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Macworld
Unlike the iPhone, Apple ships a USB-C power adapter with all its MacBooks: Air and Pro. Unless your laptop stays in the same place all of the time, having a spare or a specific travel MacBook charger is a useful addition. You can buy a second Apple charger or check out more versatile, cheaper and smaller MacBook chargers to suit your needs and budget.
It’s important to note that there are risks with buying a cheap charger and we don’t recommend you choose on price alone. That bargain MacBook charger might just fry your laptop or get dangerously hot. However, there are some great premium chargers from trusted brands that sell for less than Apple pricey chargers.
What to look for in a MacBook charger
PD charging
What you need is a Power Delivery (PD) charger that can connect to your MacBook via USB-C. PD chargers can support up to 240W of power, although the most common congregate around the standard laptop power requirements: 30W, 45W, 65W and 100W. All the USB-C chargers we have tested here are PD chargers. All the chargers tested here can also fast-charge an iPhone.
PD version 3.0 supports up to 100W. PD 3.1 can charge at 140W, which is what you need to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Note that the Thunderbolt/USB-C ports are all rated at PD 3.0—only the MagSafe port is PD 3.1 so you must use Apple’s USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, rather than a USB-C cable, to fast-charge the 140W 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can still power the laptop via USB-C or Thunderbolt cable but 100W is the maximum power via that method.
Wattage
The amount of power a charger can give your MacBook is, safety aside, the most important feature to look for when choosing a laptop charger.
A laptop is designed to draw up to a certain amount of watts when running at full power; that is when you are stretching it by using lots of apps or pushing the graphics and video rendering functions—not when you’re just browsing the web. This level of max power is what the manufacturer considers when it decides on the wattage of the charger it includes with the laptop.
When the laptop is idle or doing mundane jobs, it will draw only a small amount of power from the charger.
Fast Charging
Apple supports silicon fast charging on its latest MacBook models. When connected with the right charger and cable, you can charge a MacBook battery up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes. The M2 MacBook Air can be fast charged using a 65W or higher power adapter and either the MagSafe or a USB-C charging cable; see our M2 MacBook Air fast-charging tests.
On the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can fast-charge with a 96W or higher USB-C charger and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable or USB-C charge cable.
On the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you can fast-charge only with an 140W USB-C Power Adapter paired with the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable because the Thunderbolt ports are still 100W PD 3.0. Apple, Anker and Ugreen are the only companies to make a power adapter that supports the latest PD 3.1 standard that supports power output to up to 240W; other USB chargers have a practical maximum of 100W.
It is fine to charge a laptop with a higher-wattage power adapter than it needs. It won’t charge it any quicker (unless you follow the fast-charge rules above), but rest assured that a premium charger such as the ones reviewed here won’t overcharge the MacBook battery and may have extra ports to change iPhones and other devices. If the charger has more wattage than it needs, it can use the spare power to charge other devices at the same time as the laptop.
Ports
Until the M2 MacBook Air arrived in July 2022, all Apple MacBook chargers had just one port. It makes sense, but more ports make even more sense as we all have more than one device that needs charging.
When you’re using your MacBook at full power, your charger might not have enough spare power for charging other devices unless you buy a charger with a higher wattage where the excess power can be channeled to your iPhone or AirPods at the same time as you power your laptop.
With its 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter Apple has finally released a MacBook charger with two ports for its MacBook Air, although at 35W total, you’re going to get much slower charging than using it on its own.
Portability
Apple’s silicon-based power adapters are mostly larger than third-party chargers that are built using Gallium nitride (GaN) technology. GaN is a material that produces less heat—and less heat means components can be closer together. This means GaN chargers can be smaller than previously possible.
Some of today’s GaN chargers are so small they can slip in your pocket, although you’ll still need to coil that USB-C cable somewhere too. Apple is late to the GaN party, but its recent GaN power adapters are certainly smaller than its older models.
Foundry
Due to their ultra-safe, sturdy three-pin Type G plug, the U.K. models are usually wider than their U.S. Type A and B plug counterparts. Fewer feature handy folding plug pins (see above) that can be found on most U.S. wall chargers, but they are becoming more standard on non-Apple-made chargers.
Dimensions given in our reviews are for the U.S. models, which are also pictured for each product, but U.K. models are mostly also available.
We have tested and reviewed wall chargers that ship with interchangeable plugs for international travel, as well as wall chargers that double up as travel adapters with all the plugs you should need wherever you are in the world plus USB ports and a spare power socket.
If you need true portability away from a power socket, look for a laptop power bank. We tested a 25000mAh power bank that can fully recharge a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Wall, desktop or strip
Most of the PD chargers we review here are wall chargers that plug straight into the power socket. You could also consider a desktop charger, which differs from a straight-to-socket wall charger by connecting to power via a longer plugged cable, so offering greater range. This is sometimes a neater and more versatile desk solution, but isn’t as pocketable for travel as a wall charger that requires just the charger-to-device cable.
Another option is a power strip or extender. The best we’ve seen is from Ugreen. Its 100W 7-in-1 power strip features two 100W PD USB-C ports, one 22.5W USB-C and one 22.5W USB-A port, plus an extension plug socket on its top. Baseus has a more compact 100W PowerCombo strip with four USB ports. Both are reviewed below.
