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30, 70, or 140 watts? With a MacBook, the power adapter determines how quickly the battery recharges – and in the EU, Switzerland, and the UK, one is no longer included in the box. If you choose the wrong one, you'll either pay for power the device never uses or wait unnecessarily long for the next charge.
All current MacBooks charge via USB-C using the USB Power Delivery standard. In principle, any USB-C power adapter that meets this standard will charge – from compact travel adapters to 140-watt powerhouses. In practice, however, the wattage makes a significant difference, as only a compatible power adapter will achieve the full charging speed.
The range extends from the entry-level MacBook Neo, which reaches its limit at around 30 watts, to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which requires 140 watts. In October, Apple also introduced the MacBook Pro with the M6 processor and the models with the PROLED XDR display. The laptops use the same USB-C ports for both power and external monitors – one and the same port handles both functions.
The basis is Apple's support document on power supplies as well as the technical specifications for MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with Liquid Retina XDR Display and MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Every MacBook charges via USB-C power adapters with USB Power Delivery – for reliable charging, Apple's minimum power output for the model should be met.
- A more powerful power supply won't hurt, a weaker one will charge more slowly or may only be sufficient for operation.
- In the EU, Switzerland and Great Britain, Apple ships MacBooks without a power adapter; only the charging cable is included in the box.
- Fast charging is available for the MacBook Air starting at 70 watts (the 13-inch model starts at 67 watts according to the support document), for the 14-inch MacBook Pro starting at 96 watts, and for the 16-inch model at 140 watts.
- For the MacBook Neo, Apple's minimum specification of 20 watts is the slowest sensible choice, not the most suitable one.
USB-C and USB Power Delivery as the Common Foundation
Since Apple reintroduced MagSafe in its third generation, MacBooks can be charged either magnetically via MagSafe 3 or traditionally via one of the USB-C ports. Both methods utilize the same underlying technology: USB Power Delivery. Therefore, a MacBook cannot be tied to a specific Apple power adapter.
The only thing that matters is the power output. Apple specifies recommended power adapters for each model that allow the MacBook to achieve its full charging speed, and also includes a minimum power output in the technical specifications. A slightly weaker power adapter will charge more slowly. According to Apple's Mac user guide, if the adapter's power output is below this minimum, it may only be sufficient for operation, not for charging the battery.
Conversely, a more powerful power adapter won't cause any harm. Apple states in its support document on power adapters that a Mac with USB-C charging can be charged with any USB-C power adapter, even if it delivers more power than recommended. So, connecting a 140-watt model to a MacBook Air poses no risk.
This question only arises with laptops anyway. The Mac mini and Mac Studio have the power supply built into the case, while the iMac comes with its 143-watt power supply in the box.
MagSafe 3 or USB-C: Two Routes to Power
MagSafe 3 is the magnetic charging connector found on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro – including the new models with the M6 processor and PROLED XDR display. The connector attaches magnetically, detaches without any damage if the cable is accidentally bumped, and doesn't block any of the USB-C ports. Charging is done via the USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, which connects to the power adapter on one end and the MacBook on the other.
Those who don't want to use the port can charge the same models just as well via a USB-C port. With the MacBook Neo, there's no choice: The entry-level device forgoes MagSafe and Thunderbolt and has two USB-C ports with different capabilities – one with USB 3 and display output, the other with USB 2. The Neo can be charged via either port.
One detail regarding the cable is worth noting. Standard USB-C charging cables are usually rated for 60 or 100 watts; however, to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro via USB-C at the full 140 watts, you need a 240-watt cable, and that's only available from the November 2023 model onwards. A detailed overview of which cable class transmits which power is provided in the USB-C cable compatibility guide for Macs. The included MagSafe 3 cable transmits the full power output right out of the box.
Older MagSafe or MagSafe 2 power adapters are not compatible. MagSafe 3 is not compatible with previous generations, even via Apple's MagSafe-to-MagSafe 2 converter.
Which Wattage for Which MacBook?
