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Best USB-C PD laptop chargers 2023: More portable power | PCWorld

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“The best charger is the one that shipped with your laptop” is old advice that needs updating because there are often superior options available either as your principal laptop charger, as a spare, or as a flexible travel charger. laptop adapter

You know that the charger that came with your laptop will work, but it won’t do much else and there are third-party USB-C chargers available that do much more.

Some laptops still ship with their own cumbersome AC power brick and barrel-shaped DC connector, but most premium laptops today also or solely charge via USB-C—including all the models in our roundup of the best laptops.

USB-C chargers are much smaller and more convenient than proprietary chargers, and will work with multiple and varied devices, making them a more flexible, more portable solution.

Thunderbolt ports on laptops are compatible with—and look identical to—USB-C, the reversible connector that is fast replacing the rectangular USB-A standard.

Of course, not every laptop with a USB-C port can be charged with a USB-C charger. The determining factor is support for USB Power Delivery (PD); more details below.

Assuming that your laptop supports charging via USB-C, the following products reviewed are, in our estimation, the best USB-C PD chargers you can pair with your device.

For USB-C chargers you don’t need to buy an HP laptop charger to charge an HP laptop. Each of the third-party USB-C chargers tested and reviewed below will work with any laptop that supports USB PD charging. Note that cheaper low-quality chargers can pose a significant risk due to their lack of safety measures, and can lead to electric shocks or short circuits that could damage your laptop’s battery or cause a fire. Here, we have reviewed and highlighted only superior laptop chargers, ensuring top-end performance, safety, and compatibility.

Smaller laptops often require just a 35W or 45W charger, mid-sized need 65W, and larger laptops demand 100W or higher.

PD chargers will be rated at either PD 3.0 or PD 3.1. PD 3.0 can charge at up to 100W depending on the maximum output of the charging port; PD 3.1 at up to 240W, although few current laptops require anything over 140W.

Consider the total output of the charger when it has multiple ports. Most multi-port chargers are quite flexible in spreading that total output between ports. We have listed the default port maximums and the total all-port output for each charger reviewed.

Also look for chargers offering Programmable Power Supply (PPS), which makes charging supported devices more efficient; note that not all devices support PPS. See below our list of the best chargers for more information on PD, PPS and other technologies.

Below we have tested and reviewed wall chargers that plug directly into a wall power socket, desktop chargers that connect to the socket via a longer cable and usually offer a lot more USB ports, and power extender strips that boast AC outlets as well as USB ports. We have also chosen our best laptop charger for car, and even some fun laptop chargers that might even make you smile.

You can learn more about wattages and what else to look for in a USB-C charger and how we test them below our recommendations.

Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.49 x 1.62in (3.5 x 3.8 x 4.1cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0)

If you are used to a standard laptop charger with proprietary power brick, plug, and cable, or even an older USB charger, you’ll be stunned at the ultra-compact size and super-light weight of most GaN USB-C chargers—and this GaN 2 charger is the smallest we have tested.

At 45W it’s not appropriate for medium or large laptops, but is fine for smaller models—check the required wattage on your laptop, and read our advice below this list.

You can use the Anker 713 to charge your phone or tablet, too—at 45W it supports Samsung Super Fast Charging and Apple Fast Charge—but not at the same time as your laptop, as it has just the one port and only 45W to share.

The only problem you might have is losing it—it’s that small.

The U.S./CA model of the Anker 713 Nano II features foldable plug prongs for extra portability. The U.K. model is therefore a little larger, but still almost unbelievably tiny. U.K. buyers instead might prefer the Ugreen Foldable 45W Nexode GaN Dual USB C Charger that does have foldable plug pins and boasts two ports.

Dimensions: 1.65 x 1.42 x 1.74in (4.2 x 3.6 x 4.4cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0)

This 65W charger is a little larger than its 45W sibling above, but the GaN 2 Anker 715 is still pocket-sized and can power up larger laptops or fast-charge compatible phones.

Its plug prongs fold back, making it ultra-portable for a 65W charger.

If, however, you want to charge more than one device at the same time, look for a charger with more than one USB port.

Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches (5.5 x 4 x 3.2cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Ugreen’s Nexode Pro 65W is larger than the Anker 715 Nano II, reviewed above, but boasts three ports so you can charge multiple devices at the same time, using just one compact charger. When I say larger, don’t get me wrong, it’s tiny.

