Feb 10, 2019, 10:52 am
Last edit by: cheltzel
If you want to use USB C for more than charging, then these two posts are useful: 1 2.
When planning your charger loadout, do note the charger your laptop shipped with is not a requirement, a lower one will be fine. For example, https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/60w-u...-all-macbooks/ says
On the other hand, most laptops are not built to use higher wattage even if available. It won't hurt your laptop, though.
Buy chargers on Amazon at your own risk, they are known to commingle stock from every third party sellers. But, the chargers here do not have fakes (yet?) so even Amazon might be safe.
The smallest USB C chargers:
Cabling wise, AmazomBasics and Monoprice is your friend. Do not use female USB C to USB A / micro USB adapters, these are explicitly forbidden by the USB C standard. Male USB C to USB A / micro USB is fine.
When planning your charger loadout, do note the charger your laptop shipped with is not a requirement, a lower one will be fine. For example, https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/25/60w-u...-all-macbooks/ says
the 87W charger filled up my 15-inch MacBook Pro battery more quickly than the 60W charger, but not by very much. After an hour and a half, the 87W charger added 76% battery while the 60W charger added 72%.
Buy chargers on Amazon at your own risk, they are known to commingle stock from every third party sellers. But, the chargers here do not have fakes (yet?) so even Amazon might be safe.
The smallest USB C chargers:
- Mu One. 45W. Comes with UK, US, EU folding plugs. 96 x 55 x 14mm, 82g with the UK plug attached. 3.78 x 2.17 x 0.55 inch, 2.89oz. Manufacturer shop, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1PK1RP https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N1PK1RP
- RAVPower GaN 45W : 72 x 54 x 14.9mm / 2.83 x 2.12 x 0.59inch, 75g / 2.65oz. This is a similar charger to Mu One only without the nifty plug heads. It is marginally cheaper, but without the unique multi-region folding plugs it isn't as good of an option for international travelers. Manufacturer shop, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9WMW6N
- Innergie 60C (nee 55CC): 65W 60 x 30 x 30mm / 2.3 x 1.2 x 1.2 inch, 85g. While much thicker than the previous two, when the socket is hidden in a recess this has a much better chance to fit. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBYVF4Q Also, a cable is available to charge legacy laptops https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBYL5KZ only compatible with the Innergie 60C. This makes the Finsix Dart fully obsolete, it started as a legacy laptop charger and a USB C cable was planned and reviewed two years ago but never shipped.
- Satechi 75W: USB C 60W, USB C 18W, two USB A share 12W. 4" x 2.63" x 1", 11.14 oz. Manufacturer shop https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078864F15
- LVSUN LS-PD87-2C sold as Hyperjuice 87W charger: two USB C and one USB A all three share 87W. 4.33" x 3.86" x 0.79", 8.32oz Aliexpress Hyper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KLWDY9C
- Hyperjuice battery: 27000 mAh USB C 100W, USB C 60W, USB A 18W. 7.2" x 3" x 0.84" / 183.2 x 77.1 x 21.3 mm Manufacturer shop (although it goes through indiegogo, it is not crowdfunding, it's just a shop)
- Maru & Masa Kickstarter: Maru is a 82mm/3.23" diameter bagel, 28mm/1.1" thick, 7.4oz, USB C 45W, USB C 18W, two USB A share 15W, three international AC sockets, nifty interchangeable international plugs. Masa is a battery 80 x 80 x 28 / 3.15" x 3.15" x 1.1" , 11.3oz 18000 mAh, USB C 45W, USB C 15W, Qi 7.5W, kickstand. Promised shipping: April 2019 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...e-yet-powerful
- SuperTank & SuperPort 4 Kickstarter: SuperPort 4 is a 114 x 100 x 24 / 4.5" x 3.95" x .95" charger, weight not disclosed, USB C 100W, USB C 18W, two USB ports share 18W. SuperTank is a 27000 mAh battery w/ lots of features, 4.7" x 2.8" x 1.6", 17oz USB C 100W, USB C 60W, USB A 18W, USB A 15W all ports share 138W Promised shipping: May 2019 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ek-recharge-in
- AlsterPlus Kickstarter: 7.4" x 3.28" x 0.85", 20oz / 568gr, 27000mAh battery with 2 x 100W USB-C + 2x 18W USB-A, lots of features. All ports share 156W.