The following overview shows which power adapters Apple recommends for the current models and at what power output fast charging takes effect.
| MacBook Model | Recommended by Apple | Charging Port | Fast charging from |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) | 20 W (practical charging limit around 30 W) | USB-C | not supported |
| MacBook Air 13″ (M5) | 30 W, 35 W Dual, 67 W or 70 W | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | 67 W (support document) or 70 W (datasheet) |
| MacBook Air 15″ (M5) | 35 W Dual, 67 W or 70 W | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | 70 W |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (M6, M5 Pro, M5 Max) | 67 W, 70 W or 96 W | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | 96 W |
| MacBook Pro 16″ (M5 Pro, M5 Max) | 140 W | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | 140 W |
These values apply equally to models with both Mini-LED and PROLED XDR displays. In the technical specifications, Apple also lists a minimum power output: 30 watts for the 13-inch Air, 35 watts for the 15-inch Air, 60 watts for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, and 70 watts for the 14-inch model with M5 Pro or M5 Max. For the M5 Pro and M5 Max, the 67-watt power adapter from Apple's list is therefore below the minimum power output specified in the data sheet. Regarding the 13-inch Air, Apple's information on fast charging is contradictory: the support document states 67 watts, while the data sheet specifies 70 watts.
In practice, this can be boiled down to a few recommendations. For the MacBook Air, a 70-watt power adapter achieves full charging speed, including fast charging; a 35-watt adapter with two ports is sufficient for everyday use, but charges more slowly.
For the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the 96-watt power adapter is the right choice if you also want fast charging – this applies to the new model with the M6 chip as well as the M5 Pro and M5 Max. If you have a 16-inch MacBook Pro on your desk, there's no way around a 140-watt adapter; smaller power adapters will charge it, but never at full speed.
For the Air, Apple also mentions the dynamic 40-watt power adapter, which delivers up to 60 watts and can be used with a USB-C charging cable.
The MacBook Neo and its charging limit
The MacBook Neo is an exception because it doesn't use an M-series chip, but rather the A18 Pro from the iPhone 16 Pro models; it also lacks Thunderbolt. Apple only recommends a 20-watt power adapter as the minimum required wattage, without specifying an upper limit.
Independent measurements paint a different picture than this minimum specification. ChargerLAB's charging test shows a peak of 18 watts with Apple's 20-watt power adapter and 30 watts with the compact 35-watt model with two ports; adapters with 96 or 140 watts add no further power. Third-party power adapters rated at 30 watts and above also reached around 30 watts in the same test series.
Macworld, in its own test, arrives at a lower upper limit of around 24 watts and even measures only 12 watts with a 20-watt power supply. The two sets of results differ in the exact figure. However, the conclusion is the same: above approximately 30 watts, more power provides no additional benefit.
The reverse is crucial. In Macworld's tests, the Neo, starting from 20 percent charge, gains around 15 percent in 30 minutes with the 20-watt power adapter, and about 30 percent with a 96-watt adapter – the difference between Apple's minimum specification and a more powerful adapter thus represents a doubling of the charging speed. However, the Neo still doesn't support fast charging like the Air and Pro; Apple doesn't list the model as fast-charging capable.
For purchasing a power adapter, this means: A compact 30 or 35-watt USB-C adapter will charge the Neo as quickly as possible, and a 96 or 140-watt model offers no additional benefit. The Neo charges using the same USB-PD standard as an iPhone or iPad, so an existing power adapter can often be reused – except for the small 20-watt model from the iPhone if you need a fast charge.
Unlike the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, where RAM can be configured as needed, the Neo comes with a fixed 8 GB of RAM and always features the same two USB-C ports. Reports indicate that its successor, the MacBook Neo 2, will upgrade to the A19 Pro chip and 12 GB of RAM.
Fast Charging: 50 Percent in Half an Hour
Apple supports fast charging on the MacBook Air from 2022 onwards and on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models from 2021 onwards. With the appropriate power adapter and cable, the battery can be charged up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.
Apple lists the specific combinations in its fast-charging guide. The MacBook Air reaches this speed starting at 70 watts, while the support document specifies 67 watts for the 13.6-inch model. The 14-inch MacBook Pro requires at least 96 watts, and the 16-inch model the full 140 watts – via USB-C only with the 240-watt cable and only from the November 2023 model onward.
A display can also act as a power supply. The MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro charge quickly via Thunderbolt cable when connected to the Apple Studio Display, Studio Display XDR, and Pro Display XDR. The 16-inch model only achieves this with the Studio Display XDR among Apple's displays. With displays from other manufacturers, the limit is 85 watts for the Air and 94 watts for the 14-inch Pro.
No power supply included in the box: what's included in the EU, Switzerland and Great Britain
Perhaps the most significant change concerns the included accessories. In the EU, Switzerland, and the UK, Apple no longer includes a power adapter with its MacBooks – the box contains only the appropriate charging cable: a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable for the Air and Pro, and a USB-C charging cable for the Neo. This also applies to the new MacBook Pro models with the M6 chip and ProLED XDR display. Apple has not officially provided a reason for shipping the new MacBook models without a power adapter.
