And they all have folding AC prongs for easy travel. Most of our top picks below include dual charging outputs instead of one, allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple devices.
(That also blows away the puny 5-watt output charger that still defaults pack-in for the iPhone 11 and earlier models, though the iPhone 11 Pro models ship with an 18-watt USB-C model.) As a result, these adapters generally deliver 60 watts of power output or better, putting them in the same ballpark as the 65-watt chargers that many laptops ship with. A few commonalities to the models we focused on: Most of these use a new material called Gallium Nitride (or GaN) that enables high-power adapters to be made in much smaller sizes. This list goes way beyond a simple phone charger. Thankfully, I've spent the past few weeks testing some of them and I've found some go-to choices for fast charging on the go. The key, of course, is getting one of the latest and greatest USB-C power delivery chargers. The fact of the matter is that if you're packing the right kind of charging cable (or dongles), and your laptop or device was released in the past couple of years, you'll be in very good shape. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration - but not much. That's because you can charge nearly everything - including newer laptops - through a one-size-fits-all USC-C device charging technology: USB-C power delivery, or USB-C PD. But even if you're carrying four or more devices around, you don't need a separate wall charger or outlet or cable for each one. The USB-IF's Power Delivery standard governs power levels so a high-power charger won't damage a low-power device.Īpple sells its 140W charger separately for $99 but includes no charging cables with it.These days, nearly every device in your bag has a rechargeable battery - your phone, tablet, wireless headphones and laptop probably being your main priorities. To address this, the USB Implementers Forum standards group expanded USB charging with several new levels up to 240-watt charging levels this year.
One area that's been out of reach for USB has been higher-end laptops for gaming, which need more than the 100-watt maximum USB has been able to supply. That's been a boon for consumers, who can use the same charging equipment to top up batteries in laptops, headphones, tablets, phones, game consoles and other products. USB has amplified its clout in the tech industry by expanding from data transfer duties to charging, first with phones and other small devices, and more recently with laptops. At its MacBook Pro launch event, Apple also announced its AirPods 3 and more colorful HomePod Mini smart speakers.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro, available in configurations with smaller 67-watt and 96-watt chargers, has a 70-watt-hout battery that's about 20% larger than the Intel-based model it replaces. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has the same 100-watt-hour battery size as its predecessor, but it includes fast-charge technology so customers can inject more power with a quick trip to the charger. Supporting the new USB-C standard is important for anyone who wants to use Apple's charger on other devices or third-party chargers on Apple's new MacBook Pros. The high-power charging works also with the laptop's USB-C ports, too, thanks to a new standard this year that boosts USB charging power as high as 240 watts.
"MagSafe 3 has a new design that supports more power into the system," said Mac product line manager Shruti Haldea during the launch event.