Cable
You need to connect the charger to your MacBook using a USB-C to USB-C charging cable or USB-C to MagSafe cable.
If your Mac has a MagSafe 3 port (MacBook Air introduced in 2022; 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2021), you can use Apple’s own USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (PD 3.1-supporting 240W maximum). As well as freeing up one of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports, this can protect from accidental cable pulls and is required for MacBook fast-charging on the 16in, but it is expensive at $49/£49 compared to a quality USB-C cable. Apple’s USB-C to USB-C charging cables (100W maximum) cost $19/£19 but you can find quality USB-C charging cables cheaper, for example from Ugreen (direct U.S. / Amazon.com / Amazon U.K.).
Few of the chargers reviewed here come with a USB-C cable. Of course, you can use the cable that shipped with your MacBook, but having a spare is always useful. We’ve rounded up the best USB-C and Thunderbolt cables.
Here are our reviews of our favorite MacBook chargers. Later, we give more specific tips on buying the right charger for your model of MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
Anker 713 Nano II - Best single-port 45W wall charger
Pros
- Ultra compact
- 45W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Single port
Price When Reviewed:
£34.99
Best Prices Today:
£27.99 at Amazon
Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.49 x 1.62in (3.5 x 3.8 x 4.1cm)
Weight: 2.44oz (69g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (45W PD)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air
This single-port 45W charger is a much better option for MacBook Air owners as we believe that the Apple-supplied 30W or 35W Power Adapters are a little underpowered for the laptop’s potential maximum needs. It is also tiny in comparison to the Apple-supplied charger (38% smaller in volume than Apple’s non-GaN 30W Power Adapter, and 20% smaller than the 35W charger), and significantly cheaper while being a safe, trusted brand.
Like the other Anker wall chargers, this model features foldable (U.S.) plug pins. The U.K. model is as great, although without the neat foldable plug pins.
Because the M2 Air can be fast-charged using a 65W or higher power adapter, the Anker 715 65W Charger (below) is a better option and only a few bucks more in price and fractions of an inch in size. Or you should consider a multiport 65W charger, such as the Ugreen Nexode 65W 3-Port Charger or the Anker 735 65W Charger—both of which are super-compact and will charge other devices at the same time as you are charging a laptop.
Anker 715 Nano II - Best single-port 65W wall charger
Pros
- Compact
- 65W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Single port
Price When Reviewed:
£39.99
Best Prices Today:
£22.49 at Amazon£39.99 at Anker
Dimensions: 1.65 x 1.42 x 1.74in (4.2 x 3.6 x 4.4cm)
Weight: 3.96oz (112g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
A single-port 65W charger is the most affordable fast-charger for MacBook Air owners. The Anker 715 is small in comparison to the Apple-supplied charger, especially with its foldable U.S. plug pins, and still cheaper but not as noticeably so as Anker’s 45W charger.
Owners of the 13-inch Pro and entry-level 14-inch Pro should consider this charger as the most affordable, premium compact alternative to Apple’s larger, more expensive 67W Power Adapter..
You can use it to fast-charge an M2 MacBook, but it won’t overcharge it and it will keep the battery topped up while you are working on your laptop. To fast-charge a 14in MacBook Pro, you’ll need a 96W or 100W charger.
Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W - Best= 3-port 65W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- 65W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
- Lightest multiport charger
Price When Reviewed:
£49.99
Best Prices Today:
£49.99 at Amazon£49.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches (5.5 x 4 x 3.2cm)
Weight: 4.1oz (117g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
Ugreen’s Nexode Pro 65W USB-C Wall Charger has three ports and is a great choice for a super-compact multiport 65W charger. The plug pins on the U.S. model fold in neatly to make it very pocketable for a three-port charger. Note that the pins on the U.K. version do not fold, so users from that country should consider the older but still great non-Pro Nexode 65W Charger that does have foldable U.K. plug pins or the Anker Prime 67W Charger reviewed below.
It really is a tiny wonder. The Anker Prime 67W Wall Charger is just as compact, and both make fine mid-sized MacBook chargers.
The two USB-C ports each support 65W, and the lower USB-A port can charge at up to 22.5W. Other same-time charging options include 45W for a laptop and 20W for a second device, or 45W plus 15W shared between the other two outputs. And you can fast-charge an M2 MacBook Air when using just one of the 65W ports.
While it’s perfectly suitable for the 14in MacBook Pro, a 100W power adapter can fast-charge that model using either a USB-C charging cable or Apple’s own MagSafe 3 cable.
Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) - Best= 3-port 65W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- 67W
- Foldable plug (U.S. and U.K.)
- Smallest multiport charger
Cons
- Not for the top-end 14-inch MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£49.99
Best Prices Today:
£37.99 at Amazon£49.99 at Anker
Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.5 x 1.9in (4 x 3.8 x 5cm)
Weight: 4.8oz (136g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (67W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
It might be bigger and heavier than the 45W or 65W single-port Anker chargers, but this GaN charger offers you much more with its three ports. Each of the two USB-C ports can supply up to 67W, although obviously not at the same time as 67W is the total possible output. And the USB-A port supports up to 22.5W. It is the smallest multiport USB-C wall charger, and it weighs just 136g, an indistinguishable difference to the equally compact 130g Ugreen Nexode 65W 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger.
