The Best MacBook Pro Charger You Can Buy Right Now

It’s an exciting time to be a MacBook Pro user. The latest models have adopted all-new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, likely the best processors available in a laptop to date. And the new Retina Display XDR displays made from mini-LED are simply stunning.

These latest machines join an existing lineup of 13-inch M1 Macs, along with an array of Intel-based MacBook Pros from a couple years ago. The lineup is pretty varied, and that can lead to some confusion if you happen to need to buy a new charger for your MacBook Pro.

No matter which generation or chipset, your MacBook Pro is a valuable device, one that you need in your life. So you don’t want to end up with a cheap or incorrect charger and risk damaging your device. Find out the best charger for your MacBook Pro in the content below.

And speaking of keeping your device safe from damage, you need an extended warranty plan for your MacBook Pro. Check out how much you could save with Upsie.

The problem with chargers is that there’s a lot of variety out there, and it’s not always clear what a user should do if they need to replace the charger that came with a device. And because you’re dealing with electricity, there’s always a worry that the wrong charger could fry your laptop.

According to Apple’s own support documents, it’s ideal to choose a charger with the same wattage as your MacBook. You can find out what that wattage is by visiting that support page.

Apple guarantees that using an Apple-branded higher wattage power adapter won’t damage your MacBook. But what about third-party chargers? The best advice is to stick with first-party if you can. If you have to choose a third-party charger, go with a well-known brand that you’ve heard of (like the ones listed below).

As if things weren’t complicated enough, not every USB-C cable has the same wattage rating, either. Make sure your replacement cable can support the wattage level listed on your charger and laptop.

For the 16-inch 2021 MacBook Pro, there’s really only one choice worth buying: Apple’s own 140W USB-C Power Adapter. It features MagSafe (yes, like it used to be on MacBooks, not like it works on iPhones) and even fast charging. Nothing else on the market can come anywhere close. It’s also a technical breakthrough, as 9to5mac points out.

For the 14-inch model, you should choose either Apple’s 67W USB-C power adapter or the 96W one, depending on the laptop's configuration.

Again, these laptops are just so new that it doesn’t make sense to recommend third-party options.

If you bought the consumer-oriented M1 MacBook Pro, your best bet again is to stick with Apple’s charger, the 61W USB-C power adapter. You’ll pay a little more, but you’ll worry less since you know Apple verifies its own chargers will operate safely.

If you’re looking for something a little bit cheaper or more compact (but still trustworthy), check out the Anker PowerPort III Pod Lite USB-C Charger. It takes up less space than Apple’s solution and has 65 watts of charging power, plenty for your 2020 M1 MacBook Pro.

Don’t be alarmed by the huge list of compatible devices. Anker’s PowerIQ technology supports fast charging for certain phones and can intelligently output the proper wattage for a wide range of devices.

Another newer option from Anker is the Nano II 65W GaN charger. This one is foldable, emulating a trait everyone loves about Apple’s own charging bricks. It’s also based on GaN technology, the first of its type. (Apple introduced the same tech for its 140W charger.)

Going back a generation or two, Apple has released Intel-based MacBook Pros in three sizes, each with a unique wattage rating (and, therefore, charging brick):

The third-party 65-watt chargers mentioned above will work for 13-inch machines. But if you need a higher wattage charger, you’re somewhat stuck with Apple. The higher-wattage third-party chargers you find out there don’t even carry recognizable branding and aren’t worth gambling on. Unless you want to trust a company named KSACDN or ACEHE, you’re better off buying Apple.

The right charger is a great way to keep your MacBook Pro running well for years to come. But even more important is the right extended warranty plan. Upsie offers protection that matches AppleCare+ in terms of coverage, but with Upsie’s extended warranties, you spend a lot less.

Get the right coverage at the right price with Upsie.