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Best USB-C PD laptop chargers 2024: More portable power

“The best charger is the one that shipped with your laptop” is old advice that needs updating because there are often superior options available either as your principal laptop charger, as a spare, or as a flexible travel charger.

You know that the charger that came with your laptop will work, but it won’t do much else and there are third-party USB-C chargers available that do much more.

Some laptops still ship with their own cumbersome AC power brick and barrel-shaped DC connector, but most premium laptops today also or solely charge via USB-C—including all the models in our roundup of the best laptops .

USB-C chargers are much smaller and more convenient than proprietary chargers, and will work with multiple and varied devices, making them a more flexible, more portable solution.

Thunderbolt ports on laptops are compatible with—and look identical to—USB-C, the reversible connector that is fast replacing the rectangular USB-A standard.

Of course, not every laptop with a USB-C port can be charged with a USB-C charger. The determining factor is support for USB Power Delivery ( PD ); more details below.

Assuming that your laptop supports charging via USB-C, the following products reviewed are, in our estimation, the best USB-C PD chargers you can pair with your device.

For USB-C chargers you don’t need to buy an HP laptop charger to charge an HP laptop. Each of the third-party USB-C chargers tested and reviewed below will work with any laptop that supports USB PD charging. Note that cheaper low-quality chargers can pose a significant risk due to their lack of safety measures, and can lead to electric shocks or short circuits that could damage your laptop’s battery or cause a fire. Here, we have reviewed and highlighted only superior laptop chargers, ensuring top-end performance, safety, and compatibility.

Which wattage charger do you need?

Smaller laptops often require just a 35W or 45W charger, mid-sized need 65W, and larger laptops demand 100W or higher.

PD chargers will be rated at either PD 3.0 or PD 3.1. PD 3.0 can charge at up to 100W depending on the maximum output of the charging port; PD 3.1 at up to 240W, although few current laptops require anything over 140W.

Consider the total output of the charger when it has multiple ports. Most multi-port chargers are quite flexible in spreading that total output between ports. We have listed the default port maximums and the total all-port output for each charger reviewed.

Also look for chargers offering Programmable Power Supply ( PPS ), which makes charging supported devices more efficient; note that not all devices support PPS. See below our list of the best chargers for more information on PD, PPS and other technologies.

Different types of laptop charger

Below we have tested and reviewed wall chargers that plug directly into a wall power socket, desktop chargers that connect to the socket via a longer cable and usually offer a lot more USB ports, and power extender strips that boast AC outlets as well as USB ports. We have also chosen our best laptop charger for car , and even some fun laptop chargers that might even make you smile.

You can learn more about wattages and what else to look for in a USB-C charger and how we test them below our recommendations.

Anker 713 Nano II 45W Charger – Best single-port 45W wall charger

• Super compact
• Foldable prongs (U.S.)
• Single port
• For smaller laptops only

Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.49 x 1.62in (3.5 x 3.8 x 4.1cm)

Weight: 2.44oz (69g)

Total output: 45W

Ports: 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0)

Colors: Gray/Black

Cable included: No

If you are used to a standard laptop charger with proprietary power brick, plug, and cable, or even an older USB charger, you’ll be stunned at the ultra-compact size and super-light weight of most GaN USB-C chargers—and this GaN 2 charger is the smallest we have tested.

At 45W it’s not appropriate for medium or large laptops, but is fine for smaller models—check the required wattage on your laptop, and read our advice below this list.

You can use the Anker 713 to charge your phone or tablet, too—at 45W it supports Samsung Super Fast Charging and Apple Fast Charge—but not at the same time as your laptop, as it has just the one port and only 45W to share.

The only problem you might have is losing it—it’s that small.

The U.S./CA model of the Anker 713 Nano II features foldable plug prongs for extra portability. The U.K. model is therefore a little larger, but still almost unbelievably tiny. U.K. buyers instead might prefer the Ugreen Foldable 45W Nexode GaN Dual USB C Charger that does have foldable plug pins and boasts two ports.

Anker 715 Nano II 65W Charger – Best single-port 65W wall charger

Dimensions: 1.65 x 1.42 x 1.74in (4.2 x 3.6 x 4.4cm)

Weight: 3.96oz (112g)

Total output: 65W

Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0)

This 65W charger is a little larger than its 45W sibling above, but the GaN 2 Anker 715 is still pocket-sized and can power up larger laptops or fast-charge compatible phones.

Its plug prongs fold back, making it ultra-portable for a 65W charger.

If, however, you want to charge more than one device at the same time, look for a charger with more than one USB port.

Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W USB-C Charger – Best= three-port USB-C wall charger

• Three ports

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

Ugreen’s Nexode Pro 65W is larger than the Anker 715 Nano II, reviewed above, but boasts three ports so you can charge multiple devices at the same time, using just one compact charger. When I say larger, don’t get me wrong, it’s tiny.

The two USB-C ports each support 65W, and the lower USB-A port can charge at up to 22.5W—powerful enough to fast-charge most phones—but note that maximum simultaneous output is 65W.

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.

We also recommend the Anker 735 Nano II ( U.S. / U.K. ) in the 65W three-port wall charger category. The two chargers are very similar in terms of charging functionality.

You can save a little money for the (barely) larger non-Pro Ugreen Nexode 65W USB C GaN Charger-3 Ports Wall Charger ($44.99), which is has a lower energy density but is a few bucks cheaper.

U.K. recommendation: The prongs on the U.K. version of the non-Pro 65W Nexode do fold back, unlike on the fixed Nexode Pro version, so we recommend that version to readers from that country.

Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger – Best= three-port USB-C wall charger

• Foldable prongs (U.S. and U.K.)

Dimensions:  1.6 x 1.5 x 1.9in (4 x 3.8 x 5cm)

Weight: 4.8oz (136g)

Total output: 67W

Ports : 2x USB-C (67W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Anker’s compact Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger has three ports just like the Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W USB-C Charger reviewed above and is roughly the same size and weight.

This excellent charger ties with the Ugreen as our favorite three-port 65/67W wall charger. Both are tiny for what they offer and represent great value for money.

You get 2x 67W instead of 2x 65W (remember that the total charger output is 67W, so using both will share that power) but this extra 2W is not significant enough to make the Anker outright champion, and the Ugreen has a slight edge in being a tiny bit lighter. You can pretty much choose on price—check our live pricing above.

Acefast Crystal Charger A47 – Colorful three-port 65W USB-C wall charger

• North America only

Dimensions:  2.4 x 1.6 x 2.2in (6 x 4 x 5.5cm)

Weight: 3.7oz (105g)

Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (20W)

Colors: Purple, Green, Gray or Pink

All the other laptop chargers reviewed here are either white, black or gray—not very imaginative. The Acefast Crystal Charger, however, rocks the monochrome boat with its range of pastel 65W chargers that may well bring joy to your office or home.

The two USB-C ports can both charge at 65W, although not at the same time as the rated wattage of any charger indicates the maximum total output.

If using all three ports, the top USB-C port will charge at 45W, and the other two share 18W between them.

Acefast hasn’t yet announced color-matching USB-C cables, but Anker sells some colored USB-C cables in similar hues.

Nekteck 100W USB-C Charger – Best budget 100W USB-C wall charger

• Includes cable

Dimensions: 1.18 x 2.64 x 2.64in (3 x 6.7 x 6.7cm)

Weight: 8.29oz (235g)

Total output: 100W

Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)

Colors: Black

Cable included: 2m 100W USB-C cable

Larger laptops usually require more power than 65W and ship with a 100W charger. For a spare, the single-port Nekteck 100W Charger is a budget winner—especially as it ships with a 2m 100W USB-C cable.

But we think multiple ports are worth spending that extra cash on.

Ugreen Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger – Best four-port 100W USB-C wall charger

• Larger size

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)

It might be larger and twice as heavy as the single-port chargers, but you can’t argue with four ports with multiple charging options, such as simultaneous 65W for laptop charging and 30W PD for light-laptop powering, plus lower outputs for phones and other devices. Or just use all 100W on your favorite large laptop.

Using three ports you could charge at 45W, 30W, and 22.5W at the same time. Using all four, it can support laptop power delivery at 45W and 30W plus two devices each at 10.5W.

The inclusion of an old-style USB-A port will please owners of that type of cable—probably for older phones or other gadgets.

And its foldable prongs win extra portability points on a larger charger. The barrel-shaped UK model looks quite different and doesn’t have foldable prongs, but offers the same ports.

Ugreen offers a slightly smaller 100W Nexode Pro ($74.99) that has a higher energy density but only three ports, so we still prefer the 100W non-Pro Nexode ($69.95) for its extra port.

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) – Best three-port 100W USB-C wall charger

Dimensions:  1.7 × 1.1 × 2.7in (4.4 x 2.9 x 6.8cm)

Weight: 6oz (170g)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

While it lacks the fourth port of the Ugreen Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is smaller and lighter while carrying the same 100W credentials. Anker has recently updated an older model with this slightly smaller and lighter version.

It features two 100W USB-C ports and one USB-A for those older charging cables still required by some devices.

Both the U.S. and U.K. versions have neat foldable prongs.

Read Macworld’s full Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger review .

Anker 717 USB-C 140W Charger – Best one-port 140W wall charger

• 140W (USB PD 3.1)

Dimensions:  1.22 x 2.66 x 2.31in (3.1 x 6.8 x 5.9cm)

Total output: 140W

Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1)

Cable included: Optional

For larger laptops with higher battery capacity, a USB PD 3.1 charger is essential if you want to charge or fast-charge at 140W or higher.

While it has just the one port, the Anker 717 goes further at 140W than most wall chargers. Pair it with Anker’s own 765 140W USB-C to USB-C Cable in either 3-foot or 6-foot lengths.

Again, we applaud the foldable prongs for added portability.

Ugreen Nexode Pro 160W Charger – Best multiport 160W wall charger

• 140W port (USB PD 3.1)

Dimensions:  2.8 x 1.7 x 1.3in (7.1 x 4.3 x 3.3cm)

Weight: 10.7oz (304g)

Total output: 160W

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)

This is the first multiport 160W charger (PD 3.1) we’ve tested, and it is barely larger than the single-port Anker 717 charger.

The top USB-C port is rated at 140W, and below it is another 100W USB-C port, then a 30W USB-C port, with a 22.5W USB-A port at the bottom.

There are multiple charging options: Any one of the above-mentioned ports, two 65W laptops simultaneously, or an impressive 65W+65W+30W charging at the same time.

The Nexode Pro 160W charger has foldable plug prongs in the North American version—U..K. users will have to put up with the plug always extended.

Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger – Best 300W PD 3.1 USB-C desktop charger

• 300W maximum
• Only one PD 3.1 port

Dimensions:  6.49 x 4.9 x 4.2in (16.5 x 12.5 x 10.7cm)

Weight: 1.91lb (868g)

Total output: 300W

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)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable + 2m 240W USB-C cable

With four USB-C ports and one USB-A, this desktop charger should fulfil most of your charging needs.

It’s the first maximum 300W desktop charger that we’ve tested. That’s a hell of a lot of power that can be shared around. You could power one 140W laptop and another at 100W—impossible with a 200W charger.

With all ports in action it follows a port hierarchy of 140W / 65W / 45W / 10W /22.5W, which beats the full-use capability of the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger reviewed below. However, that rival desktop charger boasts two 140W PD 3.1 ports to Ugreen’s single 140W PD 3.1 port—that said, you can’t use both of them at that power output at the same time as the Satechi’s max power is 200W.

The inclusion of an USB-A port may also swing you to the Ugreen 300W charger, as the Satechi charger lacks one.

Bonus points, too, to Ugreen for including a 240W charging cable as well as the unit’s own power cable.

Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger – Best 200W PD 3.1 USB-C desktop charger

• 200W maximum
• 2x 140W (USB PD 3.1)
• No USB-A port

Dimensions:  4.13 x 4.13 x 1.38in (10.5 x 10.5 x 3.5cm)

Weight: 1.37lb (622g)

Total output: 200W

Ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 4x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable; no USB-C cable

Boasting six USB-C ports, this desktop charger plugs into a power socket via cable rather than directly as a USB-C wall charger does.

Its total output is 200W across the six USB-C ports, but its special bonus are the two 140W PD 3.1 ports for fast-charging larger laptops. Do the math, however, and you realise that you can’t use both 140W ports at full power at the same time.

Each of the remaining 100W ports is USB-C so you’ll need an adapter to use a USB-A charging cable if your device demands it.

With all ports in action it follows a port hierarchy of 65W / 45W / 20W / 20W / 20W / 20W.

As a desktop charger, it comes with a power cable but you’ll need to add your own USB-C cables—and remember you’ll need a 240W PD 3.1 charging cable to take advantage of the 140W port. Mac users should note that Apple requires you use its own MagSafe 3 charging cable to fast charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro as that model’s USB-C ports (actually Thunderbolt 4) are still rated at 100W PD 3.0.

Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports, GaN) – Best compact mixed USB-A/USB-C desktop charger

• No 140W port

Dimensions:  4.4 x 3 x 1.4 inches (11.2 x 7.6 x 3.5cm)

Weight: 1.24lb (563g)

Ports: 4x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-A (22.5W)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable

This desktop charger lacks the PD 3.1 support that is essential for higher-than-100W charging, so if you’re looking for 140W large-laptop fast-charging you’d do better choosing the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger, reviewed above.