Both the U.S. and the U.K. models feature a foldable plug. The U.K. model is a little larger due to the Type-G 3-pin plug but it’s the smallest and lightest multiport 67W charger available in the U.K.
Each port will adapt to your charging requirements. You can charge a laptop at up to 65W using just one of the USB-C ports or charge the laptop at 45W and another device at 20W via the other USB-C port. Another option is to power a laptop at 40W via USB-C, and an iPhone or Apple Watch at up to 22.5W using the USB-A port. Using all three ports, the first USB-C port can power the laptop at 40W, the second an iPhone at 12W, and the USB-A port could power up your AirPods at 12W.
It’s a great choice for fast-charging an M2 MacBook Air or just as a multiport solution for the 13in and entry-level 14in MacBook Pro. As with the Ugreen Nexode, reviewed above, it will power the top-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, but a 100W charger can fast-charge that model.
Anker
$15 cheaper is the Anker 726 Nano II 65W Charger (U.S. model / U.K. model), which has two USB-C PD ports, and a foldable plug on its U.S. model. When using both ports at the same time, the bottom one will charge at 45W and the top at 20W. Aside from being a little cheaper, it also has a white color option, which is missing from the other Anker laptop chargers.
Ugreen 65W 3C1A - Best 4-Port 65W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 65W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- One low 18W PD port
- Larger than 3-port chargers
Price When Reviewed:
£39.99
Best Prices Today:
£31.99 at Amazon£39.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 1.3 x 2.56 x 2.56in (3.3 x 6.5 x 6.5cm)
Weight: 8.8oz (249g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (18W PD) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
This is the most ports (4) we’ve seen on a 65W USB-C PD wall charger, making it a versatile, multi-option power adapter for any MacBook Air or 13in Pro. It would also support the 8-core-CPU model 14-inch MacBook Pro.
It is noticeably larger than the three-port 65W chargers reviewed above, but is recommended if you need that extra charging port.
Two of the USB-C ports support 65W, and one is curiously low at 18W but that’s enough for most phones and mid-sized tablets. The USB-A port can Quick Charge and handle up to 22.5W.
Use one of the 65W PD ports to fast-charge an M2 Air, but to fast-charge a 14in Pro you’ll need to look for one of the 100W chargers reviewed here.
Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) - Best 3-Port 100W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- Compact
- 100W
- Foldable plug (U.S. and U.K.)
Cons
- Can't fast-charge a 16in Pro
Price When Reviewed:
£79.99
Best Prices Today:
£54.98 at Amazon£79.99 at Anker
Dimensions: 1.7 × 1.5 × 2.4in (4.4 x 3.9 x 6cm)
Weight: 6.5oz (183g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Black
Best for: 13-inch/14-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro
The Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger might have one fewer port than the 4-port Ugreen 100W charger, reviewed below, but it’s notably lighter and smaller than the 4-port Ugreen charger.
Each of the two USB-C PD ports has a maximum of 100W so you can’t fast-charge a 16in MacBook Pro, although it will easily supply the required standard-speed charge.
The USB-A port can support up to 22.5W charging.
Anker
A similar option is the Anker 737 GaNPrime 120W Charger (U.S. model / U.K. model) pictured above, which has the same three ports but with a maximum 120W output, meaning it can charge two mid-sized MacBooks at the same time. It’s a little larger (1.25 x 1.7 x 3.14in) and minutely heavier than the Anker 100W charger as a consequence.
Ugreen Nexode 100W - Best 4-port 100W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Third USB-C port is 22.5W
- Bulkier than some
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£69.99
Best Prices Today:
£41.98 at Amazon£69.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 1.3 x 2.72 x 2.72in (3.3 x 6.9 x 6.9cm)
Weight: 8.3oz (235g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (22.5W) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: 13-inch/14-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro
Suitable for all MacBooks, the four-port Ugreen 100W wall charger, with a foldable U.S. plug, is an excellent choice of versatile power adapter. It may not be as pocketable as the mini chargers, but it is still very portable. It’s actually lighter than the company’s own 65W 4-port charger.
It has multiple charging options, such as 65W for laptop and 30W PD for light-laptop powering plus lower outputs for phones and other devices. Using three ports you could charge at 45W, 30W and 22.5W. Using all four, it can support laptop power delivery at 45W and 30W plus two devices each at 10.5W.
And it can fast-charge a 14in MacBook Pro using one of the 100W PD ports.
The U.K. model is a rounder, more barrel-shaped design—without foldable prongs—but otherwise the same charger.
Ugreen
Ugreen has a newer, much smaller 100W charger, the Nexode Pro 100W Charger (U.S. / U.K.), which has one fewer USB-C port. If three ports is all you need (and that might be true for many) then this is the better choice, but we like the fourth port option.
Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger - Best 2-in-1 100W USB-C desktop charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- Compact 2-in-1 charger
- 100W
- 15W MagSafe adjustable iPhone stand
Cons
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
£179.99
Best Prices Today:
£179.99 at Amazon£179.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 6.49 x 4.9 x 4.2in (16.5 x 12.5 x 10.7cm)
Weight: 1.91lb (868g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (22.5W), 15W MagSafe charging pad
Colors: Gray/Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro; iPhone 12/13/14/15
Moving away from the USB-C wall chargers for a moment, we are big fans of this compact desktop charger that, at 100W, is powerful enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro and also offers an adjustable 15W MagSafe charging pad for iPhones 12/13/14/15.
