What's the best smallest and lightest power charger for an 2020 13" Intel MBP?

antdude wrote:

Chattanoogan wrote:

I’d tend to agree that 30-40w would likely meet the needs of the vast majority of users.

FYI, I was using an Apple 20w USB-C adaptor and measuring w/ two different VA meters; it really WAS supplying 20w.

Wait. Why did Apple give me a 61W USB-C power charger for this 13" MBP (Intel 2020) then?

As another contributor already mentioned (or alluded), using a smaller charger is not sufficient for operating the laptop under heavier loads. If you operate the laptop under too heavy of a load with a smaller charger, then the battery will make up the difference so you will end up draining the battery...is that what you want? The charger Apple ships with a particular laptop model is meant to be able to power the laptop without draining the battery when used under high load.

If you do use a third party charger, then make sure it is a high quality charger from a respected brand. Using cheap (in both senses of the word) chargers is very dangerous both to you and your expensive laptop since those manufacturers tend to cut corners which should never be cut.

HWTech wrote:

antdude wrote:

Chattanoogan wrote:

I’d tend to agree that 30-40w would likely meet the needs of the vast majority of users.

FYI, I was using an Apple 20w USB-C adaptor and measuring w/ two different VA meters; it really WAS supplying 20w.

Wait. Why did Apple give me a 61W USB-C power charger for this 13" MBP (Intel 2020) then?

As another contributor already mentioned (or alluded), using a smaller charger is not sufficient for operating the laptop under heavier loads. If you operate the laptop under too heavy of a load with a smaller charger, then the battery will make up the difference so you will end up draining the battery...is that what you want? The charger Apple ships with a particular laptop model is meant to be able to power the laptop without draining the battery when used under high load.

If you do use a third party charger, then make sure it is a high quality charger from a respected brand. Using cheap (in both senses of the word) chargers is very dangerous both to you and your expensive laptop since those manufacturers tend to cut corners which should never be cut.

Apple doesn’t design power supplies other than the industrial design though. The manufacturer of a particular Apple power adapter will be on the label. Mine for a 2021 MBP was Lite-On, which also made the 45 W captive cable USB-C power adapter that came with my Chromebook. I’ve seen others that list the manufacturer, such as one I got from the Chinese-owned (it’s not really Japanese as they claim) Miniso. But I do trust that it’s made by Rewoda, which is on the label.

But as some noted here, there are a lot of counterfeits. I’d have no issues if I thought I had a real Belkin or Anker power adapter, but I’d be careful of the source. All the Anker stuff I’ve bought was directly from the AnkerDirect store on Amazon.

I've had issues using a "20W" USB-C power adapter, but I suspect that it wasn't working as advertised. This particular one had two USB-A ports that may not have been independent of the USB-C output.

But the real question is whether or not it provides enough power to generally keep the charge level from dropping. I once brought along an 18W USB-C power pack to use with a 2001 14" M1 MBP, and the charge level still kept on dropping. But I never had an issue with a 45W rated USB-C power adapter. It always stayed at near 100% charge level and if it was charging I never saw a case where the charge level didn't rise even when I actively used it. One of these, which I got at a good price ($28). It's a little more expensive now, but it's a decent power adapter, especially with an independent 15W USB-A port.

It could theoretically accept anything that provides USB-C power including a 5W power adapter using a USB-A to USB-C cable. I've charged USB-C Macs off of 5W.

But at the very least I would think 45W would be a good point. That's what I used to power a 2021 M1 14" MBP.

BEST is subjective.

FWIW, I’ve powered a 15” MBP Retina for years from 20w adaptor.

The battery drops slowly when the computer is “working hard” and gains slowly during “light tasking.”

But I don’t need to often work on battery alone and then recharge quickly. On those occasions when I do, the 87w “original” adaptor is never too far away.

YMMV.

I’d tend to agree that 30-40w would likely meet the needs of the vast majority of users.

FYI, I was using an Apple 20w USB-C adaptor and measuring w/ two different VA meters; it really WAS supplying 20w.

Apple has an interesting history regarding the sizing of power adapters in the box. IPhones typically came with sad little 5W ones even when they likely could accept 10.5W or more. My 14” M1 MBP came with a strangely spec’ed 67W power adapter even though a larger one was a build to order option and supposedly would accept that power. But 30-45W was adequate for most uses, especially if it was largely deskbound.

Because any engineered design has to cover the requirements for a certain, specifically-defined “design point.”

…. something like manipulating specific computationally-complex graphics or video, w/ external 5k (or better) monitors, while simultaneously charging-up a deeply discharged battery within a certain amount of time.

antdude wrote:

Chattanoogan wrote:

I’d tend to agree that 30-40w would likely meet the needs of the vast majority of users.

FYI, I was using an Apple 20w USB-C adaptor and measuring w/ two different VA meters; it really WAS supplying 20w.

Wait. Why did Apple give me a 61W USB-C power charger for this 13" MBP (Intel 2020) then?

That’s close to what the computer can accept as maximum input power. Some Macs can accepted more power than the power adapters that come in the box. However, typical active use could be around the 15 to 25 W range. If you’ve been using it on battery power then connect it to external power, that will supply active power needs up to the output of the power supply, and then whatever spare power goes to charging the battery. A more powerful source tends to charge batteries faster, with the caveat that charge current usually tapers off as a battery approaches “full” capacity.

Re: “ … there are a lot of counterfeits … I’d be careful of the source …”

Wise words.

A somewhat “dated” but still-relevant treatment of the subject:

http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-chargers-pricey.html?m=1