That said, the Anker Prime 200W 6-Port desktop charger includes two USB-A ports for devices that require the older USB connector.

With all six ports in action, you could charge one laptop at 65W, two at 45W, fast-charge a phone at 20W, and have the two USB-A ports share 24W of power—enough for most busy working desks.

Arch power rival Ugreen sells a similar Nexode 200W USB-C Desktop Charger , which just loses the crown with only two 100W USB-C ports, dropping to 65W for the other two.

Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 Ports, GaNPrime) – Best customizable USB-A/USB-C desktop charger

• 250W maximum
• Custom output control

Dimensions:  4.2 × 1.6 × 3.6 inches (10.6 × 4 × 9.3cm

Weight: 1.41lb (640g)

Total output: 250W

Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 3x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (22.5W)

If your laptop benefits from 140W charging, this pricier Anker desktop charger will suit you better than the 200W PD 3.0 model reviewed above. It also has some neat features not found on its rivals.

First, the power: you get one 140W USB-C port (PD 3.1) and three 100W USB-C (PD 3.0) ports, plus two 22.5W USB-A ports on the side. Maximum power output is 250W so you could fast-charge a 140W laptop and still have over 100W for another laptop and a smaller device.

You can customize charging priorities and energy output using the unique twist smart control dial next to the USB-A ports. In Port Priority Mode, you can manually set power priority for one or two ports as you require. There’s also a Dual-Laptop Mode to make sure that the laptops are at the front of the charging queue, and a Low Current Mode to preserve battery life of phones and low-power devices. Or you can leave it in AI Power Mode, where the charger itself works out the best prioritization of output by port.

There’s also a large 2.26-inch LCD display that gives you visual feedback on the charging status and speed of each USB-C port, and can even be set as a clock.

Read Macworld’s full Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 ports) review .

Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 PD218W GaN – Display shows power from each port

• 218W maximum
• Manual output change and display

Dimensions:  4 x 3.66 x 1.75in (10.3 x 9.3 x 4.45cm)

Weight: 1.44lb (655g)

Total output: 218W

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (18W)

Another desktop charger that lets you manually change port output with the press of a button is the Acefast Z4. It then shows you which ports are set for which wattage on its TFT HD display.

The maximum total output that you can share around devices is 218W. That’s enough for three medium-sized laptops and a smartphone, or two larger laptops plus a phone on the side. There are four options for the four USB ports (three USB-C and one USB-A).

• Mode A: 100W + 65W + 30W + 18W = 213W max.

• Mode B: 65W + 65W + 65W + 18W = 213W max.

• Mode C: 100W + 100W + 18W = 218W max.

• Mode D (using three ports): 100W + 100W + 18W = 218W max.

The desktop charger is reasonably priced, and supports most fast-charging standards.

OneAdaptr OneWorld135 – Best 100W USB-C PD travel adapter and wall charger

• Four ports plus power socket
• International travel adapter
• 135W total output

Dimensions): 3.7 x 2.13 x 2.09in (9.4 x 5.4 x 5.3cm)

Weight: 9.63oz (273g)

Total output: 135W

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)

Colors: Blacue and White

This compact dual-100W USB-C PD port wall charger has a maximum power output of 135W, meaning you can charge a large laptop at 100W and still have power available to fast charge your accessories or even a small laptop at the same time.

There is one 18W USB-A port for old-school cable connections, but its special sauce is its 7A AC universal power outlet that fits plugs used in over 200 countries—the same way its extendable US/UK/AU/EU plug prongs fit foreign power sockets. This AC power outlet isn’t found on other portable wall chargers. It’s a great mix of laptop- and device-charging ports plus travel plug adapter in one compact GaN unit that should keep your airplane carry-on luggage light.

If you don’t need the 100W of total power, OneAdaptr’s white-colored OneWorld65 is a cheaper version with a 65W maximum and AC power outlet. 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.

Minix Neo P3 100W Turbo 4-Ports Wall Charger – Best budget 100W travel wall charger

• Interchangeable travel plugs
• No AU/NZ plug

Dimensions:  1 x 2.36 x 2.36in (2.5 x 6 x 6cm)

Weight: 7.1oz (200g)

This is a marvellous companion when you’re traveling internationally where other countries have the temerity to use different format plug sockets.

Its foldable U.S. prongs can clip onto each of the two included interchangeable plugs for the UK and Europe. The OneAdaptr OneWorld65 or OneWorld100 are neater, compact travel solutions with an extra AC power outlet, but this charger looks more like a standard charger when you’re not travelling.

There are two 100W USB-C PD ports, one 20W USB-C, and an 18W QuickCharge 3.0 USB-A port, plenty for most device collections.

Chargeasap 280W Zeus USB-C GaN Charger – Most powerful 140W travel wall charger

• 280W maximum
• Digital display

Dimensions:  3.5 x 2.2 x 1.7in (8.9 x 5.9 x 4.4cm)

Weight: 13.4oz (380g)

Total output: 280W

Ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (65W)

Colors: White or black

This is a heavy yet still compact and portable USB-C laptop charger with two 140W PD 3.1 ports (plus a 100W USB-C and 65W USB-A) and a set of four international plug adapters to make it usable in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and AU/NZ. The other plug heads slip over the integrated U.S. foldable prongs.

There’s no spare passthrough AC socket like you get with the OneAdaptr reviewed above but if you want to recharge a couple of large laptops at the same time, this black or white beast will perform to your needs.

As is becoming popular on modern chargers and power banks, there’s an OLED display to show the real-time charging speeds of each port.

Ugreen 130W USB-C Car Charger – Best 100W in-car laptop charger

• In-car laptop charger
• 130W maximum
• Cable included

Dimensions: 3.06 x 0.94 x 1.4in (7.78 x 2.4 x 3.56cm)

Weight: 1.59oz (45g)

Total output: 130W

Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (30W PD), 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Cable included: 1.3m 100W USB-C cable

You can charge your laptop on the move while in your car, using a dedicated charger that comes with a jack compatible with the car cigarette socket. In time, this seemingly antiquated in-car tool might be better known as the charger socket.

We like this car laptop charger from Ugreen as it has 100W and 30W USB-C ports that mean you can charge a laptop and fast-charge a phone at the same time. Plus, there’s a USB-A port with decent power potential (22.5W).

Remember that when the car’s engine isn’t running, all electrical systems receive power from the battery, which will drain if you charge a laptop overnight—just as it will if you leave the headlights on. Charging your laptop when the car is in motion doesn’t drain the vehicle battery.

Baseus PowerCombo 6-in-1 Charging Station 65W – Neatest USB-C power strip

• Two ports plus retractable USB-C cable
• Three power outlets
• Not 100W PD

Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.6 x 2.6in (11.3 x 6.6 x 6.6cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (60W), 3x power socket

Colors: White, Black

Cables included: 1.5m AC power cable, plus 0.8m retractable USB-C cable

This compact power extender boasts three 13A AC power sockets and two USB ports (1x 65W USB-C PD and 1x 18W USB-A), but its special feature is a retractable 1.5-meter USB-C cable that also can charge a laptop at 65W. When you’re done with it is suction-pulls back into the charger block, with the connector magnetically clamped to the front.

With its 0.8m retractable cable and tiny size this is a real solution to desk-clutter. Available in black and white, it gives you the options for desk aesthetics, too.

It can charge six devices at the same time, or you can use those sockets (two three-pronged, one two-pronged) to run your display, dock or lamp. Maximum output on the USB ports is 65W, and for the three power sockets (1,650W).

if your laptop has USB-A rather than USB-C, the middle USB port is rated at 60W.

Extra points are awarded for the power button on the top and its interaction with a mobile app that lets you set a shut-down timer. For safety, there’s short-circuit protection and auto power cut-off.

It’s available only with U.S. or E.U. power sockets and plug. The E.U. version features two rather than three power sockets but is otherwise the same.

Ugreen 65W Power Strip DigiNest Cube GaN Extension Lead

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

Cable included: 1.8m AC power cable

This cute cube-shaped power extender has three 13A AC power sockets plus four USB ports (2x 65W USB-C PD and 2x 18W USB-A), so can charge seven devices at the same time. Maximum output on the USB ports is 65W, and for the three power sockets (2,990W).

It’s available with either U.S., UK, or EU power sockets and plugs.

Ugreen also offers a Ugreen 100W USB C DigiNest Pro Charging Station in a less cube-like shape that you’ll prefer if you have a larger laptop. This power strip, with 6ft (1.8m) cable, also includes four USB ports (3x USB-C, 1x USB-A), two of which are PD compatible at 100W, and three 15A AC sockets. Maximum output on the USB ports is 100W, and for the three power plugs (one on the top, and two behind) 1,870W.

Ugreen Nexode RG 65W USB C GaN Charger – Cute robot-shaped wall charger

Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.7 x 2.65in (4 x 4.3 x 6.7cm)

Weight: 5oz (143g)

Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (30W PD), 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Colors: Black or Purple

With chargers getting so small, we’ve even taken to calling some of them “cute”. But this one, from Ugreen, really lives up to that endearment. Shaped like a stubby robot, with an LCD screen for its face and a protective base for its feet, the Nexode RG adds some fun to your desk and still provides decent power for your devices.

The display shows different expressions depending on the charging state. The feet do very little except stop it falling over when it’s not stuck in a socket. Due to differing plug types, the U.S. robot is standing while the U.K. robot sits—this has no effect on the charger’s usage!

With all three ports (2x USB-C and 1x USB-A) in action, you can charge a small laptop at 45W (or fast-charge your Samsung phone) and have two 7.5W outputs spare. If your laptop requires more power, then you’ll only use the first USB-C port while it’s charging as the maximum output is 65W.

What to look for in a USB-C PD charger

As mentioned above, the primary requirement is that your laptop includes a USB-C port that can carry power as well as data. Older laptops that came with their own power brick might have data-only USB-C but not power-supporting USB-C.

USB-C laptop chargers use a certified technology called USB Power Delivery (USB PD) , a specification that enables power delivery along with data over a single cable.

All the chargers tested here are certified by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), and are from reliable, trusted brands—you’ll find cheaper, less-well-known brands online but for safety’s sake we recommend you chose a proven brand, such as Anker, Ugreen, Satechi, Belkin, Plugable or Aukey, as well as big brands such as HP, Dell, Google and Samsung that follow the latest safety standards.

Chargers can get hot, so you want to trust that yours won’t catch fire or otherwise damage your laptop. That’s why we avoid cheaper brands that we haven’t heard of or tested.

USB PD 3.0 supports up to 100W of power to the laptop. USB PD 3.1 can reach 240W, which is useful for larger laptops that require over 100W for charging at full speed while in use, and for fast-charging compatible laptops.

PPS support offers more efficient charging

Some chargers support the USB-PD Programmable Power Supply (PPS) standard.

PPS allows for a finer grain control of voltage. As my colleague Gordon Ung explains , while a standard USB-C charge rate can look like large steps, PPS can look like a curve and is constantly renegotiated every few seconds based on what the device’s battery tells the charger it needs. This can result in cooler charging inside the device as the conversion is offloaded to the charger rather than the device itself. In turn, this can lead to faster charging as well as less stress on the battery during charging, which can result in a longer service life for a battery.

PPS requires the charged device to support the standard. While many Android phones and tablets support PPS, Apple devices do not. Non-supported devices will still work with the PPS charger as PPS chargers also support the universal USB PD standard; they just won’t charge as efficiently as PPS devices do.

Once you know that your laptop supports USB PD charging, the most important specification to look for when choosing a laptop charger is the amount of power it can supply to your laptop—measured in watts (W).

The wattage you should look for will depend on the maximum power draw of your laptop—that is, the draw when you are using a bunch of apps at the same time or pushing the graphics functions, not when you’re just browsing the web or sending emails. This level of maximum power is what the manufacturer considers when it decides on the wattage of the charger it includes with the laptop.

When idle or doing mundane jobs that draw only a small amount of power from the charger, laptops can recharge fully on a lower-wattage charger—so a 45W charger can top up an idle 65W laptop but much slower than a 65W charger.

That said, when buying a new USB-C charger, buy at least the same wattage as the charger that shipped with your laptop.

Smaller laptops may require just a 30W or 45W charger, while medium laptops usually need 65W, and 100W is required for larger 15-inch and larger notebooks.

Don’t worry if your laptop requires just 45W and you fancy that 100W charger—using a higher-power charger won’t harm your lower-powered laptop as it will regulate the power from the charger.

Using a higher-wattage charger than your laptop requires is recommended when choosing a charger with multiple ports, as the stated wattage is the maximum output, and charging other devices at the same time will start lowering the power going to the laptop.

For more charging questions answered, see our laptop charging FAQ at the end of this article.

Multiple ports for more devices

Standard laptop chargers have just one USB-C port or connector, but many third-party USB-C chargers boast multiple ports—sometimes both USB-C and older USB-A.

These are useful if you want to charge more than just your laptop—with multiple ports on your charger, you can power up your phone, tablet, or headphones at the same time as your laptop.

If you want to use more than one charging port, consider your maximum requirement—say, 65W for the laptop and another 15W for a phone and maybe 5W for a smartwatch or headphones. A charger with a higher wattage can distribute the excess power to other connected devices at the same time as you power your laptop.

Multi-port chargers will have a variety of charging options between ports and devices.

Look for chargers built with modern Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology that runs cooler than older silicon tech, meaning that devices built with it can charge devices faster and with less heat dissipation than traditional chargers and are noticeably smaller, too.