The two USB-C ports each support 65W, and the lower USB-A port can charge at up to 22.5W—powerful enough to fast-charge most phones—but note that maximum simultaneous output is 65W.

Other same-time charging options include 45W for a laptop and 20W for a second device, or 45W plus 15W shared between the other two outputs.

We also recommend the Anker 735 Nano II (U.S. / U.K.) in the 65W three-port wall charger category. The two chargers are very similar in terms of charging functionality.

You can save a little money for the (barely) larger non-Pro Ugreen Nexode 65W USB C GaN Charger-3 Ports Wall Charger ($44.99), which is has a lower energy density but is a few bucks cheaper.

U.K. recommendation: The prongs on the U.K. version of the non-Pro 65W Nexode do fold back, unlike on the fixed Nexode Pro version, so we recommend that version to readers from that country.

Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.5 x 1.9in (4 x 3.8 x 5cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (67W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Anker’s compact Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger has three ports just like the Ugreen Nexode Pro 65W USB-C Charger and is roughly the same size and weight.

This excellent charger ties with the Ugreen as our favorite three-port 65/67W wall charger. Both are tiny for what they offer and represent great value for money.

You get 2x 67W instead of 2x 65W (remember that the total charger output is 67W, so using both will share that power) but this extra 2W is not significant enough to make the Anker outright champion. You can pretty much choose on price—check our live pricing above.

Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.6 x 2.2in (6 x 4 x 5.5cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (20W)

Colors: Purple, Green, Gray or Pink

All the other laptop chargers reviewed here are either white, black or gray—not very imaginative. The Acefast Crystal Charger, however, rocks the monochrome boat with its range of pastel 65W chargers that may well bring joy to your office or home.

The two USB-C ports can both charge at 65W, although not at the same time as the rated wattage of any charger indicates the maximum total output.

If using all three ports, the top USB-C port will charge at 45W, and the other two share 18W between them.

Acefast hasn’t yet announced color-matching USB-C cables, but Anker sells some colored USB-C cables in similar hues.

Dimensions: 1.18 x 2.64 x 2.64in (3 x 6.7 x 6.7cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)

Cable included: 2m 100W USB-C cable

Larger laptops usually require more power than 65W and ship with a 100W charger. For a spare, the single-port Nekteck 100W Charger is a budget winner—especially as it ships with a 2m 100W USB-C cable.

But we think multiple ports are worth spending that extra cash on.

Dimensions: 1.3 x 2.72 x 2.72in (3.3 x 6.9 x 6.9cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (22.5W), and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

It might be larger and twice as heavy as the single-port chargers, but you can’t argue with four ports with multiple charging options, such as simultaneous 65W for laptop charging and 30W PD for light-laptop powering, plus lower outputs for phones and other devices. Or just use all 100W on your favorite large laptop.

Using three ports you could charge at 45W, 30W, and 22.5W at the same time. Using all four, it can support laptop power delivery at 45W and 30W plus two devices each at 10.5W.

The inclusion of an old-style USB-A port will please owners of that type of cable—probably for older phones or other gadgets.

And its foldable prongs win extra portability points on a larger charger. The barrel-shaped UK model looks quite different and doesn’t have foldable prongs, but offers the same ports.

Ugreen offers a slightly smaller 100W Nexode Pro ($74.99) that has a higher energy density but only three ports, so we still prefer the 100W non-Pro Nexode ($69.95) for its extra port.

Dimensions: 1.7 × 1.5 × 2.4in (4.4 x 3.9 x 6cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

While it lacks the fourth port of the Ugreen Nexode 100W USB-C Wall Charger, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is smaller and lighter while carrying the same 100W credentials.

It features two 100W USB-C ports and one USB-A for those older charging cables still required by some devices.

Both the U.S. and U.K. versions have neat foldable prongs.

Dimensions: 1.22 x 2.66 x 2.31in (3.1 x 6.8 x 5.9cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1)

For larger laptops with higher battery capacity, a USB PD 3.1 charger is essential if you want to charge or fast-charge at 140W or higher.

While it has just the one port, the Anker 717 goes further at 140W than most wall chargers. Pair it with Anker’s own 765 140W USB-C to USB-C Cable in either 3-foot or 6-foot lengths.

Again, we applaud the foldable prongs for added portability.

