The best USB-C charger for your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro
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.
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 67W or higher power adapter and the MagSafe or USB-C charging cable.
On the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can fast-charge with either Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter and the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, or 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 only fast-charge with Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter paired with the USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. Apple is the only company 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. Both UGreen and Anker have 140W PD 3.1-compatible chargers in the works and we’ll review these as soon as we get our hands on them.
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.
UGreen
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. None, for instance, feature handy folding plug pins (see above) that can be found on a lot of the U.S. wall chargers. Apple actually has a 20W charger with folding U.K. plug pins but the space-saving technology hasn’t made it into the larger-capacity U.K. MacBook chargers yet.
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.
Wall or desktop
Most of the PD chargers we review here are wall chargers that plug straight into the power socket. You should 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.
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.
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 45W Wall Charger
Pros
- Ultra compact
- 45W
Cons
- Single port
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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 percent 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.
Anker 715 Nano II 65W Wall Charger
Pros
- Compact
- 65W
Cons
- Single port
Dimensions: (W,H,D): 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)
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 slightly overpowered charger for MacBook Air owners. While a 45W charger will easily get the job done for a MacBook Air, if you run your laptop to the max a lot of the time, you are better off with a 65W charger, certainly for the 13-inch Pro and entry-level 14-inch Pro. It won’t overcharge or fast-charge your MacBook Air but it will keep the battery topped up while you are working on your laptop.
It is small in comparison to the Apple-supplied charger, especially with its foldable U.S. plug pins, and still cheaper but not as noticeably as Anker’s 45W charger.
UGreen Nexode 65W 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- 65W
- Lightest multiport charger
Cons
- Not available in UK
Dimensions (W,H,D): 1.22 x 1.57 x 2.6in (3.1 x 4 x 6.6cm)
Weight: 4.6oz (130g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD), 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
UGreen’s Nexode 65W USB-C Wall Charger (available in the U.S. and CA only at the moment) has three ports and is a great choice for a super-compact multiport 65W charger. The plug pins fold in neatly to make it very pocketable for a multiport charger.
The two USB-C ports each support 65W, and the lower USB-A port can charge at up to 22.5W. Other charging options include 45W for laptop and 20W a second device, and 45W plus two 8.5W outputs.
Anker 735 Nano II 65W 3-Port Wall Charger
Pros
- 3 ports
- 65W
- Smallest multiport charger
Cons
- Not for the top-end 14-inch MBP
Dimensions (W,H,D): 1.15 × 1.5 × 2.6in (2.9 x 3.8 x 6.6cm)
Weight: 4.65oz (132g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD) 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 65W, although obviously not at the same time as 65W 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 132g, an indistinguishable difference to the 130g UGreen Nexode 65W 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger.
The U.S. model features a foldable plug.
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; remembering that these smaller Apple devices really max out at 5W anyway. Using all three ports, the first USB-C port can power the laptop at 40W, the second a Phone at 12W, and the USB-A port could power up your AirPods at 12W.
$5 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 4-Port USB-C Wall Charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 65W
Cons
- One low 18W PD port
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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), 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 13-inch or below MacBook Air or Pro. It would also support the 8-core-CPU model 14-inch MacBook Pro.
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.
UGreen Nexode 100W 4-Port USB-C Wall Charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
Cons
- Third USB-C port is 22.5W
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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), 1x USB-C (22.5W) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: 13-inch/14-inch/15-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
Suitable for all MacBooks, this four-port 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.
Nekteck 100W USB-C Wall Charger
Pros
- 100W
- Ships with 2m USB-C cable
Cons
- Single port
- Doesn’t support MagSafe
- Not available in UK
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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)
Colors: Black
Best for: 14-inch/16-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. It even comes with its own 6.6ft (2m) USB-C cable.
Note that Nekteck states that this charger does not support charging through Apple’s MagSafe cables, only USB-C, so won’t support fast-charging on the 14-inch MacBook Pro. It’s available in the U.S. only
Apple 140W USB-C Power Adapter
Pros
- 140W
- Apple Fast Charging
Cons
- Single port
- Expensive
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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)
Colors: White
Best for: 14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
The only game in town for ultimate 16-inch MacBook Pro fast-charging if you add Apple’s pricey $49/£49 USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. The 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with both as standard but if you want to match this with a spare set it will set you back a steep $148/£148.
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.
UGreen Nexode 200W 6-Port USB-C Desktop Charger
Pros
- 6 ports
- 200W
- Ships with 1m USB-C cable
Cons
- Expensive
Dimensions (W,H,D): 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), 2x USB-C (65W PD), 2x USB-A (22.5W)
Colors: Gray
Best for: MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch/16-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.
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.
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
Dimensions (W,H,D): 1.16 x 3.15 x 3.15in (2.95 x 8 x 8cm)
Weight: 9oz (254g)
Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD), 1x USB-C (18W), 2x USB-A (12W)
Colors: White
Best for: 13-inch/14-inch/16-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 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.
Minix Neo P3 100W Turbo 4-Ports Wall Charger
Pros
- 4 ports
- 100W
- US/UK/EU pins
Cons
- No AU/NZ pin
Dimensions (W,H,D): 1 x 2.36 x 2.36in (2.5 x 6 x 6cm)
Weight: 7.1oz (200g)
Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD), 1x USB-C (20W), 12x USB-A (18W)
Colors: Black
Best for: 13-inch/14-inch/16-inch MacBook Pro
This 100W PD charger boasts four ports, with two rated at 100W. However, the special thing about the Minix Neo P3 wall charger is its set of travel plugs (UK, EU) 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.
Another clever option for travel is from accessory maker Twelve South. Its PlugBug World snaps onto your Apple power adapter and comes with five international AC plugs to convert an Apple power adapter to fit most global electrical outlets: US/UK/AU/CN. It works with Apple MagSafe and USB-C power adapters. It also adds two 10.5W USB-A ports for charging smaller devices. It costs $50 or £55 (including shipping).
Twelve South
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 also makes sense. Anker’s three-port 735 Nano II 65W 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.
Ugreen’s 3-port Nexode 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 8.5W each.
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 entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro ships with a 67W adapter while the 10-core 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.). 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.
If you demand Fast Charging on the 14-inchin MacBook Pro, you need to buy either Apple’s 140W charger or a charger rated for 96W or above.
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.
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 something better comes along, Apple makes this recommendation easy for now. 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.
Apple recommends pairing its 140W Power Adapter with a 16‑inch MacBook Pro (2021) using its USB-C to MagSafe 3 is the only way to fast-charge. It’s not cheap, but for pure power this is the combination you want with Apple’s largest MacBook.
The 140W charger’s limitation is its single USB-C port, so unless you are using all that 140W potential, any remaining power can’t be used to simultaneously charge other devices.
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 8-or-10-core CPU (Central Processing Unit)
15-inch MacBook Pro: 87W Power Adapter
16-inch MacBook Pro: 140W Power Adapter
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, so you can use a 65W, 90W or higher charger.
They won’t charge your MacBook any faster, but if the charger has multiple ports that extra juice will mean you can charge other devices at the same time.
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.