European regulations on chargers only require that devices be available without a power adapter. They do not prohibit including one – omitting it goes beyond the regulation. In the US, an adapter is still required as standard.
Switzerland is neither a member of the EU nor the EEA, but has also made USB-C the charging standard through its own amendment to the Telecommunications Equipment Ordinance. There is no requirement to omit the power adapter there either.
The power adapter is therefore a separate item that needs to be factored in from the start. Those upgrading from an older MacBook can usually continue using their existing Apple power adapter, as long as the wattage is compatible with the new model.
Third-Party and GaN: Smaller, Lighter, Often Cheaper
An Apple power adapter is not required. Apple itself points out that any USB-C power adapter with USB Power Delivery is suitable, provided it complies with applicable regulations and safety standards. This is precisely where adapters based on gallium nitride (GaN) demonstrate their strength: The technology switches more efficiently than conventional silicon, which is why GaN power supplies are significantly smaller and lighter for the same power output.
Many also come with multiple ports and can charge a MacBook, iPhone, and headphones simultaneously – a noticeable advantage when traveling compared to carrying several individual chargers. The market for USB-C power adapters and compatible charging cables now covers all power levels from 30 to 140 watts.
Three things are important when buying a power adapter: The wattage should at least match Apple's recommendation for your specific model, the adapter must support USB-PD, and if you want to charge multiple devices simultaneously, pay attention to the power distribution. The information on the packaging usually states the total power output, not the output per port – so if a second port is occupied, less power will be available for your MacBook.
Why Apple's minimum specification is the weakest basis for purchase
Apple's list includes several recommended power adapters for each model, and simply choosing the smallest one often means buying the wrong adapter for your needs. For the MacBook Neo, the listed 20 watts result in the slowest charging speed the device allows; for the MacBook Air, the 30-watt power adapter is an option on the same list, but it doesn't support fast charging. In my opinion, the list describes what works—not what makes sense.
Therefore, I'm focusing on the fast-charging threshold rather than the minimum specification: 70 watts for the Air, 96 watts for the 14-inch Pro, and a compact 30- or 35-watt adapter for the Neo. I've compiled a separate list of suitable power adapters, GaN chargers, and MagSafe cables for the MacBook. This way, in all three cases, you'll be buying exactly the power output the device requires. With the 16-inch Pro, the question is settled anyway, as it requires 140 watts.
Since the adapter is no longer included in the box, the power supply is part of the purchase price. Those who already own a powerful USB-C power supply for an iPad or iPhone often already have a suitable solution at home for a MacBook Air or Neo.
Which power adapter are you using with your MacBook – the original, a compact GaN adapter, or just whatever you had lying around? Let us know in the comments how many watts you're charging at and whether the speed is sufficient for you.
Frequently Asked Questions: MacBook Power Adapter
Yes, for the MacBook Neo: Apple specifies 20 watts as the minimum power output, but charging takes significantly longer with that power than with 30 watts. For the MacBook Air and Pro, a 20-watt power adapter falls short of Apple's minimum output of 30 watts or more. According to Apple's Mac user guide, an insufficient power adapter may only be enough for operation, not for charging the battery.
No. The MacBook only draws as much power as it can handle. Apple states in its support document on power adapters that a Mac with USB-C charging can also be charged with a power adapter with a higher wattage than recommended.
Hold down the Option key and open System Information from the Apple menu. Select "Power" on the left; the wattage of the connected power adapter or display will then be listed under "Charger Information." Alternatively, the wattage is shown on the power adapter's label.
For full charging speed, including fast charging, a 70-watt model is recommended; Apple's support document already specifies 67 watts for the 13.6-inch Air, while the data sheet lists 70 watts. The 30-watt power adapter is also on Apple's recommendation list, but it does not support fast charging.
Apple recommends 67, 70, or 96-watt power adapters for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and specifies 60 watts as the minimum output in the M6 model's datasheet. Fast charging is only possible with 96 watts or more—just like the M5 Pro and M5 Max models. A power adapter is not included in the box for the EU, Switzerland, and the UK.
Up to about 30 watts, yes, but not beyond that. In the ChargerLAB test, the Neo reached a peak of 18 watts with Apple's 20-watt power adapter and 30 watts with a 35-watt, two-port adapter – 96- or 140-watt models don't add any more power. Macworld, in its own test, arrived at a lower upper limit of around 24 watts; the exact figure varies, but the recommendation remains the same.
Apple has not given an official reason. European regulations regarding chargers only require that devices be available without a power adapter, and do not prohibit including one. Besides the EU, Apple also ships to Switzerland and the UK without a power adapter. In the US, an adapter is still included.