Newer GaN 2 can operate at even higher voltages and temperatures.

Dimensions given in our reviews are for the U.S. models, which are also pictured for each product, but UK models are mostly also available. Due to their sturdy three-pin Type G plug, UK models are usually wider than their U.S. Type A and B plug counterparts.

Fast charging 

Modern laptops support fast charging, where the battery can be pumped up to at least 50 percent capacity—sometimes greater—in around 30 minutes.

A laptop with fast-charging support is easier to keep close to a full charge. If the battery is fully drained, fast charging helps you get back to work fast, and you can quickly top up the battery when required—even just a few minutes of charging can save you when you don’t have much time near a power socket.

Choose the right charging cable

Some USB-C laptop chargers ship with a cable, but most don’t. Make sure the cable you use supports power delivery, as some are for data-transfer only.

The wisest choices for USB PD cables are based on the latest Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 standards, which are both backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, and supports both charging and up to 40Gbps data transfer. But Thunderbolt/USB4 is more expensive and often available in shorter lengths than USB-C cables.

Look for a USB-C PD or Thunderbolt cable. If you want to charge at over 100W, this should support USB PD 3.1. Not all cables are marked as supporting 240W so make sure you check the PD rating before your purchase.

Plugable sells 240W-supporting PD 3.1 charging cables that it labels Extended Power Range (EPR) in USB4 EPR or Thunderbolt 4 EPR —both are backwards compatible with USB-C. Anker’s 765 USB-C to USB-C Cable also supports PD 3.1.

The maximum length for power cables is 2m. Anything longer, and less power will reach the connected device.

Find more of the best USB-C cables in our roundup.

Wall charger or desktop charger

A wall charger features plug prongs and connects directly into the wall power socket. Straight-to-socket wall chargers are small and portable—most will fit in your pocket. They might not have as many ports as a desktop charger but can still have several ports to choose from.

If you carry your charger around with you a lot, look for a wall charger that has foldable plug prongs, which makes it more comfortable and smaller. These are more common with U.S. Type A plugs than UK Type G plugs.

A desktop charger is separated from the socket by a power cable (usually detachable), with the charger instead sitting on your desk. Desktop chargers always feature multiple ports, and sometimes a separate power supply that will hide under the desk.

They are great for keeping your device-charging organized and in one neat package but are usually less portable than wall chargers.

There are also handy power strips with USB PD ports as well as extra sockets—useful in a home or office environment with few power sockets.

Another laptop-charging solution is to use a docking station or hub . These boast even more ports than a desktop charger, such as HDMI/DisplayPort, ethernet, and card readers. Check out our recommended best Thunderbolt and USB-C DisplayLink docks and best USB-C hubs .

Can I charge my laptop with USB-C?

Probably. If your laptop supports USB PD (Power Delivery), you can charge it using a USB-C PD charger.

It has to be USB PD for charging, as some USB-C ports are data only.

If your laptop came with a USB-C port on its power adapter, then the answer is almost certainly yes, but you might want to check the product documentation or ask the manufacturer for clarification.

Can I charge my laptop with any USB-C charger?

Probably. A few years back, some laptop manufacturers, such as HP, were fussy about which USB PD chargers would work with its products. But today, compatibility is mainly universal.

Can I use a charger with a higher wattage than my laptop?

Yes. Power regulation means that it is safe to charge a 45W laptop with a 100W charger, for example. Laptops are designed to draw up to only a certain level of power when running at full speed.

Can a higher-wattage charger power-up a laptop faster?

Possibly. A more powerful charger—with a higher wattage than the charger that shipped with your laptop—might charge your laptop a little faster, but this is certainly not guaranteed.

Can I use a charger with a lower wattage than my laptop?

Yes, but you should try not to. You can charge a 100W laptop with a 65W charger, for example, but it’s not advisable as the laptop battery could drain faster than it is being charged, especially if in use at the time.

Charging an idle laptop should mean that its battery will be fully charged with a lower-wattage charger, but it will take much longer than with the correctly rated charger. As a one-off it should be fine, but we do not recommend it in the long term. Using a lower-rated charger could result in overheating, which is never a good thing with electronics.

Will my laptop charge faster if not in use?

Yes. When your laptop is idle or you are using only light apps such as email, it will be draining only a small amount of power from its battery, so it will charge faster. If you are using performance-hungry apps at the same time as charging, the charger will take longer to catch up as the laptop’s battery is constantly draining while in use.  

Can I charge my phone using a laptop charger?

Yes, you can use a laptop charger to charge your phone. Some chargers feature more than one port, and the lower wattage ports are perfect for phone charging—but you can also charge a phone with a 140W charging port if you want to, although it’s safer for the phone if you use a lower-wattage port.

Can I use any cable to charge a laptop?

No. You must use a USB-C cable that supports power delivery. Some USB-C cables can’t carry as much power as others. A USB PD 3.0 cable can carry 100W of power. A USB PD 3.1 cable can carry 240W of power.

Can I use a UBC-C cable to charge a Thunderbolt or USB4 laptop?

Yes. Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 are backwards compatible with USB-C for data and charging.

Thunderbolt and USB4 also have higher data-transfer bandwidth—up to 40Gbps—than USB-C, which is rated between 5Gbps and 20Gbps.

Can I use a Thunderbolt cable with a USB-C charger?

Yes. Thunderbolt is backwards compatible with USB-C so a Thunderbolt cable can be used with a USB-C laptop or USB-C charger.

You still need to ensure that the Thunderbolt cable can handle the right amount of power you require. All Thunderbolt 3 or 4 and USB4 cables can handle 100W of power, but some support up to 240W.

Should I charge my laptop to 100%?

Only if you need to. If you are going on a road trip and need all the juice your laptop battery can supply, then by all means charge it to 100 percent before heading out.

But it’s easier on the battery if you keep it charged between 40 and 80 percent—no lower and no higher if you can.

Batteries charged to the full 100 percent might have only 300-500 discharge cycles, but batteries charged only up to 80 percent could get to nearly 4x that number of recharging cycles.

Should I fully drain my laptop battery to 0%?

No. As with our advice not to fully charge a lithium-ion laptop battery too often, it’s better for long-term battery life if you keep it charged between 40 and 80 percent.

Author: Simon Jary , Contributor

Simon has over 30 years of expert experience testing and reviewing ever-smaller and more powerful tech accessories, from USB-C and Thunderbolt docks to chargers, batteries, hubs and adapters. A former Editor of Macworld, he has contributed to PCWorld, Tech Advisor and TimeOut, as well as national newspapers such as The Times, Independent and Telegraph.

Recent stories by Simon Jary:

• One of the best Thunderbolt laptop docks is 20% off right now
• We love Ugreen’s GaN USB-C chargers, and they’re 40% off this week
• Best Cyber Monday portable power station deals

Best USB-C Laptop Chargers: GaN Inside Makes Them Super Light

We benchmarked several USB-C laptop chargers with Gallium Nitride to help you find the right one for you.

If you own a lightweight laptop, you've probably noticed that the charger it comes with isn't quite as svelte as the device itself. Even the best Ultrabooks often come with AC adapters that are rightfully called “power bricks.” But if you can use your existing laptop charger to bludgeon someone in self defense, it’s worth spending the money on a third-party unit that won't weigh down your bag and eat up space.

Fortunately, if your system gets power via USB-C, you can easily find a third party charger that weighs less, looks better and may even have additional ports for charging other devices at the same time. The latest, greatest and best USB-C laptop chargers use semiconductors made from GaN (Gallium Nitride) rather than silicon, which allows them to handle more current in a smaller space. 

The marketplace is flooded with GaN-powered USB-C laptop chargers with wattages that go all the way up to 100 watts (the maximum allowed by the current USB Power Delivery standard). But not all of these adapters are created equal, with significant differences not only in design and ports, but also in the amount of wattage they can deliver, which is often higher and sometimes a little lower than advertised. In order to help you find the best USB-C laptop chargers, we’ve tested the latest GaN-powered models from major brands such as Anker, Aukey, IOGear and RAVPower.  

 USB-C Laptop Charger Shopping Tips

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

• Bring your own USB-C cable: Most USB-C laptop chargers come in wall wart style, with a single chassis and prongs that fold inward for compact storage. However, they usually don’t come with cables, so you’ll need to buy a USB-C to USB-C cable of appropriate length, usually at least six feet, if you don’t already have one. 
• Get ready for heat: If you're running anywhere close to the rated wattage (or above), expect your USB-C laptop charger to feel toasty to the touch. In our tests, after 20 minutes of running at one watt below their rating (ex: 64 watts on a 65-watt charger), temperatures ranged from 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 Celsius) to 154 degrees (67.8 Celsius). That's unpleasant, but not dangerous. You can get a cooler skin temperature by purchasing a higher capacity charger than you need and running it at less than its maximum.
• Mind the second port: Many chargers also come with a second port that's either USB Type-A or USB-C.  You can use this port to charge a mobile device or even power a Raspberry Pi, but it will take a certain amount of amperage away from the main port.

Best USB-C Laptop Chargers You Can Buy Today

1. Aukey Omnia 65W (PA-B4)

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The super svelte and lightweight Aukey Omnia PA-B4 tops our list. It not only performs well, but also provides dual USB-C ports which give you just enough juice to use an ultrabook while charging a Nintendo Switch, a mobile phone or even a second laptop (albeit it slowly and only when you’re not using it). 

Though it is conservatively rated for 65 watts, in our tests, the 3.65oz Aukey Omnia PA-B4 managed a maximum sustained rate of 72.6 watts (19.2V / 3.78A). After 20 minutes of that maximum the temperature hit a steamy 139 degrees Fahrenheit, but the charger was a much cooler 120 degrees, the second coolest of all chargers we tested, when run at 64 degrees.  

Better still, the Omnia PA-B4 offers up to 15 watts of juice from its second USB-C port (only the top port can be used for max wattage), which is more than enough to charge a second device or comfortably power a Raspberry Pi 4. The primary port will emit less power, however, if a second device is plugged in. In our case, we pushed the primary port 50 watts under those conditions, though Aukey only advertises a maximum of 45 watts.

2. Aukey Omnia 100W (PA-B5)

If you’re using a 16-inch MacBook Pro or another USB-C laptop that requires more than 65 watts of juice, the Aukey Omnia PA-B5 is your best bet. This super-svelte charger can not only hit its rated 100-watt output capacity but, in our tests, it exceeded that number by more than 10%, delivering 113.7 watts (19.6V / 5.8A), which is more than the USB-PD standard even supports. 

When outputting either its maximum wattage or just below its rated wattage, the Aukey Omnia PA-B5 can get pretty hot, returning skin temperatures of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.9 Celsius) and 154 degrees (67.8 Celsius) respectively. However, if it's not pulling close to the maximum -- as laptops rarely do -- the charger will be quite a bit cooler. When we pulled just 65 watts, the Aukey Omnia PA-B5's temperature hit just 119 degrees Fahrenheit, which is in line with what the coolest 65-watt chargers.

Perhaps just as important as the Aukey PA-B5's output is its size and weight. This wall wart is just 2.24 x 2.24 x 1.26 inches and 5.3 ounces, which compares very favorably to the RAVPower Pioneer 90W (RP-PC128) that tips the scales at 6.7 ounces with dimensions of 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches. 

3. Aukey Omnia 61W (PA-B2)

As of this writing, Aukey's Omnia PA-B2 is the smallest USB-C laptop charger on the market. This diminutive wall wart measures just 1.77 x 1.77 x 1.18 inches, which makes it even smaller than RAVPower’s tiny Pioneer RP-PC112, which is just 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.2 inches itself. The Omnia PA-B2 is also a full 0.45oz lighter than its competitor.

Likely because of its small size, the Aukey Omnia PA-B2 can get hot. When running at 60 watts, the PA-B2 hit a toasty 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 Celsius). At its maximum draw of 65 watts, the temperature jumped up to 141 degrees (61.1 Celsius).  

However, even at these temperatures, the Omnia PA-B2 is cooler and more consistent than the RAVPower Pioneer RP-PC112, which hit 143 degrees at 60 watts and could not maintain its maximum wattage of 69 watts for more than a few minutes before it turned itself off.

4. RAVPower Pioneer 65W (RP-PC133)

While most modern-day mobile devices charge over USB-C, there are still many gadgets, including budget Android tablets and Raspberry Pis older than the Pi 4, that utilize micro USB. Though you can buy a USB-C to micro USB adapter, many of us have drawers full of USB-A to micro USB or USB-A to USB-C cables. So it can be pretty useful to have a USB-C Laptop Charger like the RAVPower Pioneer RP-PC133, which has a secondary Type-A port.

In our tests (using a load tester), the RAVPower Pioneer RP-PC133, delivered a full 15 watts (3.27V, 4.72A) from its Type-A port while also providing up to 54.9 watts (19.6V, 2.8A) from its USB-C port at the same time. More importantly, when we hooked the RP-PC133 up to both a laptop and a phone at the same time, it gave the laptop a full 51 watts of juice, which is better than Aukey's slightly-smaller Omnia Mix PA-B3, which gave the same laptop only 38 watts with the phone attached.

