The best USB-C chargers for MacBooks and laptops in the UK 2023

Laptop owners have experienced the anguish of searching for a new power supply before. With the advent of USB-C ports, that's a distant memory. It's now possible to charge your machines via a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops. But how do you tell a smartphone charger from a laptop charger?

USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD 1
8/10

Best value for money

USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD

The best USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops in 2021

Here you have a USB-C charger with great MacBook and laptop compatibility. With a PD power of 105W, it will allow you to quickly charge your device.

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Enter the era of dynamic charging with this USB-C charger from helpers lab. It features four smart ports. In order, you'll have a 65W PD-compatible port with QC protocol, capable of charging most laptops with a USB-C port as well as Apple products like 12, 13, and 15″ MacBooks. It also has a 30w port suitable for smartphones for fast charging.

Convenience is provided by the presence of the two USB Type-A ports that share a total power of 10W, the maximum output is 5V/2A. The included 1.8m long USB-C cable is capable of carrying 5A of current with ultra-low line resistance. Finally, you get a carrying case to prevent accidental drops.

Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD 2
8/10

Best value for money

Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD

The best USB-C charger for entry-level MacBooks and laptops

The PowerPort I is a 5-in-1 charger capable of delivering a safer and faster charge thanks to technology developed by Anker. With smart charging, your battery will be asking for more!

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Being compatible with Power Delivery, or PD, technology, the PowerPort I will allow you to charge, safely, your MacBook, Chromebook or any other machine with USB-C. The USB-C port on this device is capable of delivering 30W, with a maximum speed of 2.4A. The other 4 USB ports are Quick Charge compatible type-A for your smartphones and tablets.

Anker has equipped its USB-C charger with overcharge protection, short circuit protection and a feature that allows it to automatically control its internal temperature. Guaranteed for 18 months, you can safely connect your various devices since it is a smart charger.

Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W 3
7/10

Best value for money

Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W

The best USB-C charger for high-end MacBooks and laptops

This 96W USB-C charger can provide a fast and efficient charging solution whether you're at your desk, at school or on the go.

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This original Apple-made USB-C charger is compatible with the 12-inch MacBook Retina (2015 to 2017), 13-inch MacBook Air Retina (2018 and newer), 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016 and newer), 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016 to 2019) and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019).

Apple's USB-C charger has a single USB-C port capable of delivering a total power output of 96W. This will allow you to have a sufficient level of charge quickly. We will regret the absence of the USB-C cable, but it is a very portable charger since it weighs only 128g.

SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD 4
8/10

Very good

SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD

A USB-C charger for MacBooks and notebooks

Use SATECHI's USB-C Pro charger for professional results. Packing 108W of power, PD, in total, it's compatible with most MacBooks and other USB-C devices.

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Its sleek and stylish design will perfectly match your other equipment and accessories. Capable of charging no less than four devices simultaneously, it has two USB-C outlets, featuring Power Delivery, of 90 and 18W. That's more than enough to effectively charge your MacBook or Surface Pro. For added convenience, you'll have, also, two USB-A ports delivering a total power of 12W.

The charger is made of durable and heat-resistant materials. In addition, it is CE, ETL, USBIF and FCC compliant to ensure safe and worry-free charging of your devices. In addition, you have an LED light that lights up to alert you that it is working.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best USB-C charger for MacBook and laptops

Any specific needs?

The best USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops in 2021

The best USB-C charger for entry-level MacBooks and laptops

The best USB-C charger for high-end MacBooks and laptops

A USB-C charger for MacBooks and notebooks

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best USB-C chargers for MacBooks and laptops

