It wasn’t too many years ago you needed a backpack to carry a laptop charger. They were huge, got hot and came with thick, permanently attached, messy cords. That’s no longer the case, thanks in large part to manufacturers standardizing charging around USB-C. Now a 65 watt or even 100 watt charger might fit in the pocket of your jeans. The cables are interchangeable, too. Apple‘s latest charger is more compact than its previous ones and even packs in two USB-C ports. It can even be used to charge your laptop and your phone, tablet or whatever. This is a look at that new charger and how it compares to others.
The 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter takes on a new form factor. If you’re curious about its size and shape, I have shared several comparison pictures to help put it in perspective for real-life situations.
There’s also the consideration of whether you want Apple’s first-party charger or a third-party one that might offer more power in a different form. I compared Nomad and Satechi chargers to the new Apple, as well. Is this Apple power adapter better than past ones? Is it better than third-party ones? That’s what I wanted to find out.
TL;DR
Pros:
- Smaller and more powerful than the 30 watt charger that comes with the base model MacBook Air
- Two USB-C ports
Cons:
- Its width may cause problems fitting in certain power strips
Apple Power Adapters
TYLER HAYES
As a brief overview, here’s a rundown of some of Apple’s current power adapters and their retail prices.
In terms of more powerful ones for MacBook Pro laptops, Apple also sells power adapters in 67, 96 and 140 wattages. While more power will provide faster-charging speeds for some devices like the MacBook Pros or even the new MacBook Air, these faster speeds are less impactful on iPhones and iPads, with the iPhone 13 topping out around 22 watts and the iPhone 13 Pro Max achieving around 27 watts. (Modern devices negotiate how much power they need between themselves and the chargers.)
The new 35W Compact Power Adapter features two USB-C ports on the bottom and foldable prongs in the back. The first thing that struck me was the adapter’s width. It may be too wide for some power strips. However, plugged into a wall outlet it should sit flush and neatly.
TYLER HAYES
TYLER HAYES
This new compact adapter is essentially the same height as the 30W Power Adapter with a single USB-C port while laying on its side. It is shallower and less wide while also supplying 35 watts of power.
When I saw the 35W Compact Power Adapter online, I was unsure about its shape. After holding it in my hand and seeing it next to some other adapters, I think it accomplishes its goals of being smaller while offering more ports. I’ve learned that no power adapter shape will work for all the outlet types you encounter in the wild, but I think this new compact one should fit most.
TYLER HAYES
TYLER HAYES
The 35W Compact Power Adapter isn’t the only new charger, however. The 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter carries the traditional form factor of the previous ones, but gets a small bump in wattage and adds a second USB-C port. This product will be available soon.
Other Power Adapters
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For comparison’s sake, I dug out a few power adapters I had on hand from other manufacturers to pit against Apple’s newest compact adapter:
Nomad’s 30W Power Adapter is downright tiny. Its 65W Power Adapter is more powerful than Apple’s at only a fractionally bigger size. Satechi, meanwhile, offers three ports in a compact charger.
These are the ones I had available at the time for direct comparison, but there are plenty of other chargers out there that can be used across multiple devices. The Anker Nano II 30W, for example, is impossibly small.
The Best Power Adapters
TYLER HAYES
When the new MacBook Air becomes available in July, the $1,199 base model will ship with the older 30W Power Adapter, which contains a single USB-C port. Apple is offering either the new 35W Compact Power Adapter or its 67W Power Adapter for a $20 upgrade. The 67W model will be able to fast-charge the computer, so that will be money well spent.
I do like this new 35W Compact Power Adapter from Apple. The two USB-C ports make it much more versatile and capable of charging more than one device at a time. It’s not perfect, though. I still like how competitive third-party accessory makers are. I especially like the smaller sizes of Nomad’s and Anker’s 30 watt options.
In case it needs to be said, there is no perfect size or shape for a power adapter. I was on an airplane recently and the power adapter I brought kept falling out because it was heavier and the outlet was slanted at an angle toward the ground. At least adapters are getting small enough so that multiple will fit in a travel bag.
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