RAVPower appears to have a different design philosophy than Aukey when it comes to exceeding its rated wattage. Where the Aukey chargers we tested could sustain wattages above their advertised maximums, RAVPower units could hit higher peaks, but then would shut themselves down after a few minutes. For example, the Pioneer RP-PC133 outputted an epic 73.7 watts (19.5V, 3.78A) on the USB-C port alone, but it didn’t last long. 

At 64 watts, one below its rated maximum, the RAVPower Pioneer RP-PC133 maintained a skin temperature of just 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 Celsius), which is pleasantly cool compared to most chargers we tested.

5. IOGear GearPower 60W (GPAWC60W)

IOGear’s GearPower 60W (GPAWC60W) has an oblong box shape that’s a little different from the rectangular shapes from competitors Aukey, Anker and RAVPower. At 3.5 oz it's not quite as light as the Aukey PA-B2 nor is it as small, but it hit a higher maximum wattage, achieving a full 69 watts (19.6V, 3.55A), even though it’s rated for only 60.

The IOGear GearPower 60W is a bit expensive compared to its competitors. At press time, it was $5 more than the Aukey PA-B2 and not available at Amazon in the U.S.

Other USB-C Laptop Chargers We Tested 

• Aukey Omnia Mix 65W (PA-B3) : Aukey's USB Type-C / Type-A charger is also really good and about on par with the RAVPower Pioneer RP-PC133 while weighing less. However, we found that in real-world charging, the RP-PC133 gave more power to a laptop (51 watts vs 38) when a phone was attached to the Type-A port.
• Anker PowerPort Atom III (60W) : At 4.6oz, this is the heaviest 60-watt charger and it’s also the largest. It also gets warmer (127 degrees Fahrenheit) than competitors in the same capacity when running at one degree below rated wattage. Having come out in mid-2019, this is one of the older GaN chargers out there, and it shows.
• RAVPower Pioneer 61W (RP-PC112 ): This 61-watt charger isn’t as small as the Aukey Omnia PA-B2, but it gets significantly warmer after 20 minutes running at 59 watts. It can hit a full 69.48 watts for a time, but it can’t sustain that wattage and will shut down before 20 minutes have passed.
• RAVPower Pioneer 90W (RP-PC128) : In theory, this charger would be a decent one, because it has dual USB-C ports. However, it can’t exceed its 90-watt rated maximum for any length of time and, considering that the most powerful MacBook Pros now use 96-watt chargers, it’s hard to recommend this over the Aukey PA-B5, which is rated for 100 watts and can deliver far more.

How We Tested 

To see how each USB-C Laptop Charger performed, we attached it to a MakerHawk load tester. l . In order to get the chargers to perform, we had to run them through a USB PD trigger chip, which allowed us to turn their voltage mode up to the 19 - 20V range that's required for laptop charging. Then we turned the dials on the load tester until we reached the maximum amperage each could deliver and then set a timer for 20 minutes to see if the charger could sustain this wattage and how hot it got after that time. 

We found that some chargers, specifically all three RAVPower chargers we tested, could not sustain their highest possible wattages and, after less than 20 minutes, would shut down. We conducted a second series of heat tests with each charger at one watt below its maximum rated wattage (ex: 59 watts on a 60-watt charger) and recorded the temperature there as well.

If a charger had dual ports, we plugged one port into a USB-C phone while we used the other with the load tester. We also tried these dual-port setups with a real laptop, a ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 8) and used a USB-C power meter to see how much the charger was delivering.

* -- Charger shut down before 20 minute stability / heat test could complete at that wattage. 

Finding Discounts on the Best USB-C Laptop Chargers

Whether you're shopping for one of the best USB-C laptop chargers or a different model, you may find savings by checking out our lists of the latest Amazon promo codes , Best Buy promo codes , Newegg promo codes or Micro Center coupons .

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• Xajel I would love to see the Aukey Omnia 100W with 2 or even 3 Type-C ports, with even 20+ extra watts, will be very good to replace all the chargers in a the bag, great to charge the laptop, phone and an extra device there. Reply
• AeroWB As an electrical engineer this article really makes me cringe. Not because there is a lot wrong with the tests done, and also not the low technical depth. No, the contents are fine but the constant use of the horrible words wattage and amperage are offending and make my brain hurt. Now unfortunately these words have been misused so much that they have become part of the normal vocabulary, that's how languages work. However anyone who knows the proper words would never use those. So I hope you will use the proper words next time, they are power (or rated power) instead of wattage and current instead of amperage. Now you might think, why are those words wrong when they are in the current vocabulary. There are two important reasons: A) Because they sound stupid to anyone with a technical background, and someone using them will instantly make it known to the technical people they are dealing with a non or less technical person. B) Because they are wrong, even though they are in the dictionary. The best explanation is to compare these with some other more known ones. For instance lets take temperature, temperature is expressed in Kelvin, Celsius or Fahrenheit. You don't say it's 23 temperature today, no temperature is what you are talking about and you can measure it compared to a reference, for example: "it's 300 Kelvin" is a valid expression. No lets say we have two objects with a different temperature. You can say object A has a lower or higher temperature than B, or you could even tell the exact temperature expressed in one of the usual units. But you never would say, object A has a higher Kelvinage then B, or Fahrenheitage or Celsiusage, that sounds ridiculous doesn't it? If you aren't convinced try this with distance in meters, or light years or use weight in pounds or kilograms. The only difference with wattage and amperage is that so many people have been misusing these words persistently that they have become accepted. So remember this: power is measured in Watts and electrical current is measured in Amperes. As an electrical engineer this article has offended me, unfortunately I am not a woman, a gay or black so I suppose this is not going to help me get any compensation in the current PC culture but I still hope some will read this and better their lives and start using power and current! (If you really can't tell, this last part is ironic) Reply

Admin said: A new generation of chargers with Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors are way better than the power brick which came with your laptop. We benchmarked popular models to find the best USB-C laptop charger for you. Best USB-C Laptop Chargers 2020: GaN Inside Makes Them Super Light : Read more

• TJ Hooker @AeroWB Do you have an issue with the term "voltage"? It also appears in this article and would seem be another 'improper' term by your logic, but you didn't mention it. Some other examples I can think of are mileage and tonnage. I'm sure there are more that I can't think of at the moment. I've never seen someone take issue with the terms amperage/wattage (although admittedly I'm not sure how often they come up), nor do I take issue myself. I am also an electrical engineer. Reply

AeroWB said: (If you really can't tell, this last part is ironic)

• AeroWB @TJ HookerGood one, I never thought about voltage though I wouldn't know another English term, maybe potential or something like that. In my native language (Dutch) we do have a proper word for that, and in Dutch people also use the voltage, amperage and wattage (written the same though pronounced differently) and those are all wrong. About the take issue this is somewhat ironic, I don't really care that much, though it does stand out in an article in negative way, so therefore I wanted to mention it. @bit_userI am sorry for the unnecessary addition. I agree it is good if there is place were we aren't distracted with all those social issues and can focus on something else. Unfortunately these things are permanently popping up everywhere where, and also in my mind. So the rebel in me pops up unexpectedly sometimes Reply

AeroWB said: As an electrical engineer this article really makes me cringe. Not because there is a lot wrong with the tests done, and also not the low technical depth. No, the contents are fine but the constant use of the horrible words wattage and amperage are offending and make my brain hurt. Now unfortunately these words have been misused so much that they have become part of the normal vocabulary, that's how languages work. However anyone who knows the proper words would never use those. So I hope you will use the proper words next time, they are power (or rated power) instead of wattage and current instead of amperage. Now you might think, why are those words wrong when they are in the current vocabulary. There are two important reasons: A) Because they sound stupid to anyone with a technical background, and someone using them will instantly make it known to the technical people they are dealing with a non or less technical person. B) Because they are wrong, even though they are in the dictionary. The best explanation is to compare these with some other more known ones. For instance lets take temperature, temperature is expressed in Kelvin, Celsius or Fahrenheit. You don't say it's 23 temperature today, no temperature is what you are talking about and you can measure it compared to a reference, for example: "it's 300 Kelvin" is a valid expression. No lets say we have two objects with a different temperature. You can say object A has a lower or higher temperature than B, or you could even tell the exact temperature expressed in one of the usual units. But you never would say, object A has a higher Kelvinage then B, or Fahrenheitage or Celsiusage, that sounds ridiculous doesn't it? If you aren't convinced try this with distance in meters, or light years or use weight in pounds or kilograms. The only difference with wattage and amperage is that so many people have been misusing these words persistently that they have become accepted. So remember this: power is measured in Watts and electrical current is measured in Amperes. As an electrical engineer this article has offended me, unfortunately I am not a woman, a gay or black so I suppose this is not going to help me get any compensation in the current PC culture but I still hope some will read this and better their lives and start using power and current! (If you really can't tell, this last part is ironic)

• fish2000 While I, too, lack an EE degree – is it just me, or is the methodology employed for this articles’ tests a flawed one? The reporting privileges the results from chargers that violate the Power Delivery spec – lauding devices that exceed not only their own rated power output, but also the negotiated PD contract that ostensibly gets forged between the UFP and DFP during device configuration. Isn’t that a bad thing? I mean, if my 2016 MacBook asks for 87W but ends up getting ninety-something, it’s great if the computer can productively cope with that kind of overvoltage – but that is literally not the deal that those machines negotiated. Plus, we don’t even really know the particulars of said negotiation – according to the article, they used load testers set to deliberately overdrive the power supplies. A real-life, laptop-grade PD sink is a subtler construct, designed by dint of obediance to the PD rules to specifically not do this kind of thing. The fact that the RavPower supplies reset themselves under these contrived and extreme conditions is good behavior, no? … For the curious, here is a fantastically well-written and rigorously illustrated article on this subject, describing the minutiae of a PD implementation bug (in Apple’s own hardware, no less!) that I would recommend to all interested parties. But so, either way: I have both Anker and RavPower devices, and if someone were to buy me a beer I would tell them the story of how two of these namechecked GaN chargers – as well as an Innergie 60c – each individually dealt with sustained AC input power instabilities on the allegedly 120V/15A rail furnished to passengers on Amtrak trains… spoiler alert, the non-GaN Innergie was the least problematic on this one. I would totally welcome a certified EE’s opinion on this, personally, for what it’s worth. Erm. Yes! Reply
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The best USB-C laptop PD chargers for 2024

If you’re wondering why your laptop will happily charge from some USB plugs but not others, the answer is found in the confusing world of USB Power Delivery (USB PD). Fear not, we’ve rounded up some great examples of USB laptop chargers that will actually work, and which you can buy right now.

It’s not quite as simple as searching for a charger with Power Delivery support, however. While some smaller laptops will charge from a 30W adaptor, others require significantly more power. The USB PD specification maxes out at 240W, but accessory speeds can vary, and we’ve found charging accessories that operate as low as 18W and as high as 200W. To find a compatible device you really need to know what is required by your particular model of laptop.

Later in this article we discuss how much power your laptop requires—but as a standard guide, 30-45W will be sufficient for a small laptop, 65W for mid-sized and 90W for most larger laptops. Top-end laptops can support 140W of power, so look for the right wattage when choosing a laptop charger.

If you’re looking to fast-charge a smartphone that promises charging of, say, 65W, do note that many third-party USB PD chargers will not support protocols such as PPS (Programmable Power Supply) or SCP (Super Charge Protocol) that is required by proprietary phone fast-charging standards. You can expect 18W charging from such devices, regardless of the theoretical output of the USB-C port.

USB-C is technically clever enough that you don’t have to worry about the charger having too many Watts of power. USB PD means you can charge even a 15W phone with a 140W charger.

Look out for chargers with multiple ports if you want the chance to charge more than one device at a time.

While there are undoubtedly cheaper chargers out there, picking a trusted or premium brand may reduce the safety risks associated with overheating. Some of our favorites include Anker, Ugreen, Satechi, Hyper and Syncwire.

Best USB-C PD Laptop Charger Reviews

1. ugreen nexode pro 65w usb-c charger – best overall usb-c wall charger.

• Excellent value
• Compact design
• Three PD outputs
• Supports PPS, Super Fast Charging 2.0
• Some large laptops require 100W

With 65W potential, this ultra-compact USB-C wall charger can power most mid-sized laptops, although larger notebooks may require a more powerful 100W charger.

It has three USB-C PD ports, and when using all three it can power at 45W from the top USB-C port and and 15W from each of the lower USB-C and USB-A ports. Using the top two USB-C ports, it can handle 45W and 20W so could fast-charge your phone while keeping a mid-sized laptop ticking.

It supports Power Delivery 3.0, PPS, Samsung Super Fast Charging 2.0 and Quick Charge 3.0 so is speed-ready for most devices.

It’s also competitively priced for a 65W charger, supports international voltages and, because it uses GaN tech, it’s a diddy little thing for such a powerful device.

Unless you need additional USB ports or 100W, we really can’t see how you’d be better served by another Power Delivery charger—although the Acefast GaN Smart PD Charger Hub, reviewed later, includes an integrated mini USB and HDMI hub.

2. UGreen Nexode 100W USB-C Charger – Best 100W USB-C charger

• Two 100W USB-C PD outputs
• Versatile with four outputs
• Supports PPS, Quick Charge 4
• UK model quite deep

This UGreen device is a powerful 100W laptop charger.

The UK model, which has a different design to those available in the US and EU—necessarily so, because the elongated design and sheer weight (268g for the UK model) of this thing would likely have trouble staying attached to the wall without that third prong to steady itself. The 8.29oz (235g) US model has a taller, more rectangular design, with folding plugs to make them more compact for travel, but the core specs are otherwise the same.