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE VERY GOOD
USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD 5
8/10
Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD 6
8/10
Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W 7
7/10
SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD
Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD
Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W
SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD
Here you have a USB-C charger with great MacBook and laptop compatibility. With a PD power of 105W, it will allow you to quickly charge your device.
The PowerPort I is a 5-in-1 charger capable of delivering a safer and faster charge thanks to technology developed by Anker. With smart charging, your battery will be asking for more!
This 96W USB-C charger can provide a fast and efficient charging solution whether you're at your desk, at school or on the go.
Use SATECHI's USB-C Pro charger for professional results. Packing 108W of power, PD, in total, it's compatible with most MacBooks and other USB-C devices.
Very powerful, 105 w
18-month warranty
Wide compatibility with Apple products
A charger with no power derating
Presence of a multi-port HUB, convenient
4 USB Type-A ports at 2.4A
Lightweight and compact
Allows you to efficiently charge 4 devices simultaneously
A long USB-C cable
Compatible with Apple products
Apple's signature ruggedness
Elegant design and good compatibility

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Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!

Buying guide - USB-C charger for MacBook and laptops

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How to choose your USB-C charger for MacBook and laptops

In order not to go wrong when buying a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops, you need to understand how to distinguish a simple smartphone charger from a laptop model. Below, we give you the important information.

#1 - The power

For Apple's own models, like the MacBooks, the task has been simplified a bit. Indeed, Apple offers 4 types of chargers for MacBook depending on the model and power.

  • The USB-C charger with a power rating between 29 and 30 W will be suitable for MacBooks released since 2015 and Air models since 2018.
  • The 61W USB-C charger will fit 13-inch MacBook Pros released since 2016
  • The 87W charger will support 15-inch MacBook Pros released since 2016
  • The 96W charger will benefit 16-inch MacBook Pros released in 2019 and later.

The right move will be to use Apple USB-C chargers, but if necessary you can use other models as long as they meet the PD standard. Unlike MacBooks, those who own Ultraportables or laptops will need to find out the power requirements of their devices first. So, it will be vital to find out how much power your Ultraportable requires and buy the USB-C charger to match.

#2 - PD and PPS

The first thing that distinguishes a USB-C smartphone charger from a MacBook and laptop model will be the PD 3.0, or Power Delivery, label on the case. Long story short, a USB-C port recognizes different voltage and current profiles. The classic profiles are 5 to 12 V, 1.5 to 2 A current, and are suitable for smartphones and tablets. The Power Delivery feature allows the power to be pushed up to 100W at 5A suitable for MacBooks and laptops. It also allows the charger to set the best voltage for your device. For optimal performance, a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops will need a system called Programmable Power Supply or PPS. This allows the USB-C charger to modulate the power it delivers for a more tailored and faster charge. This is more than convenient on MacBooks and laptops.

#3 - Portability and versatility

Since your USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops will need to accompany you on the go, it will be wise to choose compact models. However, depending on your needs, you need to find the right balance between the number, and different types, of USB ports needed on the USB-C charger and the size. A charger with a multi-port HUB, which is more versatile, will allow you to use the device to charge different devices at once. However, most of the time only a USB-C port will be able to power an ultrabook, for example. If you use the other ports, whether it's a USB Type-A or something else, the power will be split.

#4 - The right USB-C cable

In

some cases, you may find that the length of the original cable is too short, or you may want to acquire more in order to charge other devices simultaneously. Standard USB-C cables only support 15W of voltage, like on tablets or smartphones. For a higher voltage, you'll need to get a power delivery cable. Next, look at the voltage that the cable can handle and it's best to choose a model made by a recognized brand.

What is a USB-C charger?

A USB-C charger has a main, rounded connector common to USB-C. The maximum power of the charger is concentrated in this single port even though it has different types of ports.

What is USB-C?

USB-C allows you to charge faster, also known as Fast Charge, you smartphones or tablets with large capacity batteries. As said above, its advantage is that this type of port, on your laptop, will allow you to transfer audio, video and better charging power in addition to data. It's like the HDMI revolution at its core. The USB-C 3.2 Gen 1×2 and 2X2 ports have speeds of 10 Gb/s and 20 Gb/s respectively. That's twice as fast as the latest USB-A 3.2 Gen 2×1 port which is capable of 10 Gb/s.

The future

If you want to have the ultimate port, right now, you have to go for Thunderbolt 3, now available on the latest generation laptops, which also uses the USB-C port. It pushes the limits of transfers to 40 Gb/s while consuming less power.

