Can a UGREEN gadget replace your laptop’s original charger?

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The charger and charging cable that came with your laptop probably won’t last forever. Everything from cable snags to teething puppies can affect your charging technology, so it’s always a good idea to keep backups on hand. Luckily, UGREEN is one of several third-party manufacturers specializing in both laptop gadgets and portable power banks. If you’re wondering if you can replace your laptop’s original charger with a budget-friendly UGREEN product, the short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes, but you will need to ensure that the replacement technology is fully compatible with your hardware.

Laptops like the MacBook Neo and Lenovo ThinkPad E14 (Gen 7) are limited to relatively low power capabilities. The former supports up to 30W charging and comes with a 20W USB-C power adapter. The latter can handle up to 65W and comes with a 65W USB-C adapter. UGREEN sells plenty of USB-C chargers, from something as small as the $25 Nexode Air (45W) to more advanced models like the $50 Nexode Air Slim – an ultra-thin brick that delivers up to 65W across its three USB ports.

AC outlets aren’t always easy to find, but UGREEN also offers several portable power banks that will efficiently charge a laptop. This $110 Nexode 20,000 milliamp-hour (mAh) power bank is a solid choice for most laptops; UGREEN claims it can deliver up to 1.3 charges for a 13-inch MacBook Air. We also like the built-in display that gives you at-a-glance information on power output on all ports and remaining battery life.

Where things get a little tricky is pairing UGREEN replacement chargers and power banks with a certified USB-C cable that will deliver the maximum advertised charging speed. Fast charging is increasingly standard on all but the cheapest laptops. While you shouldn’t have any issues interfacing with UGREEN chargers and charging cables, only a certified fast-charging USB-C cable will allow your laptop to receive its maximum power rating. Think of it this way: a laptop rated at up to 140W via USB-C charging may be capped at 60W if you end up using a cable that can’t handle the higher power.

Of course, UGREEN offers a wide selection of USB-C cables. One such option is a $13, 6.6-foot USB-C Power Delivery (PD) cable that supports fast charging at up to 100W. If you need something more powerful, UGREEN offers a $29 Nexode-branded 240W USB-C cable with a built-in display and PD 3.1 support. Generally, if you’re unsure whether your laptop supports fast charging or not, a quick Google search should provide the answer.

Generally speaking, you probably won’t cause any harm to a laptop by using an uncertified fast-charging USB-C cable. There’s just a good chance that the wire won’t actually provide the level of power that fast charging requires. We also have a little shortcut to get past all this “fast charging” jargon: look for the “PD” branding on product marketing and packaging. This ensures that the cable at least supports USB Power Delivery, which is one of the main standards for modern laptops, phones, tablets and other devices.