We like the design, and it feels much better made than some cheap plasticky chargers. There are no angular edges here, with every line smoothed out and rounded to soften its appearance. The outer casing is a matte gun-metal grey, and all the necessary tech specs are hidden out of sight where the adaptor plugs into the wall. It’s not overly bulky, despite its weight, thanks to the GaN tech inside.

But it’s really not about what it looks like; it’s about what it does—and this UGreen GAN X 100W adaptor has some serious power behind it. 

There are four USB ports in all—three USB-C and one full-size USB-A—two of which support a 100W output, with the other two rated at 22.5W. There’s a maximum power output of 100W, which means when you use more than one port the power rating will be reduced, but it’s still possible to get up to 65W on either of those two 100W USB-Cs.

Note that you’ll need to make sure your USB-C charging cable is capable of carrying up to 100W for those power powerful ports.

This Ugreen adaptor supports multiple charging protocols, including Power Delivery 2.0 and 3.0, Quick Charge 4+ and PPS, and it will work with pretty much any device that charges over USB.

Ugreen has a newer, more energy-efficient version, the Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port GaN Fast Charger , that’s also smaller but has three instead of four USB ports. If three USB are enough for you, we’d recommend the Nexode Pro, but we still rate the older four-port Nexode reviewed here.

3. Anker Nano II 65W GaN II PPS Fast Charger – Best small 65W USB-C charger

• Reliable brand
• Super-compact
• Supports PPS, PowerIQ
• Only one port

Anker is perhaps one of the best-known names in charging tech, and this single-port PD charger is attractive to us for several reasons.

Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology has made chargers a fraction of the size of silicon-based models only a couple of years old, and once considered small themselves.

Anker’s new Nano II chargers utilise next-generation GaN II tech that transmits energy more efficiently and operates at twice the frequency of the first generation of GaN—making these chargers even smaller.

We haven’t seen PD chargers this small before. They are tiny—about the size of Apple’s weedy 5W iPhone charger but over 10x more powerful. The 65W Nano II charger weighs just 132g and comes in at 41.7-x-36-x-44mm. The US version features neat foldable pins.

Moreover, they support not only Power Delivery, Quick Charge and Anker’s own PowerIQ smart charging, but also PPS. This means it stands out among other third-party adaptors in its ability to fast-charge smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S20 that require the Super Fast Charging protocol for their proprietary charging standards.

On the downside, there is only one output, which means you can charge only one device at a time and it’ll need to support USB-C. 

There are also smaller, cheaper 30W and 45W options are available in the US and UK Anker stores.

4. Ugreen Nexode 30W USB-C Charger – Cheapest 30W USB-C wall charger

• Unbeatable value
• Foldable prongs
• 30W not enough for all laptops

This compact 30W Power Delivery charger from Ugreen keeps things simple with a single USB-C output for charging your phone, tablet or—potentially—laptop.

It’s worth pointing out that 30W is not enough to charge all laptops, so do check your spec to see if it’s appropriate before you buy. It should be plenty for a 13-inch MacBook Air, but not some of the larger, more powerful laptops.

If it’s powerful enough for your needs, this is a really appealing device—significantly more affordable than other devices in our round-up, and thanks to GaN tech it has a sleek, compact design that is easily portable.

Both the U.S. and U.K. models feature folding plug prongs.

5. UGreen Nexode Pro 160W Charger – Best PD 3.1 USB-C wall charger

• 140W PD 3.1
• Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
• Smaller than Apple 140W charger
• Three ports

Some modern large laptops support chargers rated at higher than 100W, which was the maximum for PD 3.0. Later PD 3.1 can support up to 240W but at the moment 140W is the sweet spot.

Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is one such laptop, and can fast-charge using Apple’s own 140W charger. Sadly, Apple blocks third-party chargers from fast-charging using even certified PD 3.1 cables, favoring its own USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable but the charger itself works just fine using Apple’s proprietary cable.

Third-party chargers such as Ugreen’s Nexode 140W charger are better than what you get with the laptop as they boast multiple ports and are often also smaller. This one has three USB-C ports (one at 140W, one at 100W, and the last at 30W) and a USB-A at 22.5W for smaller devices. The maximum output is 160W, so using more ports will spread that power between devices, but it could still simultaneously fast-charge a PD 3.1 laptop and a phone.

Even if your laptop needs 100W or less, the extra maximum output is useful when connecting multiple devices.

6. OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 – Best compact travel USB-C PD 65W charger and adapter

• Supports six devices
• Supports PPS and Quick Charge
• Works as a travel charger
• Three of the ports share 15W

The OneWorld 65 looks like any international adapter but boasts a built-in 65W PD Charger and can charge up to six devices simultaneously.

Built with the latest Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology that packs in all the required electronics in a tiny package without overheating, it’s only a little bigger than a standard pin-sliding travel adapter.

It features one side-mounted 65W USB-C PD port, one 20W USB-C PD port, another USB-C charging port and two USB-A charging ports. Quick Charge and PPS are supported for phone fast charging.

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. However, if the laptop is just having a battery top-up, there should be enough power to be spread about.

What’s handy is that in addition to all these USB ports you can also use this as a travel adapter. Sliding connectors will fit into US, European, Australian/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.

Now, as with all travel adapters, you just have to remember to pack it on your next trip rather than realise you’ve left it at home as soon as you get to the airport or hotel.

OneAdaptr also sells higher and lower versions of the OneWorld at 30W ($49) , 100W ($109) and 135W ($129) total output.

International pricing at the OneAdaptr store is calculated on current US $ rate at time of purchase so prices may vary to our stated cost at the time of writing.

7. Alogic Rapid Power 67W Multi-Country GaN Charger

• Interchangeable plugs for international travel
• Three USB outputs
• Travel case

Alogic’s Rapid Power 67W Multi-Country GaN Charger is interesting for two key reasons: first, it has three outputs (one 67W USB-C PD, plus another USB-C and a USB-A port that can share 15W between them; maximum charging of all three is 67W), which makes it versatile; and, second, supplied in the box are interchangeable plugs for the UK, Europe, and AU that fit over the built-in US plug, making it an excellent travel charger.

Using all three ports at the same time, reduces the main USB-C port to 47W and the other two ports to share the 15W.

This is another GaN charger, which means it is delightfully small (5cm long and weighing just 110g) for a device that is potentially going to be consuming suitcase room. Even better, it comes in a rather lovely fabric hard-shell travel case with a moulded-foam interior that fits all the plugs and the included braided USB-C cable, with a little extra space available for more cables or other tech gear.

8. Acefast Portable GaN 65W Fast Charger – Best USB-C charger with HDMI

• 60Hz 4K HDMI port
• US & EU only

This USB-C charger has something special hidden up its sleeve: it’s also a mini USB hub with USB-C (60W to device), 10Gbps / 5W USB-A and a 60Hz 4K HDMI port. The inclusion of the fast 10Gbps USB-C makes the 4K at 60Hz possible, compared to more basic 5Gbps versions.

If you just want to charge your laptop, Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck and connect to an external display—be it monitor or TV—then this charger may be all you need. In this way, it beats the other charge-only devices reviewed here.

It’s available in both black and white, but sadly there’s no Type G plug (UK) version available yet.

9. UGreen Nexode 200W USB-C Desktop Charger – Best desktop USB-C power charger

• 200W charger
• Supports PPS
• Comes with braided cable

This is a slightly different breed of charger than those we’ve discussed so far in this group test, and is what we call a desktop charger. Rather than hugging the power socket, it has a 2m extension cable that lets you plug it into the wall but bring the USB outputs themselves up to a more accessible area on the desk.

The Ugreen Nexode 200W USB-C charger allows you to charge six devices at the same time, and so avoid having to plug in multiple chargers for the task and free up space on your desktop. While it’s too heavy to be truly portable, it is a super-compact size for so many ports.

Boasting four USB-C ports and two USB-A, it can supply up to 200W of power (maximum 100W per port as it’s PD 3.0), and therefore could charge three mid-sized laptops, a couple of phones, and your headphones simultaneously.

The charging options are too numerous to list here, but with six devces charging at the same time, you could have one at 65W, two at 45W, one at 20W, and the two USB-A ports sharing 20W.

It is compatible with both iPhone and Samsung Fast Charging.

10. Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger

• 140W PD 3.1 ports
• Comes with stand
• No USB-C cable included
• US only at time of writing

Like the Ugreen Nexode 200W USB-C charger, this desktop charger boasts six PD ports. Unlike that one, all the ports on the Satechi are USB-C.

The top two ports are USB-C PD 3.1, so can power at up to 140W. The other four ports support USB-C PD 3.0, with a maximum 100W.

When all six ports are used at the same time, the port hierarchy is 65W/45W/20W/20W/20W/20W.

The charger supports PD 3.1/3.0, QC 4.0+, and PPS.

It can rest on its flat base or sit in the included stand if you prefer a vertical orientation.

11. Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger – Most powerful desktop USB-C charger

• Massive 300W charger
• 140W PD 3.1 port

This is a monster desktop charger that can pump out 300W via a mix of USB-C and USB-A ports, but it’s surprisingly compact—about the same size as the Satechi 200W desktop charger—with no need for an external power supply.

While the Satechi desktop charger reviewed above has two 140W ports it is still limited to 200W total output. This charger can supply 140W of power to a large laptop, plus 100W to another and still have enough power for a mid-sized laptop or a bunch of tablets and phones.

If you choose to use all the ports, the power is distributed as follows: 140/65/45/20/22.5W.

12. Nekteck 107W USB-C Charger – Best value desktop USB-C charger

• 4 USB outputs
• Ideal for desktop use
• 100W USB-C cable in box
• No Quick Charge/PPS support
• Messy rear design

This desktop charger from Nektek has a shorter (1m) extension cable than the Ugreen Nexode desktop charger, and it has some limitations but it does offer great value for money.

It has four USB outputs in all, making it an ideal device if you have multiple devices to charge. However, not if you have multiple laptops to charge…

There are one 65W USB-C Port, one 30W USB-C port and two 12W USB A ports for simultaneous charging of laptop, tablet, phones and other devices. Four of these five ports are full-size USB-As, rated at 12W. The device’s maximum output with all ports in use is 107W, which means you can’t run them all at full power at once.

Yet we are drawn to the versatility of this desktop charger, with its 65W output enough for most mid-sized laptops. We’re impressed to find a 100W USB-C cable is provided in the box, as this will be required to fully utilise that output. 

Sadly, this particular model is not currently available in the UK, where we would recommend the Satechi 10 8 W Dual USB-C PD Charger (see below) or more powerful Satechi 108W Pro USB-C PD Desktop Charger.

13. Satechi 75W Dual USB-C PD – Best USB-C and USB-A desktop charger

• Multiple USB outputs
• Nicely designed
• Second PD port is low-power
• No PPS support

This Satechi’s desktop charger has two USB-C Power Delivery ports and two USB-A ports—especially useful if you’re travelling with more than one power-hungry USB-C device or a mix of USB-C and USB-A.

However, do note that one of the USB-C ports will charge at the full 90W and the other at a more sedate 18W (more than fine for a phone, but unlikely to be enough to power a laptop). 

The two USB-A ports are handy as most of us still have devices that require a charging cable connection into this old standard. Each can handle 12W charging but that capacity is shared between the two ports so will be lower if both are in use. This is fine if you are charging one phone or two lower-powered devices such as headphones or watch.

At 14.7oz (417g) it isn’t super-lightweight but is a desktop charger so will probably not be travelling with you.

A more mighty model, the Satechi 165W USB-C 4-Port PD GaN Charger , is a real power beast. For $119 / £107 , it has two 100W-capable USB-C ports and two that can reach 60W—although max output is 165W, it’s the highest of any of the chargers we have tested here. You can charge a large laptop and a mid-sized laptop at the same time. Interestingly, being GaN, it’s actually lighter (12oz or 340g) than the 108W version, although it is priced higher.

14. Acefast Desktop Power Station Z4 PD218W GaN – USB-C and USB-A charging options displayed

• Manual output change and display

Most desktop and wall chargers have different power output options for the various ports on offer but only the interesting Acefast Z4 lets you manually change them with the press of a button and then shows you which ports are set for which wattage.

Maximum output is a decent 218W that you can share around devices to your fancy and witness the distribution of power on the LCD display.

There are four options for the four USB ports (three USB-C and one USB-A).

Mode A: 100W + 65W + 30W + 18W = 213W max. Mode B: 65W + 65W + 65W + 18W = 213W max. Mode C: 100W + 100W + 18W = 218W max. Mode D (using three ports): 100W + 100W + 18W = 218W max.

The desktop charger—not yet available in the U.K. but available with U.S. and E.U. plugs immediately—is priced very reasonably, and supports most fast-charging standards.

What is Power Delivery?

USB-C and USB PD are often confused, but the important thing to remember is that USB-C is a reversible connection type, while USB PD is a power delivery specification, overseen by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and often expressed simply as ‘PD’. With version 3.1 of the specification, Power Delivery is able to carry up to 240W of power plus data over USB-C (previously limited to 100W on PD 3.0), but devices that support Power Delivery can range from 18W right up to 240W.

How much power do I need to charge my laptop?

The easiest way to find out how much power is required to charge your laptop is to inspect the charger that was sold with it, if you have that to hand. Alternatively you can look for its specification on the manufacturer’s website. 

