What do PPS and AVS each do, and does a mixed-device charger need both?

Main answer · Wecent Editorial Team

Short answer: Both are ways for a USB Power Delivery charger to adjust its voltage to what a device asks. PPS adjusts in small steps with a current limit, and some phones use it for faster, cooler charging. AVS is part of the higher-power range for larger devices such as some laptops. A mixed-device charger needs PPS if your phones use it, and AVS only if your laptops require it.

The basics

USB Power Delivery lets a charger and a device agree on voltage and current. Fixed voltage levels are the most common. Two additional methods allow the voltage to change within a range.

PPS

Programmable Power Supply is a feature of USB Power Delivery. The device asks the charger for a specific voltage, in small steps, and can set a current limit. This lets the device charge efficiently and with less heat in the device. Some phones and tablets use it to charge at their fastest rate. A phone that supports PPS may charge more slowly on a charger without it.

AVS

Adjustable Voltage Supply belongs to the extended power range of USB Power Delivery, intended for higher power levels. It allows the voltage to be adjusted within a range. It matters for higher-power products, such as some laptops and devices that work at the higher voltages of this range. A phone does not normally need it.

Do you need both?

It depends on the devices. – Phones and tablets only: PPS is the useful feature if your devices use it. AVS is not needed. – Laptops under about 100W: usually fixed voltage levels, and PPS is not needed for most. Check the laptop’s requirements. – Higher-power laptops: may need the extended power range. Check what the laptop’s charger provides. – A mixed set: match the charger to the most demanding devices, and check which features each uses.

How to decide

1. List the devices and look up their charger specifications.
2. Check the protocols they use, from the manufacturer’s information.
3. Compare with the charger’s listed features and port-by-port limits.
4. Test the combination, with a phone and a laptop, in a real setup.
5. Remember the cable. Higher power needs an appropriate cable.

Caution

Feature names on listings can be vague. Ask for the report showing the voltages and currents that the charger provides, and the test results.

For sellers

Publish the supported voltage levels for each port, say whether PPS is included and describe which devices were tested.

Quick summary

PPS suits phones that use it, AVS suits higher-power devices. Choose by the devices you will charge.

Sources checked on 24 Oct 2026: USB-IF: USB Charger (USB PD).

Where this answer says to confirm with Wecent, the detail is not published on the product page and has to come from the datasheet or the factory. General facts come from the regulators, standards bodies or device makers named in the text.