It has three powerful ports—to USB-C and one USB-A—plus the fully certified and maximum wireless 15W MagSafe pad that you can angle and place the iPhone on in either landscape or portrait modes.
Using all four charging options you could power at 15W (iPhone), 45W MacBook via one of the USB-C ports, 25W with the other, and the remaining 10W via USB-A.
If you want to charge your iPhone faster than even top-speed 15W wireless vai the pad, you can fast-cable charge your phone using either of the USB-C ports.
As a desktop charger it comes with a 2m power lead to connect to your wall socket.
Nekteck 100W Charger - Best budget 100W USB-C wall charger
Pros
- 100W
- Ships with 2m USB-C cable
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Single port
- Doesn't support MagSafe
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
- Not available in U.K.
Dimensions: 1.18 x 2.64 x 2.64in (3 x 6.7 x 6.7cm)
Weight: 8.29oz (235g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro
This is a simple one-port 100W USB-C charger that is smaller than Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro charger and much cheaper.
Note that Nekteck states that this charger does not support charging through Apple’s MagSafe cables, only USB-C, so that included 6.6ft (2m) USB-C cable comes in handy, and it’s not powerful enough to fast-charge a 16in MacBook Pro. It’s available in the U.S. only
Ugreen Nexode Pro 160W Charger - Best multiport PD 3.1 wall charger for 16in MacBook Pro
Pros
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- Smaller than Apple 140W charger
- Three ports
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
£119.99
Best Prices Today:
£97.98 at Amazon£119.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.7 x 1.3in (7.1 x 4.3 x 3.3cm)
Weight: 10.7oz (304g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (30W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
This is the first multiport PD 3.1 charger (with a 140W port) we tested and it is still noticeably smaller than Apple’s single-port charger. It is, however, slightly heavier than the Apple or Anker 140W chargers.
It can fast-charge Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro, using the top USB-C port as long as you connect to the laptop using Apple’s MagSafe 3 cable. It has another 100W port below, and a 22.5W USB-A port at the bottom.
There are many charging options: one-port using any of the above-mentioned ports, two 65W laptops simultaneously, or 65W+65W+30W charging at the same time—enough for a multi-MacBook charging session.
Remember that Apple still requires use of its proprietary MagSafe cable for fast-charging from the 140W port.
Apple 140W USB-C Power Adapter - Best global wall charger for 16in MacBook Pro
Pros
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Single port
- Large
Price When Reviewed:
£99
Best Prices Today:
£94.95 at Ebuyer£98.44 at Amazon£99 at Apple
Dimensions: 1.1 x 3.78 x 2.95in (2.9 x 9.6 x 7.5cm)
Weight: 9.76oz (277g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1)
Colors: White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
Once the only game in town for ultimate 16in MacBook Pro fast-charging if you add Apple’s pricey $49/£49 USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, Apple’s 140W charger now faces competition from other third-party charger manufacturers.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with both charger and MagSafe cable as standard but if you want to match this as a spare set of both will set you back a steep $148/£148.
It is one of the most up-to-date chargers, supporting PD 3.1, which is why it can fast-charge a 16in MacBook Pro.
The MagSafe cable is available in Silver, Space Gray, Midnight (blue) and Starlight (gold) but the charger itself is standard Apple White.
The U.S. model features foldable plug pins. Unlike the smaller Anker 717 140W Charger, it is available in multiple countries.
Anker 717 USB-C 140W Charger - Best one-port wall charger for 16in MacBook Pro
Pros
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- Smaller than Apple 140W charger
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
Cons
- Single port
- Available with U.S. plug only
Dimensions: 1.22 x 2.66 x 2.31in (3.1 x 6.8 x 5.9cm)
Weight: 8.3oz (235g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
While it has just one port like the Apple 140W Power Adapter, the Anker 717 is 40% smaller than Apple’s tall charger so makes it a much better choice if you travel with your laptop. It features foldable pins.
Again like the Apple charger, its USB-C port is PD 3.1 and so can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro (or any fast-charge-supporting MacBook for that matter) but only if you use the MagSafe rather than a USB-C cable.
It’s the same price as Apple’s charger and does also require the MagSafe cable to fast-charge the 16in Pro.
The Anker 717 is not available outside of North America.
Plugable 140W USB-C Power Adapter - Best budget one-port wall charger for 16in MacBook Pro
Pros
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- Smaller than Apple 140W charger
- Foldable plug (U.S.)
- Least expensive premium option
Cons
- Single port
- Available with U.S. plug only
Dimensions: 1.24 x 2.99 x 2.95in (3.1 x 7.6 x 7.5cm)
Weight: 8.3oz (235g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1)
Colors: White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
This USB PD 3.1 charger looks a lot like Apple’s own but is smaller and cheaper.
It also has just the one port, which is fine if you will use it with only one device, but a multi-port alternative, such as the Ugreen Nexode 140W Charger reviewed above, offers more flexibility.
Combined with Apple’s MagSafe cable, this will fast-charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and makes a great spare for that laptop if you are based in North America.
Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger - Best 300W USB-C Desktop Charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro
Pros
- 5 ports
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- 140W PD 3.1
- 300W maximum
Cons
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
£269.99
Best Prices Today:
£199.99 at Ugreen£269.99 at Amazon
Dimensions: 6.49 x 4.9 x 4.2in (16.5 x 12.5 x 10.7cm)
Weight: 1.91lb (868g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray/Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
While the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger, reviewed below, has two 140W PD 3.1 ports, you can’t use both at 140W simultaneously as its max power is 200W. The Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger, on the other hand, might have just one 140W PD 3.1 port but it can fast-charge both a 140W 16-inch MacBook Pro and another MacBook at 100W at the same time.
With all ports in action it follows a port hierarchy of 140W/65W/45W/10W/22.5W.
While this desktop charger ships with a 240W USB-C charging cable—which you have to buy extra with the Satechi—Apple requires you to use its own USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable to fast-charge the top-end MacBook Pro at 140W as the Thunderbolt/USB-C ports are rated at just 100W, making the inclusion a bit superfluous for Mac users.
If you require a desktop charger with an enormous maximum power output, this should be well enough for most needs.
Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger - Best 200W USB-C Desktop Charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro
Pros
- 6 ports
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- 200W maximum
Cons
- No USB-A port
Price When Reviewed:
£143.99
Best Prices Today:
£143.99 at Amazon$149.99 at Satechi
Dimensions: 4.13 x 4.13 x 1.38in (10.5 x 10.5 x 3.5cm)
Weight: 1.37lb (622g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 4x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
While its total output of 200W and six ports equals that of the Ugreen Nexode 200W 6-Port desktop charger reviewed below, this desktop charger supports PD 3.1 and therefore 140W fast-charging for the 16-inch MacBook Pro using Apple’s USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable.
200W is a lot but if you are powering multiple super-power-hungry devices, you might want to consider the 300W Ugreen Nexode desktop charger, reviewed above. With all ports in action this Satechi charger follows a port hierarchy of 65W/45W/20W/20W/20W/20W.
Each of the ports is USB-C so you’d need an adapter to use a USB-A charging cable, which some products—for example, Fitbit—still insist on.
The first two ports are PD 3.1 (140W) and the remaining four (PD 3.0) are rated at 100W.
It’s a shame that it doesn’t ship with a 240W USB-C charging cable, but Apple’s fast-charging USB-C limitation makes this inconsequential for Mac users.
Ugreen Nexode 200W 6-Port - Best mixed USB-A/USB-C Desktop Charger
Pros
- 6 ports
- 200W
- Ships with 1m USB-C cable
Cons
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
- Expensive
Price When Reviewed:
£199.99
Best Prices Today:
£179.99 at Amazon£199.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 3.97 x 3.97 x 1.27in (10.1 x 10.1 x 3.23cm)
Weight: 1.14lb (517g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-C (65W PD), 2x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro
This desktop charger is a beast in terms of total output and number of ports (6) but a lot smaller than you might expect. You wouldn’t want it carried on your person, but it’s compact enough for travel purposes.
We’d expect it to stay put, however, and charge multiple devices over a few desks. It can charge up to four USB-C devices (three laptops and a USB-C tablet) and two smartphones or other devices at the same time with its giant 200W of total charging power.
Despite the 200W total output, the most one port can manage is 100W, which is fine for charging even Apple’s largest laptop but not for fast-charging the 16in Pro.
This is a great option if you need to charge up to three MacBooks at a time—for example, two at 65W and one at 45W, and there’s capacity to spare to power another device at 20W.
Using all six ports would allow a combination of one 65W PD, two 45W PD, and one 20W PD and two less hungry devices, such as iPhone, AirPods or iPad.
It ships with a 3.3ft (1M) USB-C cable.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger - Best travel wall charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro
Pros
- 4 ports
- 140W PD 3.1
- Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
- US/UK/EU pins
Cons
- Heavy
- No AU/NZ pin
Price When Reviewed:
£139.99
Best Prices Today:
£117.53 at Amazon£139.99 at Belkin
Dimensions: 1.21 x 2.99 x 3.78in (3.1 x 7.6 x 9.6cm)
Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (65W), 1x USB-A (12W)
Colors: White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
Although it isn’t suitable for Australasian power sockets this 140W PD 3.1 wall charger can sit at home in the US, UK or EU and travel with you when you visit any of those regions—although it’s heavy compared to similar wall chargers with travel plugs.
Even if you’re not a frequent traveller, we think you’ll appreciate the option of the interchangeable international plugs and it works just fine if you decide not to travel at all.
It has four ports: 1x USB-C at 140W so can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro when using Apple’s MagSafe charging cable; 2x USB-C at 65W; and 1x USB-A at 12W. When all the ports are active it powers as 65W PD USB-C, 45W USB-C, 20W USB-C and 12W USB-A port, so can charge a couple of 13-inch or entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro plus smaller devices such as your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Minix Neo P3 100W Turbo 4-Ports - Best budget travel wall charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
- US/UK/EU pins
Cons
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
- No AU/NZ pin
Price When Reviewed:
£65.99
Best Prices Today:
£54.90 at Amazon
Dimensions: 1 x 2.36 x 2.36in (2.5 x 6 x 6cm)
Weight: 7.1oz (200g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro
This 100W PD charger boasts four ports, with two USB-C rated at 100W. However, the special thing about the Minix Neo P3 wall charger is its set of travel plugs (U.K., E.U.) that slide on to the folding U.S. plug pins. At 100W (PD 3.0), it’s enough to fast-charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro. There are two 100W USB-C PD ports, one 20W USB-C and an 18W QuickCharge 3.0 USB-A port, which should be enough to charge most of your devices out of one charger.