You’re looking for a figure in watts, although it may be expressed in volts and amps. If so, simply multiply these two numbers to get the figure you need. For example, a device that requires 12V/2A to charge will need a 24W USB-C PD charger (12 x 2 = 24).

Once you know what power rating you’re looking for, finding a USB-C PD charger for your laptop or console is easy. Sometimes it can pay to get one a little faster than you need—it may be more expensive, but you’ll be pleased you bought it if you later decide to upgrade your laptop.

Can I use a more powerful third-party charger than the one supplied with my laptop?

Yes. There is no need to worry about plugging devices into chargers that are capable of delivering more power than the device is able to accept, since USB devices will draw only the power they need. However, the cable you use to join the two is crucial, and using a low-quality or under-specified cable with the charger could lead to problems with your device. Read more about the differences in USB-C cables before you buy .

Why won’t my laptop charge from a third-party charger?

Although USB PD can go as high as 240W, actual speeds supported by chargers can vary—it’s possible that your third-party adaptor is not powerful enough to charge your laptop.

The adaptor itself is only one piece of the puzzle, and the cable with which it is combined must also be capable of delivering the required amount of power. Read more about the differences in USB-C cables before you buy .

What is the advantage of a GaN charger?

GaN is short for gallium nitride. It requires fewer components than traditional silicone chargers, which means devices that use the technology can be less bulky and more efficient.

We’ve put together a range of articles to help you choose the best charging tech for the mobile devices you carry everywhere. You’ll also like:

• For charging away from home:   Power banks for phones & tablets   |   Power banks for laptops   |   Travel adaptors
• Best Wall & Desktop Chargers:   For phones & tablets   |   For laptops
• For convenience:   Best wireless chargers
• Best charging cables:   Micro-USB   |   USB-C   |   Lightning

Author: Simon Jary , Contributor

Simon was Editor of Macworld from the dark days of 1995 to the triumphant return of Steve Jobs and the launch of the iPhone. His desk is a test bench for tech accessories, from USB-C and Thunderbolt docks to chargers, batteries, Powerline adaptors and Fitbits.

Recent stories by Simon Jary:

• Best USB-C docks for laptops and tablets 2024
• Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station review
• Best tech kit organizer bags

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

What are the best USB-C laptop chargers? Plus, USB-C explained

Why you can trust ZDNET

33 years of experience 30 hands-on product reviewers 10,000 square feet of lab space

What to Consider

Whether your laptop is your ultimate workstation or source of entertainment, its design, display, and even portability determines how you interact with the unit.

Performance

For many, laptops are essential for workflow and communication. The best laptops promise efficient speed and performance, powered by the best and latest chipsets (like the Apple M2 Max).

Storage and RAM

It's likely you'll use a laptop to store key documents or memories and the best models have plenty of room for you to do so.

We strive to answer the question, "what laptop should i get if ___" as we know you have different workflow and entertainment needs and preferences, from graphic design to gaming.

The best laptop can be a pricey investment, so we considered qualities that assure you'll get your money's worth.

As laptops have shifted from proprietary chargers to USB-C chargers, it's become easier than ever to pick up an extra charger for your laptop so that you're never without power.  Portable chargers  are a must for traveling, but they can only take you so far.

ZDNET Recommends

The best laptops.

Our recommended models for every use case and platform.

Most laptops come with a charger, and that charger is usually good enough for the job, but it can be convenient to keep a second charger at home, at the office, and at school. 

Thankfully, some of the best USB-C laptop chargers feature compact designs, making them the perfect traveling companion. 

Also: Best laptop docking station 

• Good for Windows and Mac users
• Compact design
• Runs cooler than other chargers
• On the pricey side

Satechi 100W

Best usb-c laptop charger overall.

Tech Specs:  Max output: 100W | Ports: 1x USB-C

This is the perfect replacement for your existing USB-C laptop charger, even if you have something like the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro .

The next-gen Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology not only means that this charger is smaller than chargers based on older silicon technology (it's smaller than the Apple charger), but it also runs cooler.

This is my go-to charger for pretty much everything I have that uses USB-C.

• Great power output
• Great for travel

Zendure SuperPort 4 100W

Best usb-c laptop charger for multiple devices.

Tech Specs:  Max output: 136W | Ports: 2x USB-C, 2xUSB-A

The SuperPort 4 features two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports with Zen+2.0, allowing you to charge up to four devices simultaneously with a maximum combined output of 136W.

The device is small, lightweight, and slimline -- plus, it works across all voltages. It's an excellent travel charger for those who lug around a lot of gear.

Also: The 5 best portable power banks 

This flexibility makes this the perfect desktop charger for those with multiple devices that need to be kept topped up.

• Compatible with almost all Apple devices
• Quick charge feature
• Dual USB-C ports
• Cord not included

Anker PowerPort

Best usb-c laptop charger for apple users.

Tech Specs:  Max output: 60W | Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A

Here you get a 2-port Anker charger featuring 2 compact Gallium Nitride (GaN) 45W USB-C ports. It's compatible with most Apple devices, so you can charge your laptop as well as your iPhone or iPad without worrying about connectivity issues. It also has a quick-charge feature that brings your iPhone up to 50 percent power in just 30 minutes.

Also: Don't waste your money on these Apple products

• Great for charging new and old devices
• Can charge two laptops at once
• Quick charge
• Cables not included

Anker PowerPort Atom PD 4

Best usb-c laptop charger for quick charge.

Tech Specs:  Max output: 100W |  Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A

This charger offers an enormous 100W of charging power, which is enough to charge two USB-C laptops and two smartphones simultaneously.

Thanks to sophisticated power allocation technology, the full 100W of power are available if you connect a single device to a USB-C port.

Also:  The 6 best phones of 2023

• 12V outlet compatible
• Only one USB-C port

Best USB-C laptop charger for travel

Tech Specs:  Max output: 112W |  Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A

The LinkOn offers high-power USB-C charging for when you're on the move. This compact charger features an 18W USB-A port and a 90W USB-C port that's good even for demanding laptops like the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This has become my favorite car charger because of its power, flexibility, and reliability.

Also: The 5 best wireless car chargers 

What is the best USB-C laptop charger?

The Satechi 100W wall charger is our pick for the best USB-C laptop charger. It has a compact design and runs cooler than most other wall chargers, so you never have to worry about damaging your device from overheating. It's also compatible with both Windows and Mac laptops .

Which USB-C laptop charger is right for you?

The best USB-C laptop charger for you will have enough ports to handle all of your most-used devices at once. It will also provide enough power for faster charging compared to traditional USB models, so you don't have to wait around all day to top up your laptop battery.

How did we choose these USB-C laptop chargers?

Everything on this list hasn't just been tested by me -- every device is part of my daily kit. I personally know that this equipment delivers on what it promises, and it offers a high degree of reliability and robustness. You're getting exceptional value for the money.

I pick manufacturers that offer a decent, no-quibble warranty. Things can (and often do) go wrong, so dealing with a company that has you covered can offer peace of mind.

Are all USB-C laptop chargers the same?

No. You need to check what power your laptop will draw. Some laptops are happy with a 45W charger, while others need a 95W charger. In an emergency, you can still normally trickle charge a laptop using a low-power charger, but that's far from ideal.

Then there's a quality issue. You've likely spent big bucks on a laptop, so it doesn't make sense to connect that up to a cheap charger that you picked up from a dollar store!

Should I only use the charger that came with my laptop?

The charger that came with your laptop will be designed to work well with your device, but as long as you pick the right charger for your hardware, there's no reason you can't use a third-party charger.

Most manufacturers take the guesswork out of this for you. They'll include device compatibility on the packaging and the website. 

Should I go for a single-port or multi-port charger?

I prefer the convenience of a multi-port charger, but be aware that most will charge at lower power when more than one port is in use.

Can I use a USB-C phone charger with my laptop?

You can use a USB-C phone charger with your laptop, but since both types of devices have different power requirements, it may take longer to get your computer up to a full charge.

What is the difference between USB and USB-C?

A USB-C charger can support up to 100 watts and 20 volts of power, while a traditional USB charger can only support 2.5W and 5V. This means that not only will a USB-C charger top up your devices faster, but it can also be used with multiple devices at once, as well as for larger devices like laptops.

Are there alternative USB-C laptop chargers worth considering?

Our best USB-C chargers include a mix of products where you can maximize your productivity by charging multiple devices at once, save money, and have charging capabilities in your vehicle. If you need further options, here are a few to consider: 

Nekteck 60W USB C Charger

Zmi zpower turbo cube, amazon basics 100w four-port gan wall charger with 2 usb-c ports.

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The Best USB-C Chargers and Power Banks for Travel

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto : "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at [email protected] .

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With the iPhone’s long-awaited transition to USB-C, you can now streamline your travel essentials by packing just one charger for all your devices, from your phone to your Kindle. Whether you’re seeking ultra-compact chargers that won’t take up any space in your bag or fast-charging power banks that will save you from a dead battery, we’ve curated the best USB-C accessories to accompany you on your journeys.

Clutch Pro USB-C Power Bank

A portable battery is only useful if you actually have it with you. The Clutch Pro USB-C Power Bank is so compact that it’s easy to carry it at all times, guaranteeing you’ll never be caught off guard by a drained battery. Despite its diminutive proportions and weighing a mere 3.7 ounces, this tiny powerhouse packs an impressive 5,000 mAh of power.

What sets the Clutch Pro apart is its built-in charging cable that folds neatly into the battery itself, eliminating the need to carry an extra cable. Additionally, it comes with a magnetic sticker that can be attached to magnetic-safe cases, making it even more convenient to keep this essential accessory within reach at all times.

OtterBox Premium Pro Fast Charge Kit

There’s nothing worse than having to hang around in your hotel room while you wait for your phone to charge. Thankfully, advancements in fast charging technology have come to the rescue, and OtterBox’s Premium Pro Fast Charge Kit is a prime example. This powerful charger can revive a dead phone battery to a remarkable 70 percent charge in just 30 minutes, so you don’t have to waste valuable vacation time waiting for your phone to fully charge. 

The kit’s USB-C to USB-C wall plug is not only compact, weighing just 0.26 lbs, but it also features folding prongs that can be neatly stashed away, ensuring easy packing and portability for your travels. The cable’s generous 6.6-foot length makes it perfect for charging at airports or any location with less-than-ideally positioned outlets. 

USB-C Headphone Adapter

No traveler wants to endure the frustration of having their wireless headphones run out of battery during a long-haul flight. To ensure I’m always prepared (no matter how delayed my flight), I keep this USB-C Headphone Adapter in my carry-on bag, along with a trusty pair of wired headphones.

This tiny adapter allows me to use regular wired noise-cancelling headphones with my iPhone 15 (or any other USB-C device). Whether I need wired headphones to connect to the seatback TV for in-flight entertainment or have to use my phone to stream, the USB-C Headphone Adapter ensures I’m covered, even if my Bluetooth headphones die. 

The Ultimate Long Weekend Packing List

STM Goods USB-C to USB-C Dux Cable

One of the most invaluable travel tips I’ve learned is to always pack an ultra-long charging cable. Too often, I’ve found myself in hotel rooms where the single available outlet is inconveniently located, forcing me to charge my phone far from the bed or any comfortable spot. This frustrating scenario can be easily avoided by having a cable that offers ample length and flexibility.

Enter the STM Goods’ USB-C Dux Cable , a true game-changer for travelers. Not only does this cable boast fast charging capabilities, ensuring your devices are powered up swiftly, but it also features an extra-long length that provides the versatility to charge from any location within the room comfortably. Its tough, flexible outer sleeve, designed to prevent frustrating fraying or damage, even with frequent use and packing, sets this cable apart.

OtterBox Fast Charge Power Bank

Never run out of power when you pack OtterBox’s Fast Charge Power Bank . This portable battery isn’t much bigger than a deck of cards, measuring 5.55 in x 2.87 in x 0.64 in, but this portable powerhouse can charge your devices up to an impressive 3.6 times faster than a regular charger.

What sets this power bank apart is its versatility. It features both USB-A and USB-C ports that allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Like all Otterbox gear, this battery pack has undergone rigorous drop-testing to ensure it can withstand even the most rugged adventures, giving you peace of mind that your power source will remain reliable no matter the terrain or conditions.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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• Electronics
• Batteries and charging

The Best Portable Laptop Charger

By Sarah Witman

Sarah Witman is a writer focused on batteries and charging accessories. She has spent countless hours charging, discharging, and recharging batteries.

A portable laptop charger is the ideal companion if you want to charge your laptop while traveling or working remotely, in an emergency, or anytime a wall outlet is out of reach.

And it’s not just for laptops: With its built-in AC outlet, a laptop charger can power a variety of other devices, from vibrators and video projectors to breast pumps and baby monitors .

We’re confident the Mophie Powerstation Pro AC is the best portable charger with an AC outlet that you can buy. It keeps up with MacBook Pros and other powerful laptops , it has a compact size and shape, and its battery life is as good as any we’ve tested.

Everything we recommend

Mophie Powerstation Pro AC

Powerful and packable.

This portable charger has an AC outlet, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A port, and it can charge even the most power-hungry laptops. But you need to provide your own wall charger.

Buying Options

ChargeTech Premium 27K AC

Portable power, plus a wall charger.

This portable charger has an AC outlet as well as a USB-C port, USB-A port, and DC port. It’s not as powerful as some others we tested, but it comes with its own wall charger.

