging genre of chargers that can handle the demands of devices up to and including MacBook Pro-like ultrabooks despite having the same approximate footprint of a credit card.

This new GIGA, like many of its peers, will base its impressive claims on GaN technology. It will support 2 variants of this charger: 130W and 200W. Volta has yet to release fulll charging profiles for either, although it is already apparent that both have 4 ports: 3 type Cs and 1 type A.

Accordingly, Volta argues that 1 GIGA might consolidate all of a user's charging needs into 1 charger, rather than using 3 different first-party bricks for, say, a OnePlus 9 Pro, a MacBook Pro 16 and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 that might live in the same house.

This is an increasingly pressing issue, admittedly, particularly as, of the 3 OEMs involved in that scenario, 2 have taken to leaving charging bricks out of retail boxes as standard. The GIGA will be available through its Indiegogo page, once it goes live.

In the meantime, a consumer can sign up for further information and notifications related to this campaign via email. Volta has already provided the option of locking a "70%" discount down through the payment of a refundable AU$2 (~US$1.42) deposit.

Volta claims to have established fulfilment centers in "Australia, US, UK (EU) & India" up in advance so as to avoid the risk of extra customs or duties on this starting price, set at US$69.99. This wording might imply less certainty in these terms for European customers, however. We have reached out to the OEM for clarification on this issue, and have received the following response:

"The EU fulfilment center is aimed at making shipping easier and getting the GIGA faster into the hands of our customers in the UK and across Europe. We are already setting up a fulfillment center in the UK and we will only be paying the customs tax on the cost price and not the sales price". Therefore, as it stands, it seems there might be some extra charges to pay for some prospective Volta GIGA owners.