Alogic 100W 4-Port PD USB-C Wall Charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
- AU plug available
- Ships with 2m cable
Cons
- Low-power second USB-C
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£89.99
Best Prices Today:
£67.11 at Amazon£89.99 at Alogic£89.99 at Currys
Dimensions: 1.16 x 3.15 x 3.15in (2.95 x 8 x 8cm)
Weight: 9oz (254g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (18W), 2x USB-A (12W)
Colors: White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro
Although it is also available in U.S. and U.K. models, we have picked the Alogic 100W Rapid Power 4-Port USB-C GaN Charger because it is one of the few trusted brands that offers an AU/NZ/CN wall plug PD charger, aside from Apple itself.
It has four ports: 1x USB-C at 100W; 1x USB-C at 18W; and 2x USB-A at 12W. When all the ports are active it powers as 65W PD USB-C, 18W USB-C, and 17W across both USB-A ports, so can simultaneously charge a 13-inch or entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro plus smaller devices.
As a bonus, it comes with a braided 2m USB-C cable.
OneAdaptr OneWorld65 - Best 65W USB-C PD travel adapter and charger
Pros
- 65W PD
- Five ports plus one power socket
- Travel plug adapter
Cons
- Total output limited for 5 ports
Price When Reviewed:
£67 inc shipping
Best Prices Today:
£67 at OneAdaptr
Dimensions: 2.15 x 2.64 x 2.72in (5.5 x 6.7 x 6.9cm)
Weight: 6.3oz (178g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-C & 2x USB-A (sharing 15W)
Colors: White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
The OneWorld65 looks like any international adapter but boasts a built-in 65W PD Charger and can charge up to six devices simultaneously.
It features one 65W USB-C PD port, one 20W USB-C PD port, another USB-C charging port and two USB-A charging ports—the non-PD USB-C port and two USB-A ports share 15W of power.
Maximum power output is 65W so if you are charging a mid-sized laptop in full use, there won’t be much spare juice for the other devices.
As well as all the USB ports you can also use this as a travel adapter. Sliding connectors will fit into US, European, Australian/NZ/Chinese and British wall sockets so covering over 200 countries, and you can plug a similar range of plugs into the OneWorld 65 from the other side.
OneAdaptr OneWorld135 - Best USB-C PD travel adapter for 16-inch MacBook Pro
Pros
- 135W PD 3.0
- Four ports plus one power socket
- Travel plug adapter
Cons
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£109
Best Prices Today:
£92 at OneAdaptr
Dimensions: 3.7 x 2.13 x 2.09in (9.4 x 5.4 x 5.3cm)
Weight: 9.63oz (273g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)
Colors: Bue or White
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
The OneWorld135 is a souped-up version of the OneWord65, and with 100W USB-C output it’s powerful enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro, although not fast charge it as that requires one 140W PD 3.1 port. With its universal power outlet and four USB ports, it can charge up to five devices simultaneously.
Max output is 135W, so it can handle charging a large laptop and still have enough power for another small one or fast-charge multiple phones, headphones and watches.
Sliding connectors will fit into US, European, Australian/NZ/Chinese and British wall sockets.
There is also a slightly cheaper OneWorld100 available in Black, although max output as the name suggests is 105W, so if your 16-inch MacBook is sucking all the watts, there won’t be much left for charging your phone by the other USB ports, but a 14-inch MacBook and iPhone could happily fast-charge together connected by USB-C.
MacMate - travel charging station add-on
Pros
- 2 ports
- Wireless charging pad
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Requires 100W charger to power all ports
Price When Reviewed:
£45
Best Prices Today:
£45 at OneAdaptr
Dimensions: 2.07 x 2.17 x 0.79in (52.5 x 5.5 x 2cm)
Weight: 1.8oz (51g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (60W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x wireless charging pad (10W)
Colors: White
Also from OneAdaptr, the MacMate isn’t a charger in its own right; indeed it require you to connect one to it. But we’ve included it here as it’s an interesting add-on—and it can be purchased as part of the OneWorld65 Wireless or OneWorld100 Wireless bundles.
Once connected to either of those travel chargers or any other 60W+ charger it becomes a charging hub for a MacBook, iPad, iPhone and Wireless AirPods Case or any three-way combination of those Apple devices.
It also features a wireless charging pad for a third device.
Once connected to a charger, the MacMate can be hooked up to a MacBook and charge it at up to 60W via a USB-C PD port. Another USB-C PD port offers up to 20W charging for another device. On the top is the 10W wireless charging pad—sadly not MagSafe compatible but will work with all wireless-charging iPhones regardless.
To charge all three devices at top power you’ll need a 100W charger connected to the MacMate.
The charging station is tiny and lightweight, so makes a great travel multi-device charging companion—especially when paired with the OneWorld 65.