Omnicharge Omni 20+

Less power, more charging options.

This compact, lightweight charger supports wireless charging and has an easy-to-read screen. It’s not as powerful as some others we tested, and it doesn’t come with a wall charger, but it charges a wide variety of devices.

How we picked

We wanted to make sure our pick could power demanding laptops, like gaming machines, so we required a minimum of 65 W.

We don’t think a quality laptop charger should break your wallet or your back. We prioritized lighter chargers that cost less than $300.

We capped our capacity limit at 300 Wh to account for TSA regulations, so you can use our picks on a plane for work or leisure.

Portable laptop chargers aren’t cheap, so we picked models from reputable manufacturers, just in case something goes wrong

The Mophie Powerstation Pro AC has the best AC output (174 watts) and as much capacity (27,000 mAh) of any model we’ve tested.

It’s also the only one we’ve tested with two USB-C ports—one has 63 W input and 62 W output capabilities, and the other only outputs at 24 W—and its two-year warranty is the longest of those we tested.

On the downside, it’s the heaviest option we tested at 2.2 pounds, it only has one USB-A port, and it doesn’t come with a wall charger. But its higher output and dual USB-C ports make it well worth these tradeoffs.

Rated capacity: 27,000 mAh (97.2 Wh) Max output: 174 W Weight: 2.2 pounds Dimensions: 7.5 by 4.5 by 1.0 inches

The ChargeTech Premium 27K AC performed well in our testing, with a maximum output of 157 watts and a rated capacity of 27,000 mAh.

It’s also the only model we tested with a USB-C port that’s powerful enough to fast-charge the 13″ MacBook Air (we measured 65 W input and 67 W output). Unlike our top pick, it can be recharged over DC as well as USB-C, and it’s fairly light (1.5 pounds).

However, it has just one USB-C port and one USB-A port, its one-year warranty is on the shorter side, and it feels a little chintzy overall. Also, the DC charger it comes with is bulky and won’t fit in the included carrying pouch. But overall, it’s a great option if you want more charging options.

Rated capacity: 27,000 mAh (97.2 Wh) Max output: 157 W Weight: 1.5 pounds Dimensions: 7.3 by 5.0 by 1.0 inches

If you have a phone or other device that can charge wirelessly, the Omnicharge Omni 20+ is the only one of our picks with wireless charging capabilities. It’s also one of the few models we’ve seen with dual input options (you can recharge it over DC or USB-C), as well as a screen showing input/output wattage, charge level, and operating temperature.

The Omnicharge is the lightest (1.4 pounds) and most compact of our picks, and it looks sleeker than most models, with rounded corners that make it comfortable to handle.

If you want those extra features and maximum portability, this is your best option, but this charger also has the lowest output (98 watts) and rated capacity (20,400 mAh) of any of our picks. And although it comes with USB-A and USB-C cables, it doesn’t include a wall charger. Like the ChargeTech, this model is backed by a one-year warranty.

Rated capacity: 20,400 mAh (73.4 Wh) Max output: 98 W Weight: 1.4 pounds Dimensions: 5.0 by 4.8 by 1.1 inches

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: mophie powerstation pro ac, also great: chargetech premium 27k ac, also great: omnicharge omni 20+, other good portable laptop chargers.

I’ve been a science journalist for more than a decade, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on solar battery chargers , USB-C cables and adapters , rechargeable AA and AAA batteries , and more.

For a previous version of this guide, I consulted with Lee Johnson, an electrical engineer with more than 15 years of experience designing and testing electronics.

Portable laptop chargers aren’t just for laptops. Since they’re power banks with AC outlets, they can provide power to virtually any device that draws up to about 100 watts—such as a room fan, floor lamp, air mattress pump, or ice cream maker.

But since most people who buy these chargers are mainly looking to charge their laptops while working remotely, we wrote this guide with them in mind. (If you need only USB-C and USB-A ports, our favorite USB power banks are powerful enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro , an  HP Spectre x360 , or other laptops that charge via USB-C.)

Even someone who is rarely away from their desk might want a portable laptop charger in case of a blackout or other emergency. A portable laptop charger will provide more power in that scenario than a USB power bank.

If you want to charge lots of different devices, or a single power-hungry device, for more than a few hours—or if you have critical electronics that require a pure sine wave inverter, such as a CPAP machine—you should get a portable power station . Generally speaking, these have more capacity, power, and ports than most portable laptop chargers, and they’re more ruggedly built (but they also tend to be bulkier, heavier, and more expensive).

After scanning the websites of major retailers and consumer-electronics brands, we narrowed our search based on the following requirements:

• 65-watt or greater output: Most laptops (larger business and gaming laptops aside) need about 60 W to charge at full speed, so we set our minimum limit at 65 W just to be safe.
• 60 to 300 watt-hour capacity: TSA regulations generally only permit you to carry spare batteries up to 100 Wh on a plane—or, with airline permission, either one battery up to 300 Wh or two batteries up to 160 Wh each. Since some people like to work or watch movies on their laptop on long flights, we capped our capacity limit at 300 Wh to account for this restriction. We set our minimum at 60 Wh because that’s equivalent to running a 60 W device (such as a 13-inch MacBook Pro) for one hour.
• Light and compact design: We gave preference to smaller, lighter models since they’re easier to bring to a coffee shop or on a plane.
• At least one fast-charging port: USB-C Power Delivery (PD) ports are starting to replace older USB-C and USB-A ports, in part because they can transmit up to 100 W (compared with just 15 W over standard USB-C and 12 W over USB-A). This means, with the right cable, they can charge a laptop or other compatible device about as fast as an AC outlet would.
• At least one USB-A port: Even though USB-C is becoming more common, most people still have standard USB-A charging cables, so we insisted that our picks have at least one USB-A port.
• Reliable support: If you’re spending hundreds of dollars on something and depending on it in tight situations, you want to know that the manufacturer is reputable and reachable in case something goes wrong.
• A cost of no more than $300: Based on the range of prices we saw, this is what we think someone would reasonably want to spend on a work-related purchase.

To test each charger, we gauged performance in a few key areas, including the following:

• Maximum power output: To test the maximum power output of each model, we connected each one to a Kill A Watt power meter and an array of light-bulb sockets. We screwed in 20 W halogen bulbs one by one until the charger overloaded and shut down. Then we recorded the maximum wattage reading on the power meter.
• How many times each charger could recharge a laptop: We started with a fully depleted 2015 13-inch MacBook Air and a fully charged portable laptop charger. Once the charger had juiced the laptop enough for it to power on, we maxed out the screen brightness and played a loop of high-resolution railway footage on YouTube . We let it run until the portable charger died or the laptop reached a full charge. If the laptop reached 100% before the portable charger died, we fully drained the laptop again and repeated the test with the partially charged portable charger to find the combined total number of recharges.
• Ability to charge a 15-inch MacBook: To make sure all of the chargers could power a large, high-powered laptop, we connected them to a 15-inch MacBook Pro that normally uses an 87 W power adapter and checked the Mac System Report to make sure it wasn’t struggling to get enough power.
• Look and feel: We picked the chargers up, stuffed them into a crammed backpack, and carried them around to see how they would fit into our lives. We also assessed extra features, such as a screen or battery-status lights.

The Mophie Powerstation Pro AC is the best portable charger with an AC outlet for people who want to charge a laptop (or other devices drawing up to 100 W) while on the go. It’s supremely powerful, has great battery life, and it’s the only model we’ve tested with multiple fast-charging USB-C PD ports as well as a standard USB-A port.

It supplies a lot of power. This Mophie model has the best AC output of the models we’ve tested, cranking out 174 W to our array of halogen bulbs . This is more than enough power to charge most laptops while they’re in use, even heavy-duty business or gaming laptops.

It has great battery life. With a rated capacity of 27,000 mAh (or about 97.2 Wh), the Mophie comes very close to the TSA’s maximum capacity limit for spare batteries without exceeding it. So, if you like using your laptop on long flights, rest assured that you can bring it on a plane in your carry-on luggage.

In our testing, this model was able to charge our test laptop 1.9 times. In other words, it fully charged our MacBook Air once, and then (after fully depleting the laptop’s battery) brought it from 0% to about a 90% charge.

It charges and recharges fast. To recharge itself, the Mophie has a USB-C PD port rated for 60 W input and output. We confirmed these optimal charging speeds in our testing, measuring up to 63 W in and 62 W out.

The unit also has a second, slightly less-powerful USB-C PD port, which is handy for charging a phone or other small device. We measured a maximum output of 24 W from this port in our testing, which is more than enough power to charge the latest iPhones at top speed.

It’s about the size of a paperback. Measuring 7.5 inches tall, 4.5 inches wide, and 1 inch thick, the Mophie has a compact size and shape that’s easy to slip into a backpack or nestle inside a suitcase.

It has a sleek, upscale look. Batteries are rarely beautiful, but this one has a streamlined, professional look. It’ll blend into its surroundings, whether you’re working out of a high-rise building or an RV.

It has excellent build quality. Unlike our other picks, it has a rubber cover over the AC outlet, which is useful for keeping out moisture and dust that could damage the internal components. Helpfully, the cover is attached by a small tether so you won’t lose it.

Also, one of the corners has an attached nylon strap that’s useful to loop around a few fingers while you’re carrying it to prevent drops.

The entire unit is encased in a matte-black metal shell that seems relatively resistant to scratches and scuffs, and it feels solidly built overall.

It’s a great value. As of this writing, it costs less than our other picks ($148).

It has a longer warranty than other options. Made by a company we trust, this charger is backed by a two-year warranty, which is longer than the coverage on any of our other picks.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It’s one of the heaviest models we’ve tested, at 2.2 pounds. But it’s still quite portable, weighing about as much as a 1-liter bottle of water .
• It doesn’t come with a wall charger (just a USB-C charging cable) so you’ll have to supply your own. But that’s true of most available models.
• It has only one USB-A port, whereas most we tested have two. But since it has two USB-C ports, both of which charge phones and other handheld devices faster than any USB-A port, this is a tiny quibble.

Budget pick

This more affordable charger has a fast-charging USB-C port, a standard USB-A port, and an AC outlet that cranked out an impressive 157 W of power in our testing. Plus, it comes with a wall charger.

If you want something that comes with its own wall charger, without losing many of the features or capabilities of our top pick, get the ChargeTech Premium 27K AC .

It has plenty of power. Like our top pick, this model can charge even large, professional-grade laptops without breaking a sweat. In our testing, we measured a peak-power output of 157 W (not far behind that of our top pick) from its AC outlet.

It’s also the only model we tested with a USB-C PD port that's powerful enough to fast-charge the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models : We measured a maximum output of 67 W.

Like our top pick, the ChargeTech has a single USB-A port, which is handy for charging a phone, wireless headphones, or other small device—albeit more slowly than a USB-C port.

It has great battery life. Just like our top pick, the ChargeTech has a rated capacity of 27,000 mAh, and it performed just as well as that model in our capacity tests.

It has multiple recharging options. Unlike our top pick, the ChargeTech can be recharged over DC as well as USB-C. While we didn’t test its DC input capabilities, we measured up to 65 W flowing into the USB-C PD port (meaning it can recharge itself a bit faster than our top pick).

It’s small and lightweight. Weighing just 1.5 pounds (about as heavy as a bottle of beer ) and about the same size and shape as our top pick, the ChargeTech is highly portable.

Its warranty is on the shorter side. ChargeTech backs this model with a one-year warranty, which is shorter than that of our top pick, but it should still give you plenty of time to use your unit and ensure it’s not a dud.

It comes with a charger, but it’s bulky. Unlike our other picks, the ChargeTech helpfully comes with its own charger. However, the proprietary DC charger has a fat plug that takes up a lot of space in a bag (and, annoyingly, the power bank and its charger don’t fit in the included soft pouch).

It doesn’t feel especially well-made . Despite costing $185, as of this writing, the ChargeTech feels a little chintzy overall. So if look and feel are priorities for you, go with one of our other picks.

The Omnicharge Omni 20+ is one of very few available options with wireless charging, as well as a screen showing helpful information like input/output power and operating temperature. It is pricey and has less capacity and output power than our other picks, but it’s your best bet if you want these features.

It can charge your phone wirelessly. This unit also has a Qi wireless-charging feature (though it’s not certified by the Wireless Power Consortium , which we’d prefer for confirmation of safety and optimal performance) that you can use to charge some phones and other devices.

It’s exceptionally compact and lightweight. The Omnicharge is about the size of a bagel or kaiser roll. It has a square shape with gently rounded corners that make it easier to hold or to stuff into a bag. And at 1.4 pounds, it’s the lightest of our picks.

It has well-spaced ports. The ports on this unit are widely spaced, leaving ample room for multiple plugs.

It has an AC outlet on one side, and USB-C PD and DC input/output ports on another. On a third side, you’ll find two USB-A output ports, an OLED display screen, and control buttons to toggle various ports on and off.

It has an upscale, professional look. Its outer shell is made of a soft-textured plastic that’s grippy and comfortable to hold, and it seems relatively scratch and scuff resistant. After you handle it for a while, its surface is likely to gain some fingerprints, however.

Its screen is bright and informative, if sometimes cluttered. When you’re recharging the unit, it displays a large battery icon to show how much charge it has, which is clear and helpful.

