Dontree_M/Shutterstock Buy a brand new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, and the laptop will come with a charger in the box, except for European Union and United Kingdom markets. The Apple Charger can be used to charge the device via USB-C (MacBook Neo) and MagSafe 3 (MacBook Air and Pro). Regardless of the market, all new laptops will come with cables in the box. But these laptops can also be safely charged with compatible third-party USB-C chargers available from various retailers. These third-party chargers can come in handy in various scenarios. Maybe you want more charging ports on the power adapter than Apple chargers offer, or maybe you need multiple chargers conveniently placed around your home and office. You may be looking for more compact chargers to take with you when traveling, or you may be looking for replacements for lost and/or damaged original Apple chargers. Regardless of why you want to buy a third-party product rather than an Apple charger, you shouldn’t buy the cheapest USB-C power brick possible before you make sure it can support your MacBook’s power needs and is as safe as Apple-made chargers. Security considerations Andreï310/Getty Images Safety should be your main concern when purchasing a power adapter for any device, whether it’s an iPhone or a MacBook. You want to avoid a charger malfunction that could cause injury, fire, and other damage. Apple states in a support document that “third-party power adapters or displays must comply with applicable international and regional safety regulations and standards.” In a separate support document, Apple says all of its USB power adapters “are subject to rigorous safety and reliability testing and are designed to meet government safety standards around the world.” This is why it is important to look for certified products when purchasing USB-C chargers. Look for official markings on these products that indicate the product has been independently tested. Consumer Reports mentioned two key symbols that customers can find on smartphone chargers: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Intertek or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL). These indicate that the products are safe to use. Apple USB-C chargers may have at least one of these markings. Consumer Reports also mentions a “CE” marking that may appear on chargers, which is short for “Conformité Européenne.” It indicates that the product complies with European regulations, particularly regarding safety, which means that the device is reliable. However, some of these logos may be counterfeit, so buyers should also pay attention to other factors, like price. If a charger is much cheaper than expected and comes from a supplier without a proven track record, you should avoid it. Apple’s official pricing for USB-C power adapters (below) should give you an idea of what prices to expect for a particular type of MacBook charger. Power needs AntonSAN/Shutterstock Consumers should also pay attention to the power needs of their MacBooks. Apple says its USB power adapters support 100 V to 240 V between 50 Hz and 60 Hz. MacBooks with USB-C ports support USB Power Delivery (USB PD), a standard that allows a cable to deliver the power the MacBook needs, up to 100 W (PD 3.0) and 140 W (PD 3.1). When choosing a USB-C charger, you should choose a model that supports the minimum recommended power for your MacBook. Finally, MacBook Air and Pro owners should know that they can quickly charge their laptop with USB-C and MagSafe 3 cables. The MacBook Neo needs a USB-C power adapter that can support at least 20W, but the laptop doesn’t support fast charging. Apple’s single-port 20W USB-C charger costs $19. MacBook Air models released since 2022 can use 30W or 35W chargers. 13.6-inch models support fast charging with 67W chargers, while 15-inch models will need 70W. Apple sells 35W (dual-port) and 70W chargers for $59. A 40W dynamic charger with up to 60W retails for $39. MacBook Pro models released since 2021 support USB-C and MagSafe 3 fast charging. The 14-inch models work with 67W (or higher) chargers, but you’ll need 96W or 140W chargers for fast charging. 16-inch models require 140W chargers for fast charging. Apple sells 96W and 140W chargers for $79 and $99, respectively. Older USB-C MacBooks not mentioned above may have different power requirements. Separately, Apple explains that MacBooks can be safely charged with USB-C chargers of higher or lower power than those recommended by Apple. You may want to purchase higher wattage multi-port chargers to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Post navigation Your old digital cameras from the 2000s are cool again, and the reason is pretty clear
Dontree_M/Shutterstock Buy a brand new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, and the laptop will come with a charger in the box, except for European Union and United Kingdom markets. The Apple Charger can be used to charge the device via USB-C (MacBook Neo) and MagSafe 3 (MacBook Air and Pro). Regardless of the market, all new laptops will come with cables in the box. But these laptops can also be safely charged with compatible third-party USB-C chargers available from various retailers. These third-party chargers can come in handy in various scenarios. Maybe you want more charging ports on the power adapter than Apple chargers offer, or maybe you need multiple chargers conveniently placed around your home and office. You may be looking for more compact chargers to take with you when traveling, or you may be looking for replacements for lost and/or damaged original Apple chargers. Regardless of why you want to buy a third-party product rather than an Apple charger, you shouldn’t buy the cheapest USB-C power brick possible before you make sure it can support your MacBook’s power needs and is as safe as Apple-made chargers. Security considerations Andreï310/Getty Images Safety should be your main concern when purchasing a power adapter for any device, whether it’s an iPhone or a MacBook. You want to avoid a charger malfunction that could cause injury, fire, and other damage. Apple states in a support document that “third-party power adapters or displays must comply with applicable international and regional safety regulations and standards.” In a separate support document, Apple says all of its USB power adapters “are subject to rigorous safety and reliability testing and are designed to meet government safety standards around the world.” This is why it is important to look for certified products when purchasing USB-C chargers. Look for official markings on these products that indicate the product has been independently tested. Consumer Reports mentioned two key symbols that customers can find on smartphone chargers: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Intertek or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL). These indicate that the products are safe to use. Apple USB-C chargers may have at least one of these markings. Consumer Reports also mentions a “CE” marking that may appear on chargers, which is short for “Conformité Européenne.” It indicates that the product complies with European regulations, particularly regarding safety, which means that the device is reliable. However, some of these logos may be counterfeit, so buyers should also pay attention to other factors, like price. If a charger is much cheaper than expected and comes from a supplier without a proven track record, you should avoid it. Apple’s official pricing for USB-C power adapters (below) should give you an idea of what prices to expect for a particular type of MacBook charger. Power needs AntonSAN/Shutterstock Consumers should also pay attention to the power needs of their MacBooks. Apple says its USB power adapters support 100 V to 240 V between 50 Hz and 60 Hz. MacBooks with USB-C ports support USB Power Delivery (USB PD), a standard that allows a cable to deliver the power the MacBook needs, up to 100 W (PD 3.0) and 140 W (PD 3.1). When choosing a USB-C charger, you should choose a model that supports the minimum recommended power for your MacBook. Finally, MacBook Air and Pro owners should know that they can quickly charge their laptop with USB-C and MagSafe 3 cables. The MacBook Neo needs a USB-C power adapter that can support at least 20W, but the laptop doesn’t support fast charging. Apple’s single-port 20W USB-C charger costs $19. MacBook Air models released since 2022 can use 30W or 35W chargers. 13.6-inch models support fast charging with 67W chargers, while 15-inch models will need 70W. Apple sells 35W (dual-port) and 70W chargers for $59. A 40W dynamic charger with up to 60W retails for $39. MacBook Pro models released since 2021 support USB-C and MagSafe 3 fast charging. The 14-inch models work with 67W (or higher) chargers, but you’ll need 96W or 140W chargers for fast charging. 16-inch models require 140W chargers for fast charging. Apple sells 96W and 140W chargers for $79 and $99, respectively. Older USB-C MacBooks not mentioned above may have different power requirements. Separately, Apple explains that MacBooks can be safely charged with USB-C chargers of higher or lower power than those recommended by Apple. You may want to purchase higher wattage multi-port chargers to charge multiple devices simultaneously.