Ugreen 145W Power Bank for Laptop - Best power bank for MacBook
Pros
- Portable 25000mAh power
- 145W total power output
- 3 ports
Cons
- Requires charger
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£139.99
Best Prices Today:
£127.99 at Amazon£139.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.2 x 1.1in (16 x 8.1 x 2.8cm)
Weight: 18.1oz (513g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (45W), 1x USB-A (18W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
We are not always sat next to a power socket when we need to recharge our MacBook Pro or Air. And without a power point none of the other chargers reviewed here will be of much use.
While we are quite used to carrying around power banks for our phones, laptop power banks are a rarer breed—but just as handy when power fades to zero.
Boasting 25000mAh, this Ugreen laptop power bank can recharge a fading MacBook Pro back to full power and still have enough power over to fast-charge your iPhone—indeed you can charge both at the same time, along with your AirPods or Apple Watch as this MacBook power bank has three ports.
There’s a handy LED battery-capacity percentage indicator, so you can tell how much power is left before you leave home.
It’s air-travel-friendly so makes a useful companion in your cabin bag if you are going to be using your MacBook on a long flight.
You’ll need to bring along your charging cables, although the supplied USB-C cable can be used to both charge your MacBook and recharge the power bank—though not simultaneously. A 65W wall charger (not included) can get the power bank back to 100% in around two hours.
Ugreen 65W Power Strip DigiNest Cube GaN Extension Lead - Neatest USB-C power extender
Pros
- 4 USB ports and 3 AC power sockets
Price When Reviewed:
£69.99
Best Prices Today:
£69.99 at Amazon£69.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 3in (7.6 x 7.6 x 7.6cm)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 2x USB-A (18W), 3x power socket
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch MacBook Pro; 8-core 14-inch MacBook Pro
This is a clever power strip or plug extender that includes four USB ports (2x USB-C, 2x USB-A), two of which are PD compatible at 65W, and three power plugs. Maximum output on the USB ports is 65W shared.
It’s like a desktop charger, but with three added AC power sockets for TV, monitor, hard drive, lamps and so forth. Its cable length is 6ft (1.8m).
It’s a great way to reduce cable clutter on your desk, or in any room.
Ugreen 100W USB-C GaN Power Strip - Best USB-C power extender
Pros
- 4 USB ports and 3 AC power sockets
Cons
- Bulky
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
Price When Reviewed:
£109.99
Best Prices Today:
£74.99 at Amazon£119.99 at Ugreen
Dimensions: 3 x 2 x 5in (4.2 x 3.6 x 4.4cm)
Weight: 1.51lb (685g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (22.5W), 1x USB-A (22.5W), 3x power socket
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
This power strip or plug extender is also from Ugreen and includes four USB ports (3x USB-C, 1x USB-A), two of which are PD compatible at 100W. Maximum output on the USB ports is 100W, and for the three power plugs (one on the top, and two behind) 1,870W.
It’s both a desktop charger and AC power extender with sockets. Its cable length is 6ft (1.8m).
Baseus PowerCombo 100W All-in-One USB C Charging Station - Compact USB-C power extender
Pros
- 4 USB ports and 2 AC power sockets
- Smaller than similar USB power extenders
Cons
- Can't fast-charge 16in MBP
- U.S./CA only
Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.6 x 1.6 inches (8.9 x 4.1 x 4.1cm)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 2x USB-A (18W), 3x power socket
Colors: Black
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
Another great power extender is the gaN-based Baseus PowerCombo, which comes in several models. At the top-end, the 100W PowerCombo gives you four USB ports (2x 100W USB-C and 2x 60W USB-A); maximum output is 100W in a variety of combinations depending on your needs.
When charging phones, it supports Apple Fast Charging and Samsung’s 45W Super Fact Charging 2.0.
It also includes two AC power sockets, so you can plug in your monitor, hard drive or other powered devices at the same time as using the main charger. Its power cable length is 5ft (1.5m), and it ships with a USB-C cable.
In the PowerCombo family lineup there’s a 40W PowerCombo with 2x USB-C and 1x USB-A, and a 65W PowerCombo with 2x USB-C and 2x USB-A.
Best charger for M1 or M2 MacBook Air
The MacBook Air ships with either a 30W or 35W Power Adapter, but we recommend at least a 45W charger for the MacBook Air (Intel-based as well as M1/M2 models).
For a 45W charger with just one port, the ultra-compact Anker 713 Nano II 45W Charger (U.S. / U.K.) is a great option, and about 40% smaller than Apple’s 30W charger. It’s more powerful than Apple’s 35W Power Adapter and less expensive. It does have just the one port, but the amount of spare charge you’d get using a 35W charger with a MacBook Air isn’t likely to offer much if you are also trying to charge even your AirPods unless the laptop was sitting doing not much at all at the time.
Going for a 65W or even 100W multiport charger makes more sense. Anker’s three-port Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger (U.S. / U.K.) can charge a laptop at 45W and an iPhone or iPad at 20W. It has two USB-C ports (both capable of PD charging at 65W, although not at the same time) and a 22.5W USB-A port. You could even charge a MacBook Air at 40W (still higher than Apple’s supplied charger), an iPhone at 12W and a set of AirPods at 5W. Or fast-charge an M2 MacBook Air.
Ugreen’s 3-port Nexode Pro 65W USB-C Charger (U.S. / U.K.) is similar, although a smidge larger. Using all three ports, you could charge a laptop at 45W and two smaller devices at 15W shared.
