When the doors of IFA Berlin open on September 4, charging is one of the show’s quiet stars: UGREEN, Anker and Bluetti have all lined up launch events around power banks and charging tech. The common thread is the same everywhere – more watts, smaller shells, smarter displays. The 250-watt class, a niche just two years ago, becomes the showcase standard in 2026.
PD 3.1 and the 240-watt ceiling
Behind the leap in power sits the USB Power Delivery 3.1 standard. Its Extended Power Range (EPR) lifts the ceiling from 100 to 240 watts by allowing higher voltages up to 48 volts at 5 amps – plus finer voltage control (AVS). For the first time, that lets power-hungry gaming and creative laptops run straight off USB-C. Gallium nitride (GaN) is effectively mandatory here: only the efficient semiconductor tech fits that much power into a pocketable, cool-running case.
Anker vs. UGREEN: today’s front-runners
Anker’s Prime charging station delivers, per the manufacturer, 250 watts across six ports (4×USB-C, 2×USB-A), shows each port on a 2.26-inch LCD and manages the split via a control dial. Anker rates its matching Prime power bank (27,650 mAh) at 250 watts and PD 3.1 as well. UGREEN counters with the Nexode Pro (25,000 mAh, 200 watts, up to 140 watts on a single port per the maker) and a TFT display. All figures are the vendors’ marketing and datasheet claims.
What to watch for in 2026:
- PD 3.1 / EPR: the only way to get more than 100 watts on a single port.
- Multi-port: real output drops once several devices charge at once.
- Passthrough & display: charge while the bank itself refills, plus real-time wattage readouts.
The IFA 2026 context
Concrete reveals and European pricing land only once the show floor opens – back in 2025, Anker unveiled four new charging products in Berlin. Buy now and you get established, in-stock models; IFA mainly signals where things are heading: 250 watts from your pocket.
Sources: Anker, UGREEN, Android Central, Macworld, Forbes.