USB-A or USB-C?

USB-A

USB type A is the old style USB port and it is the one that equips the majority of devices, still today, like smartphones, laptops or printers. Available in several versions, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, this type of port only allows you to transfer data and charge your Android devices. Inexpensive, this port has a variable transfer speed and has an electrical limit between 0.5 and 2 A.

USB-C

Unlike USB-A with a rectangular tip, USB-C is recognizable with a smaller, rounded, 2.4mm connector. This more compact design allows for thinner and thinner products. Having, also, several versions, 2.0 or 3.1, USB-C allows to transfer audio and video signals in addition to data up to a speed of 10 Gb/s and a better charging speed by supporting between 10 and 100 Watts.

Verdict

Whether you use either of these two technologies depends entirely on your device. Indeed, if it doesn't have a USB-C port, you'll need to use a USB-A port. But if your work requires faster transfer levels and charging, we recommend upgrading your hardware.

Tips

Use an adapter

It is possible to use a USB-C charger with smartphones that only have a USB-A port by purchasing an adapter on the market.

Always check the power of the device you are going to charge

If

you use a 70W USB-C charger to charge a more powerful laptop, you risk damaging the battery cells

. Also,

your charging time will be doubled or tripled.

Use a more powerful cable

Buy

a cable with enough power for more flexibility in using your USB-C charger. The charger is able to set the right voltage for your device, and a 60W cable will be able to transfer a 50W voltage. The opposite is not possible.

The right replacement cable

For

optimal performance of Apple's USB-C chargers, you must use the correct replacement cable. To do this, read the serial number of the cable listed next to the Made in California statement. If it starts with C4M or FL4, the cable is suitable for 61W chargers. For USB-C chargers over 61W, you should choose the cables marked DLC, CTC, FTL, or G0J.

Plug the USB-C connector from top to bottom!

Unlike

other USB connectors that require precise positioning, you can connect USB-C however you like.

FAQ

What is the best USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops?

The best USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find the best products out there.

What is a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops?

It is now possible to charge your MacBook or laptop with a USB-C charger. To do this, your device will need to have the right type of connector. Secondly, you need to get a USB-C charger, not a smartphone charger.

How to choose a USB-C charger for MacBook and laptops?

You need to take into account different criteria such as the power of your laptop, the dimensions of the case and the different options. We explain all of this in our article on chargers of this type.

Can you use a USB-A cable with a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops?

No. A USB-C cable has its own technology. However, you can buy a USB-C charger that has a multi-port HUB. That way, you can charge your Android and IOS devices.

What is the ideal voltage for a USB-C charger for MacBooks and laptops?

Some MacBooks can be powered by a 30W USB-C charger, but in general, we recommend a USB-C charger between 60 and 65 Watts. For compatibility issues, we recommend reading our full guide.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , coolblue.be
  2. , support.apple.com
  3. , frandroid.com
  4. , trust.com
  5. , cnet.com
  6. , nytimes.com
  7. , computerworld.com
  8. , labo.fnac.com
  9. , cui.com
  10. , cdiscount.com
  11. , fnac.com
  12. , frandroid.com
  13. , support.apple.com
  14. , amazon.co.uk
  15. , amazon.co.uk
  16. , amazon.co.uk
  17. , boulanger.com
  18. , amazon.co.uk
  19. , ebay.fr
  20. , boutique-conseils.com
  21. , boulanger.com
  22. , ebay.fr
  23. , boulanger.com
  24. , apple.com
  25. , pearl.be
  26. , fnac.com
  27. , 01net.com
  28. , bestinmac.com
  29. , ldlc.com
  30. , lemonde.fr
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD 9
USB-C helpers lab charger, 105W PD
Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD 10
Anker PowerPort I USB-C Chargeur, 60 W PD
Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W 11
Apple Adaptateur Secteur USB‑C 96 W
SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD 12
SATECHI Desktop Charger Pro USB-C, 108W PD

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