Mike Peterson
Apple in June released a new dual-output USB-C charger, allowing users to charge up two devices simultaneously. However, there are less expensive — and better — alternatives out there.
The new 35W charger, announced at WWDC 2022, ships as the stock adapter for the new M2-equipped MacBook Air models. It's also available to purchase separately for $59.
Apple's charger is not the latest or the most feature-packed on the market, however. Here are a few other options.
Anker Nano Pro 40W charger
Anker is known for producing a slew of quality third-party accessories, including a 40W power adapter that can stand toe-to-toe with the new Apple 35W charger.
The 40W power adapter can charge a MacBook Air at full speed with either of its two USB-C ports. It's also available in several different color options, is quite a bit smaller than the Apple charger, and sports safety features like a temperature sensor and a power output adjuster.
It retails for $35 on Amazon.
Anker Nano II 65W Charger
If you don't mind paying a little extra for additional functionality, the Anker Nano II is also a fine choice. It's a bit larger than the previous Anker charger, but provides up to 65 watts of power and a USB-A port.
Being a GaN charger, the Anker Nano II is also small enough to be a convenient travel and remote work charger. With three ports, you can easily charge up a MacBook Air or Pro, a pair of AirPods, and your iPhone.
It retails for $59.99 on Amazon.
Belkin 40W USB-C charger
If you don't need to charge a MacBook Air and you just want two 20W ports, the Belkin 40W power adapter is an affordable option. While it's called a 40W adapter, each port tops out at 20 watts.
However, 20W is more than enough to fast charge your iPhone while juicing up an Apple Watch or a pair of AirPods. That makes the Belkin adapter a good alternative for users who only want to charge non-notebook devices.
It retails for $24.99.
Spigen 40W adapter
One of the more affordable options on this list, the Spigen 40W power adapter adapter offers up to 30W maximum power output for each port and is available in both white and black.
That means you'll be able to charge up a MacBook Air at full speed if you don't have any other devices plugged in. It can also provide power to two devices simultaneously with a lower output.
It retails for $29.99 on Amazon.
Satechi 108W USB-C Charger
This option from Satechi combines a trio of USB-C Power Delivery ports into a form factor about as tall as Apple's standard MacBook chargers, though not nearly as wide.
You can charge up to three devices simultaneously with the charger — including a MacBook Air and any combination of iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches. The individual ports don't appear to have specific caps either, so any of them can provide up to 100W, or some combination thereof.
It retails for $74.99 on Amazon.
Scosche Powervolt USB-C
If you're looking for the most affordable option that can provide similar performance to Apple's charger, this Scosche power brick is a good choice.
The power adapter can provide up to 36 watts of total power, which is the same as Apple's own charger. While it's fairly bulky since it isn't GaN-based, the charger is very affordable.
It retails for $17.99 on Amazon.
HyperJuice 100W GaN Charger
This option from HyperJuice costs nearly twice as much as Apple's own charger, but you could argue that it provides more than twice as much value. It's a 100W power adapter with a total of four ports — two of them USB-C and two USB-A.
Either USB-C port can provide up to 100 watts of power with a single device plugged in, while the USB-A ports top out at 18 watts. Even with all four ports in use, you'll still be able to fast-charge a MacBook Air.
It retails for $99 on Amazon.
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