Best charger for 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook Pro
The 13-inch MacBook Pro ships with a 67W Power Adapter, so you can look to a 65W charger to save on money and size.
Your choice of charger for the 14-inch MacBook Pro depends on the model. The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro ships with a 70W adapter while the M3 Pro and M3 Max model ships with a 96W charger.
A 65W charger will suffice, but you won’t get fast-charging like you will with a 100W model. Anker has the most affordable single-port charger, the 715 Nano II 65W (U.S. / U.K.). For a multiport 100W charger we rate Ugreen’s 4-port Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger (U.S. / U.K.) or the Anker 737 GaNPrime 120W Charger (U.S. / U.K.), which is smaller and has a higher total power output but features one less port. Very similar to the Ugreen 100W Charger is the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (U.S. / U.K.), which both U.S. and U.K. users will appreciate for its foldable plug prongs.
As well as fast-charging a 14in Pro using the 100W port, you can charge at full 65W power and have spare to charge another device at up to 30W, or charge the laptop a little slower and charge three other devices, say your iPhone, iPad and AirPods.
Best charger for 15-inch MacBook Pro
While it shipped with an 87W Apple Power Adapter, we recommend a 100W charger for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. We prefer a charger that can power multiple devices at the same time, so we like Ugreen’s 4-port Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger (U.S. / U.K.).
For a budget one-port 100W wall charger, the Nekteck 100W USB-C Charger (U.S.) will save you some cash and has a neat foldable U.S. plug. It also comes with its own 2m (6.5ft) USB-C cable but doesn’t work with Apple’s MagSafe 3 charger.
The most powerful desktop charger we’ve tested is Ugreen’s Nexode 200W USB-C Desktop Charger (U.S. / U.K.), which boasts a whopping six ports (4x USB-C, and 2x USB-A).
Best charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro
Until recently Apple made this recommendation easy. Its 140W Power Adapter (U.S. / U.K.) will fast-charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 and later models) from 0-50 percent charge in 30 minutes as it supports the most up-to-date PD 3.1 charing.
Apple recommends pairing its 140W Power Adapter with a 16‑inch MacBook Pro (2021) using its USB-C to MagSafe 3 as the only way to fast-charge—the Tunderbolt ports are PD 3.0 rated rather than 3.1. It’s not cheap, but for pure power this is the combination you want with Apple’s largest MacBook.
Anker, Ugreen and Plugable have now released their own PD 3.1 fast-charging USB-C 140W chargers—the Anker 717 Charger (U.S.) is the same price and limited to the same one port. It is, however, 40% smaller than Apple’s super-tall 140W charger.
The Ugreen Nexode Pro 160W Charger (U.S. / U.K.) is much smaller than the Apple 140W charger and boasts four charging ports. Fast-charge the 16-inch MacBook using the top USB-C port, and luxuriate with 100W and 30W ports below, and a 22.5W USB-A port at the top—although remember that the maximum total output is 160W. As the most able PD 3.1 charger, we recommend this as a portable second charger for 16in MacBook Pro owners if they travel with their laptop a lot.
If you can live without the fast charging, a 100W charger should be ample for most situations, and here there are more options with multi-charging opportunities.
Ugreen’s Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger (U.S. / U.K.) has four charging ports, but for a budget one-port 100W wall charger it’s hard to beat the Nekteck 100W USB-C Charger (U.S), which comes with its own 2m (6.5ft) USB-C cable.
And, again, Ugreen’s powerful Nexode 200W USB-C Desktop Charger (U.S. / U.K.) is a great, if less portable, option.
Which charger does each MacBook need?
Here are the power specs of the batteries and power adapters that Apple ships with each of its MacBooks:
M1 MacBook Air: 30W Power Adapter
M2 MacBook Air: 30W or 35W Power Adapter depending on 8-or-10-core GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
13-inch M1 MacBook Pro: 67W Power Adapter
13-inch M2 MacBook Pro: 67W Power Adapter
14-inch MacBook Pro: 67W or 96W Power Adapter depending on 14-or-16-core GPU
15-inch MacBook Pro: 87W Power Adapter
16-inch MacBook Pro: 140W Power Adapter
FAQ
1.
Can you use a charger with a higher wattage than your laptop?
Yes, you can safely use a laptop charger with a higher wattage as the laptop will only ever draw the amount of power required at the time. If your laptop was supplied with a 35W charger it will never draw more than 35W unless being fast-charged, so you can use a 65W, 90W or higher charger.
If the charger has multiple ports that extra juice will mean you can charge other devices at the same time.
2.
Can you use a charger with a lower wattage than your laptop?
You can but you should try to avoid using a lower wattage charger than what your laptop requires. A 30W charger can’t supply sufficient power for a 90W laptop’s needs. At the least, your laptop is likely to run out of power while you are using it. At the worst, you could damage the laptop or create dangerous problems for the charger.
The under-powered charger won’t have enough power to give to your laptop and it therefore has to work harder to try to match the needs of your laptop. The danger is that this can cause overheating and potentially fire.
For more details read our explainer What wattage USB-C charger can you use to charge a MacBook?
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Title: The best USB-C charger for your MacBook Pro or Air
Sourced From: www.macworld.com/article/819438/best-macbook-usb-c-charger.html
Published Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:25:00 +0000