But when you’re using it to charge another device, the screen offers so much data—wattage, voltage, temperature, percentage charged, and what ports are currently powered on—that the display can feel cluttered, making it harder to glean key info at a glance.

Capacity and output are on the low side, but sufficient for most needs. In our testing, the Omnicharge topped out at 98 W of power output—less than our other picks, but still plenty of power to charge most laptops while they’re in use.

It brought our MacBook Air from no charge to 80% charged, which again was less than our other picks managed, but not by much.

It comes with cables, but not a wall charger. The Omnicharge comes with both USB-A and USB-C cables, but you’ll have to supply your own wall charger . Since most laptops are powered by a USB-C or DC wall charger, you might already have one on hand that’s compatible with this unit.

If you don’t already have a suitable charger, Omnicharge sells one separately that we’ve used and like enough to recommend. It comes with a 3-foot charging cable, has two USB-C PD ports and a USB-A port, and can supply up to 65 W to a single device or 60 W split between multiple devices. It’s also compact, lightweight, and has a convenient fold-up plug (though you can typically get one of our favorite wall chargers for less).

I ts ports aren’t protected . We wish this unit came with a rubber flap over its ports to protect its internal components against dust and minor spills, as several other models we’ve tested do.

For added peace of mind, Omnicharge sells a clamshell-style case that we’ve packed on numerous weekend trips and workations to protect the unit from scuffs and scratches. (If you want the case, wall charger, charging cable, and portable laptop charger, all four items are also sold as a bundle for $300 at this writing.)

Product support is solid. Its one-year warranty isn’t as long as that of our top pick, but we still think the coverage is long enough for you to fully test the charger and confirm that it doesn’t have a problem. Customer service is responsive, too.

It’s not cheap. At this writing, the Omnicharge is our most expensive pick, costing $250. But as the brand’s name suggests, this model also offers the most charging options.

If you want high quality for a low price, and don’t mind buying a discontinued product : Get the Anker PowerHouse 100 . It’s a former top pick, but since it’s discontinued it might be difficult to find. It’s still being sold by some retailers, though, and would be a great substitute if our current top pick becomes unavailable—or if you can get it for less than $150.

The PowerHouse 100 has a maximum output of 141 W, a 27,000 mAh rated capacity, a USB-C PD port, two USB-A ports, and an AC outlet.

It comes with a 45 W wall charger, USB-C cable, USB-A cable, and a protective cloth carrying case.

It’s intuitive to use, ruggedly built, and easily packable, weighing just 1.9 pounds.

We’d prefer a second USB-C port, and we don’t think its nylon carrying strap adds much value, but it’s still a great option.

If you're willing to pay top dollar for a less-svelte unit with lots of  charging options and an informative screen : Get the Goal Zero New Sherpa 100AC Power Bank . It's expensive, heavy, and lacks premium features like port covers or an included wall charger. But it’s as powerful as any of our picks, has decent battery life, offers the greatest variety of charging/recharging options of the chargers we tested, and it’s one of the few models with a screen.

With a rated capacity of 25,600 mAh, it brought our test laptop from empty to full one time.

It has one AC outlet (100 W output), two USB-C PD ports (one with 100 W output, the other with 60 W output, and both with 60 W input), two USB-A ports (both with 12 W output), a wireless charging pad (15 W output), and a solar-charging port (60 W input).

It comes with a three-foot USB-C cable, though to recharge the unit you’ll need to pair it with a USB-C charger or portable solar battery charger (both are sold separately).

It’s ruggedly built (a cushiony neoprene sleeve is also sold separately), and its angled screen is bright and easy to read.

On the downside, it weighs 2.1 pounds, it’s not especially sleek-looking, and it’s the costliest model we tested ($300 at this writing).

Meet your guide

Sarah Witman

Sarah Witman is a senior staff writer who reports on powering and charging technology for Wirecutter. She previously worked as a writer, editor, and fact checker for several science magazines. Though she researches and tests chargers for a living, her phone battery is usually low.

Further reading

The Best USB-C Laptop and Tablet Chargers

The best replacement for your original charger is the Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger . It’s cheaper and smaller but just as powerful and reliable.

The Best Wireless Portable Chargers and Power Banks

ESR’s HaloLock Kickstand MagSafe Battery Pack can wirelessly charge most phones up to three times, and its built-in kickstand is among the sturdiest we’ve seen.

The Best USB Car Charger

We’ve tested the best car chargers, and we have recommendations for affordable, reliable options that can fast-charge any device while you’re on the road.

The Best Rechargeable Battery Charger (for AA and AAA Batteries)

Panasonic’s Eneloop BQ-CC55 , our favorite charger for AA and AAA rechargeable batteries, is sleek, compact, and easy to use. And it plugs directly into a wall outlet.

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The best USB-C charger for your MacBook Pro or Air

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.

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 .

The M3 Air requires a 70W charger, which effectively pushes you to 100W for a non-Apple charger.

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. Several companies now 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.

More ports on a charger make more sense as we all have more than one device that needs charging. Look for the total power output if you want to charge more than one device at the same time. 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.

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.

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. See our tests of the best portable power banks for MacBook .

Wall, desktop or strip chargers

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.

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

• Ultra compact
• Foldable plug (U.S.)
• Single port

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)

Total power output: 45W

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 and M3 Air can be fast-charged using a 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. It’s not Apple’s prescribed 70W but we’d expect it to charge faster than at 45W. Or you should consider a multiport 65W charger, such as the Ugreen Nexode 65W 3-Port Charger or the Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger —both of which are super-compact and will charge other devices at the same time as you are charging a laptop; see their reviews below.

Anker 715 Nano II – Best single-port 65W wall charger

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)

Total power output: 65W

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

• Lightest multiport charger

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

• Foldable plug (U.S. and U.K.)
• Smallest multiport charger
• Not for the top-end 14-inch MBP

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)

Total power output: 67W

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 Pro, reviewed above, it will power the top-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, but a 100W charger can fast-charge that model.

Ugreen 65W GaN Wall Charger 4 Ports – Best 4-Port 65W USB-C wall charger

• One low 18W PD port
• Larger than 3-port chargers

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)

This is the most ports (4) we’ve seen on a 65W USB-C PD wall charger, making it a versatile (and affordable) 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 an M3 Air or 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

• Can't fast-charge a 16in Pro

Dimensions:   1.7 × 1.1 × 2.7in (4.4 x 2.9 x 6.8cm)

Weight: 6oz (170g)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Total power output: 100W

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, and has recently been updated Anker’s previous model so that it is smaller and a little lighter and with an improved center of gravity so it is less likely to drop out of a wall socket if knocked.

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.

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

• Third USB-C port is 22.5W
• Bulkier than some
• Can't fast-charge 16in MBP

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)

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 an M2 or M3 MacBook Air or 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 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. Read our Ugreen Nexode Pro 100W Charger review .

Ugreen Nexode 100W 2-in-1 GaN Desktop Charger – Best 2-in-1 100W USB-C desktop charger

• Compact 2-in-1 charger
• 15W MagSafe adjustable iPhone stand

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

• Ships with 2m USB-C cable
• Doesn't support MagSafe
• 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)

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

• 140W PD 3.1
• Apple Fast Charging for 16in Pro
• Smaller than Apple 140W charger
• Three ports

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)

Total power output: 160W

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

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)

Total power output: 140W

Colors: White

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

• Available with U.S. plug only

Dimensions:   1.22 x 2.66 x 2.31in (3.1 x 6.8 x 5.9cm)

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

• Least expensive premium option

Dimensions:   1.24 x 2.99 x 2.95in (3.1 x 7.6 x 7.5cm)

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.

Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports, GaN) – Best mixed USB-A/USB-C Desktop Charger

• Super-compact
• Ships with 1.5m USB-C cable

Dimensions:   4.4 x 3 x 1.4 inches (11.2 x 7.6 x 3.5cm)

Weight: 1.24lb (563g)

Ports: 4x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-A (22.5W)

Total power output: 200W

Best for : MacBook Air; 13-inch/14-inch MacBook Pro

This tiny 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, one 20W, and two 12W for less hungry devices, such as iPhone, AirPods or iPad.

It ships with a 5ft (1.5M) USB-C cable.

Ugreen has a similar 200W USB-C GaN Charger with four USB-C and two USB-A, but it’s larger with a lesser-powered USB-C lineup.

Ugreen Nexode 300W GaN Desktop Charger – Best 300W USB-C Desktop Charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro

• 300W maximum

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)

Total power output: 300W

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 145W USB-C GaN Travel Charger – Best USB-C Travel Charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro

• US/UK/EU/AU pins
• No USB-A port

Dimensions:   1.21 x 2.99 x 3.78in (3.1 x 7.6 x 9.6cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (45W PD 3.0)

Total power output: 145W

Colors: Silver

This 140W PD 3.1 wall charger can sit at home in the US, UK, EU or AU/NZ 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 USB-C ports: two at 140W so can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro when using Apple’s MagSafe charging cable; and two at 45W. When all the ports are active it powers as 65W, 30W, 25W and 20W, so can charge a couple of 13-inch or an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro plus smaller devices such as your iPhone or Apple Watch.

An alternative is the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger, reviewed below, which swaps one of the lower USB-C ports for a 12W USB-A port. Both are the same size but the Satechi wins out on having four USB-C, a smidge more total power (5W), and an AU/NZ plug option. If you want the USB-A port, the Belkin is the better choice.

Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger – Best 200W USB-C Desktop Charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro

• 200W maximum

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)

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.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 140W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger – Travel wall charger for 16-inch MacBook Pro

• US/UK/EU pins
• No AU/NZ pin

Dimensions:   1.22 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)

Although it isn’t suitable for Australasian power sockets this 140W PD 3.1 wall charger is a worthy rival to the Satechi 145W USB-C GaN Travel Charger, reviewed above—especially if you desire or require a USB-A port, which the Satechi lacks.

Both are the same size. The Satechi offers a little (just 5W) more total output.

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

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)

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.

OneAdaptr OneWorld65 – Best 65W USB-C PD travel adapter and charger

• Five ports plus one power socket
• Travel plug adapter
• Total output limited for 5 ports

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)

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

• 135W PD 3.0
• Four ports plus one power socket

Dimensions:   3.7 x 2.13 x 2.09in (9.4 x 5.4 x 5.3cm)

Weight: 9.63oz (273g)

Total power output: 135W

Colors: Bue or White

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.

Ugreen 145W Power Bank for Laptop – Power bank for MacBook

• Portable 25000mAh power
• 145W total power output
• Requires charger

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)

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.

See our full list of the best power banks for MacBook for more options.

Ugreen 65W Power Strip DigiNest Cube GaN Extension Lead – Neatest USB-C power extender

• 4 USB ports and 3 AC power sockets

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

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

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

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

• 4 USB ports and 2 AC power sockets
• Smaller than similar USB power extenders
• U.S./CA only

Dimensions:  3.5 x 1.6 x 1.6 inches (8.9 x 4.1 x 4.1cm)

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, M2 or M3 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/M3 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 versatile and affordable desktop charger we’ve tested is the 200W 6-port Anker Prime 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); fast-charge capable with 70W charger or higher

M3 MacBook Air : 30W or 35W Power Adapter depending on 8-or-10-core GPU (Graphics Processing Unit); fast-charge capable with 70W charger or higher

15-inch M3 MacBook Air : 35W Power Adapter; fast-charge capable with 70W charger or higher

13-inch M1 MacBook Pro : 61W Power Adapter

13-inch M2 MacBook Pro : 67W Power Adapter

14-inch M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro : 67W or 96W Power Adapter depending on 10-or-12-core GPU; fast-charge capable with 96W charger or higher

14-inch M3 Pro/Max MacBook Pro : 70W or 96W Power Adapter depending on 14-or-16-core GPU; fast-charge capable with 96W charger or higher

15-inch MacBook Pro : 87W Power Adapter

16-inch MacBook Pro : 140W Power Adapter fast-charger

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.

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?

Author: Simon Jary , Contributor

Simon has over 30 years of expert experience testing and reviewing ever-smaller and more powerful tech accessories, from USB-C and Thunderbolt docks to chargers, batteries, hubs and adapters. A former Editor of Macworld, he has contributed to PCWorld, Tech Advisor and TimeOut, as well as national newspapers such as The Times, Independent and Telegraph.

Recent stories by Simon Jary:

• Best laptop power banks for MacBook
• Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display review: Easy on the eyes (and arms)
• Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) review

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Finding the right hp 45w laptop charger for you.

It's frustrating when you're on the go and your HP laptop starts running low on battery. You need a reliable charger that's compatible with your device and can keep you powered up and productive. That's where an HP 45W laptop charger comes in.

These chargers are designed to provide a consistent and efficient power source for a variety of HP laptops. They're a popular choice because they're lightweight and compact, making them easy to pack in your bag or carry around. Many users find that the 45W output is sufficient for their needs, especially if they're not running demanding applications or games.

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Many users have reported positive experiences with HP 45W laptop chargers. They appreciate the reliability, portability, and affordability of these chargers. Some have even mentioned that they've been able to use the same charger for multiple HP laptops over the years, making it a great investment.

Choosing the right HP 45W laptop charger is essential for keeping your laptop powered up and ready to go. By considering the factors we've discussed, you can find a charger that meets your needs and budget. Whether you're a student, a professional, or simply someone who relies on their HP laptop for everyday tasks, a reliable charger is a must-have.

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