Dimensions: 2.8 x 1.7 x 1.3in (7.1 x 4.3 x 3.3cm)

Ports: 11x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (30W PD 3.0) and 1x USB-A (22.5W)

This is the first multiport 160W charger (PD 3.1) we’ve tested, and it is barely larger than the single-port Anker 717 charger.

The top USB-C port is rated at 140W, and below it is another 100W USB-C port, then a 30W USB-C port, with a 22.5W USB-A port at the bottom.

There are multiple charging options: Any one of the above-mentioned ports, two 65W laptops simultaneously, or an impressive 65W+65W+30W charging at the same time.

The Nexode Pro 160W charger has foldable plug prongs in the North American version—U..K. users will have to put up with the plug always extended.

Dimensions: 6.49 x 4.9 x 4.2in (16.5 x 12.5 x 10.7cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (45W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable + 2m 240W USB-C cable

With four USB-C ports and one USB-A, this desktop charger should fulfil most of your charging needs.

It’s the first maximum 300W desktop charger that we’ve tested. That’s a hell of a lot of power that can be shared around. You could power one 140W laptop and another at 100W—impossible with a 200W. charger.

With all ports in action it follows a port hierarchy of 140W/65W/45W/10W/22.5W, which beats the full-use capability of the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger reviewed below. However, that rival desktop charger boasts two 140W PD 3.1 ports to Ugreen’s single 140W PD 3.1 port—that said, you can’t use both of them at that power output at the same time as the Satechi’s max power is 200W.

The inclusion of an USB-A port may also swing you to the Ugreen 300W charger, as the Satechi charger lacks one.

Bonus points, too, to Ugreen for including a 240W charging cable as well as the unit’s own power cable.

Dimensions: 4.13 x 4.13 x 1.38in (10.5 x 10.5 x 3.5cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1), 4x USB-C (100W PD 3.0)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable; no USB-C cable

Boasting six USB-C ports, this desktop charger plugs into a power socket via cable rather than directly as a USB-C wall charger does.

Its total output is 200W across the six USB-C ports, but its special bonus are the two 140W PD 3.1 ports for fast-charging larger laptops. Do the math, however, and you realise that you can’t use both 140W ports at full power at the same time.

Each of the remaining 100W ports is USB-C so you’ll need an adapter to use a USB-A charging cable if your device demands it.

With all ports in action it follows a port hierarchy of 65W/45W/20W/20W/20W/20W.

As a desktop charger, it comes with a power cable but you’ll need to add your own USB-C cables—and remember you’ll need a 240W PD 3.1 charging cable to take advantage of the 140W port. Mac users should note that Apple requires you use its own MagSafe 3 charging cable to fast charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro as that model’s USB-C ports (actually Thunderbolt 4) are still rated at 100W PD 3.0.

Dimensions: 3.97 x 3.97 x 1.27in (10.1 x 10.1 x 3.23cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 2x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 2x USB-A (22.5W)

Cable included: 2m AC power cable and 1m 100W USB-C cable

This desktop charger lacks the PD 3.1 support that is essential for higher-than-100W charging, so if you’re looking for 140W large-laptop fast-charging you’d do better choosing the Satechi 200W USB-C 6-port PD GaN Charger, reviewed above.

That said, the GaN 2 Ugreen Nexode 200W 6-Port desktop charger includes two USB-A ports for devices that require the older USB connector.

With all six ports in action, you could charge one laptop at 65W, two at 45W, fast-charge a phone at 20W, and have the two USB-A ports share 20W of power—enough for most busy working desks.

Dimensions: 4 x 3.66 x 1.75in (10.3 x 9.3 x 4.45cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (18W)

Cable included: 1.5m AC power cable

The other desktop chargers reviewed here have different power output options for each of the ports on offer, but only the Acefast Z4 lets you manually change them with the press of a button and then shows you which ports are set for which wattage on its TFT HD display.

The maximum total output that you can share around devices is 218W. That’s enough for three medium-sized laptops and a smartphone, or two larger laptops plus a phone on the side. There are four options for the four USB ports (three USB-C and one USB-A).

The desktop charger is reasonably priced, and supports most fast-charging standards.

Dimensions): 3.7 x 2.13 x 2.09in (9.4 x 5.4 x 5.3cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)

This compact dual-100W USB-C PD port wall charger has a maximum power output of 130W, meaning you can charge a large laptop at 100W and still have power available to fast charge your accessories or even a small laptop at the same time.

