The best scenario USB-C power source for your MacBook Air or Pro
Although Apple makes excellent power adapters, there are better options.
Apple includes a USB-C power adaptor with every MacBook, Air and Pro, unlike the iPhone. Unless your laptop is stationary, carrying an extra or specialized travel MacBook charger is a helpful addition. To fit your demands and budget, you can get a second Apple charger or look into alternative adaptable, affordable, and compact MacBook chargers.
It is crucial to remember that purchasing an inexpensive charger carries hazards, thus we advise against making your decision only based on cost. That cheap MacBook charger could burn your laptop or become extremely hot. Still, there are numerous excellent high-end chargers from reliable companies that cost less than the expensive ones made by Apple.
What a MacBook charger should include
What you require is a Power Delivery (PD) charger that is compatible with USB-C connections to your MacBook. Although most PD chargers cluster around the normal laptop power requirements of 30W, 45W, 65W, and 100W, they can sustain up to 240W of power. Here, we have tested every USB-C charger made by PD. Each charger that has been tested here has the ability to fast-charge an iPhone.
Up to 100W is supported by PD version 3.0. To fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro, PD 3.1 requires a charge of 140W. To fast-charge the 140W 16-inch MacBook Pro, you must use Apple's USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable rather than a USB-C cable. Take note that all Thunderbolt/USB-C ports are rated at PD 3.0; only the MagSafe port has PD 3.1. Although there is a 100W maximum power limit when using a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable to power the laptop, you can still do so.
Power
Apart from safety considerations, the most crucial aspect to consider when selecting a laptop charger is the power output the charger can provide for your MacBook. A laptop is made to consume a specific number of watts at maximum power, which is what happens when you use a lot of apps or strain the graphics and video rendering capabilities—not when you are just surfing the web. The manufacturer determines the wattage of the charger it offers with the laptop based on this maximum power level.
The laptop will use very little power from the charger when it is not in use or performing routine tasks.
Quick Charging
With their most recent MacBook models, Apple offers silicon rapid charging. With the appropriate connector and charger, a MacBook battery can be charged to 50% capacity in 30 minutes. See our M2 MacBook Air fast-charging testing for more information. The M2 MacBook Air can be fast-charged with a USB-C or MagSafe charging connection and a power adapter of 65 W or more. Because the M3 Air needs a 70W charger, using a non-Apple charger effectively raises the limit to 100W.
With a USB-C charger of 96W or more and either a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable or a USB-C charge cable, you can quickly charge the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Because the Thunderbolt ports on the 16-inch MacBook Pro are still 100W PD 3.0, you can only fast-charge the device with a 140W USB-C Power Adapter in conjunction with a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. While conventional USB chargers have a practical maximum of 100W, several businesses now produce power adapters that support the newer PD 3.1 standard, which permits power output to up to 240W.
Using a power adapter with a higher wattage than the laptop requires is acceptable for charging. Although it will not charge it any faster (unless you adhere to the aforementioned fast-charging guidelines), you can be confident that a high-quality charger, like the ones we have reviewed below, will not overheat the MacBook battery and might even have additional ports for switching between iPhones and other devices. The charger can charge additional gadgets simultaneously with the laptop if it has more power than it requires.
Ports
Given that we all have multiple devices that need to be charged, a charger with more ports makes more sense. If you wish to charge multiple devices at once, look for the overall power output. If you purchase a charger with a greater wattage so that the extra power can be directed to your iPhone or AirPods while you charge your laptop, your charger might not have enough power left over while your MacBook is operating at maximum capacity.
Portability
Comparing Apple's silicon-based power adapters to third-party chargers made with gallium nitride (GaN) technology, the former are typically bulkier. GaN is a material that generates less heat, allowing components to be placed closer together. This implies that GaN chargers can now be smaller than they were before. GaN chargers nowadays come in a variety of sizes that fit in your pocket, but you will still need to coil the USB-C cord someplace. Though it joined the GaN party late, Apple's most current GaN power adapters are unquestionably smaller than its previous models.
The Type G socket, which is extremely safe and robust, is the reason why U.K. versions are typically broader than their U.S. equivalents, which use Type A and B plugs. A growing number of non-Apple wall chargers come with the convenient folding plug pins (see above), although they are still rare on most wall chargers manufactured in the United States. The measurements provided in our reviews pertain to the US versions, which are also shown for every product; however, the majority of models are also offered in the UK.
In addition to wall chargers that function as travel adapters with all the plugs you could possibly need, USB ports, and an extra power socket, we have also tested and reviewed wall chargers that come with interchangeable plugs for use abroad. Look for a laptop power bank if you require full portability when not near a power outlet. A 14-inch MacBook Pro that can be fully recharged with a 25000mAh power bank is what we tested. View our evaluations of the top MacBook portable power banks.
Desktop, wall, or strip chargers
The majority of the PD chargers we evaluate on this page are wall chargers that attach directly to the electrical outlet. A desktop charger may also be of interest to you. Unlike wall chargers that plug straight into a socket, desktop chargers have a longer cable that connects to the power source, providing a larger charging range. While it can occasionally be a more organized and adaptable desk option, this wall charger is not as portable as a wall charger that only needs the charger-to-device wire.
A power strip or extender is an additional choice. The greatest thus far comes from Ugreen. Two 100W PD USB-C ports, one 22.5W USB-C port, one 22.5W USB-A port, and an extension plug socket on top are all included in this 100W 7-in-1 power strip. Baseus offers a 100W PowerCombo strip with four USB ports that is more compact. Below is a review of both.
Cable
It is necessary to use a USB-C to USB-C charging cable or a USB-C to MagSafe connection to connect the charger to your MacBook.
Apple's USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (PD 3.1-supporting 240W maximum) can be used if your Mac (MacBook Air debuted in 2022; 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2021) has a MagSafe 3 port. This can prevent inadvertent cable pulls and is necessary for MacBook fast-charging on the 16-inch model. It also frees up one of the MacBook's Thunderbolt ports. However, at $49/£49, it is more costly than a high-quality USB-C cable. The highest power output of Apple's USB-C to USB-C charging cables is 100W, however you can get higher-quality USB-C charging cables for less money, such as from Ugreen (direct U.S. / Amazon.com / Amazon U.K.).
Not many of the chargers that we have examined here include a USB-C cord. Although the cable that came with your MacBook can be used, it is always a good idea to have an extra. The top Thunderbolt and USB-C cables have been compiled by us. These are our opinions on the top MacBook chargers. Subsequently, we provide more detailed advice on selecting the appropriate charger for your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro model.
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