There is one 18W USB-A port for old-school cable connections, but its special sauce is its 7A AC universal power outlet that fits plugs used in over 200 countries—the same way its extendable US/UK/AU/EU plug prongs fit foreign power sockets. This AC power outlet isn’t found on other portable wall chargers. It’s a great mix of laptop- and device-charging ports plus travel plug adapter in one compact GaN unit that should keep your airplane carry-on luggage light.

If you don’t need the 100W of total power, OneAdaptr’s white-colored OneWorld65 is a cheaper version with a 65W maximum and AC power outlet. It features one 65W USB-C PD port, one 20W USB-C PD port, another USB-C charging port and two USB-A charging ports—the non-PD USB-C port and two USB-A ports share 15W of power.

Dimensions: 1.2 x 3 x 3.8in (3.1 x 7.6 x 9.6cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)

This is a great international travel companion, with its three interchangeable plug heads for the U.S./CA, U.K. and E.U. sockets. It is just as useful if you live and stay in just one of those regions—just keep the spare international plugs in a drawer for next time your travel with your laptop.

It supports PD 3.1 and so can charge at up to 140W from its top USB-C port. The other two USB-C ports are each rated at 65W, and there’s a 12W USB-A port for devices that require older charging cables, Fitbits for example.

The U.S. prongs fold back unlike the U.K. or E.U. plugs.

If you need an AU/NZ plug head, look at the Alogic Rapid Power 67W Multi-Country Travel GaN Charger, which has three ports as well as US/UK/EU/AU compatibility. It also ships with a handy travel case and a USB-C cable.

Dimensions: 1 x 2.36 x 2.36in (2.5 x 6 x 6cm)

Ports: 2x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (20W), 1x USB-A (18W)

This is a marvellous companion when you’re traveling internationally where other countries have the temerity to use different format plug sockets.

Its foldable U.S. prongs can clip onto each of the two included interchangeable plugs for the UK and Europe. The OneAdaptr OneWorld65 or OneWorld100 are neater, compact travel solutions with an extra AC power outlet, but this charger looks more like a standard charger when you’re not travelling.

There are two 100W USB-C PD ports, one 20W USB-C, and an 18W QuickCharge 3.0 USB-A port, plenty for most device collections.

Dimensions: 3.06 x 0.94 x 1.4in (7.78 x 2.4 x 3.56cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (100W PD 3.0), 1x USB-C (30W PD), 1x USB-A (22.5W)

Cable included: 1.3m 100W USB-C cable

You can charge your laptop on the move while in your car, using a dedicated charger that comes with a jack compatible with the car cigarette socket. In time, this seemingly antiquated in-car tool might be better known as the charger socket.

We like this car laptop charger from Ugreen as it has 100W and 30W USB-C ports that mean you can charge a laptop and fast-charge a phone at the same time. Plus, there’s a USB-A port with decent power potential (22.5W).

Remember that when the car’s engine isn’t running, all electrical systems receive power from the battery, which will drain if you charge a laptop overnight—just as it will if you leave the headlights on. Charging your laptop when the car is in motion doesn’t drain the vehicle battery.

Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.6 x 2.6in (11.3 x 6.6 x 6.6cm)

Ports: 1x USB-C (65W PD 3.0), 1x USB-A (60W), 3x power socket

Cables included: 1.5m AC power cable, plus 0.8m retractable USB-C cable

This compact power extender boasts three 13A AC power sockets and two USB ports (1x 65W USB-C PD and 1x 18W USB-A), but its special feature is a retractable 1.5-meter USB-C cable that also can charge a laptop at 65W. When you’re done with it is suction-pulls back into the charger block, with the connector magnetically clamped to the front.

With its 0.8m retractable cable and tiny size this is a real solution to desk-clutter. Available in black and white, it gives you the options for desk aesthetics, too.

It can charge six devices at the same time, or you can use those sockets (two three-pronged, one two-pronged) to run your display, dock or lamp. Maximum output on the USB ports is 65W, and for the three power sockets (1,650W).

if your laptop has USB-A rather than USB-C, the middle USB port is rated at 60W.

Extra points are awarded for the power button on the top and its interaction with a mobile app that lets you set a shut-down timer. For safety, there’s short-circuit protection and auto power cut-off.

laptop car charger It’s available only with U.S. or E.U. power sockets and plug. The E.U.version features two rather than three power sockets but is otherwise the same.