- Anker Atom PD4. Two USB C, two USB A all share 100W, USB A per port is 12W max. 4.1" x 3.3" x 1.3", 13.5oz. https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Chargin.../dp/B07VSMK849
- MagicFox PD180. This is a DC-DC unit, it takes 12-28V 180W via a 5.5mm x 2.5mm jack or 100W max via USB- C input and provides three ports: USB C 100W, USB C 40W, USB A 40W. Size 3.15" x 2.76" x 0.53", 3.44oz. Possible interesting AC-DC choices: Lenovo 4X20Q88542 at 135W either from Encompass with very long ship times or from Japan via Rakuten, Lenovo-to-5.5mm plug adapter here. 4.65" x 3" x .83", 15.24oz. If that's not enough Razer has a 180W which, AFAIK has the right plug. Notably light at 14.82oz, 5.98" / 152mm x 2.87" / 73mm x 0.93" / 23.5mm. The MagicFox PD180 itself is, so far, China only, I had good experiences with Superbuy as proxy so https://www.superbuy.com/en/page/buy...832086035.html While the MagicFox PD180 itself is cheap, high wattage, quality, lightweight AC-DC adapters are anything but.
Cabling wise, AmazomBasics and Monoprice is your friend. Do not use female USB C to USB A / micro USB adapters, these are explicitly forbidden by the USB C standard. Male USB C to USB A / micro USB is fine.
Outfitting your travel kit for USB-C
Mar 28, 2024, 7:30 am
#811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I bought an Anker Prime 100W. That thing is heavy for its small size! Amazon has them on sale for $67, which is still maybe a little much but not awful. I like that either USB-C port can output the full 100W, and if you have multiple things plugged in there aren't per-port maximums (aside from the 100W). The USB-A port can only output 22.5W max, which still seems like a lot for such a port at 5V.
It's powering my laptop now. I got it because my laptop would complain when I used the Anker GaN 65W power supply and tried to charge my phone or headphones or whatever.
edit: I was looking at the specs and it lists multiple voltages for the USB-A port. How is this possible?
USB-A: 4.5V⎓5A / 5V⎓4.5A / 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A / 10V⎓2.25A (22.5W Max)
It's powering my laptop now. I got it because my laptop would complain when I used the Anker GaN 65W power supply and tried to charge my phone or headphones or whatever.
edit: I was looking at the specs and it lists multiple voltages for the USB-A port. How is this possible?
USB-A: 4.5V⎓5A / 5V⎓4.5A / 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A / 10V⎓2.25A (22.5W Max)
Last edited by gfunkdave; Mar 28, 2024 at 9:05 am
Mar 28, 2024, 10:05 am
#812
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13
Mar 28, 2024, 2:18 pm
#813
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
OK now I have to correct myself. Still using the 100W Anker. If I plug in my Sony earbuds case into the USB-A port (case says input 5V 1A = 5W) then my laptop complains that the charger is slow. But the laptop only needs 65W so I don't know why it would complain .
edit: OK, I figured it out. It appears that the power supply works the way Anker's website says, which I didn't understand at first. The two USB-C ports do not each seem to be capable of 100W. Or at least, the device seems to prioritize them differently. If I plug into port 1 (on the outside of the three ports) and have something else plugged into the center USB-C port, the one on the edge shows to the laptop as 35W available. If I reverse the plugs and connect the laptop to the center USB-C port, it shows as a 60W port.
edit: OK, I figured it out. It appears that the power supply works the way Anker's website says, which I didn't understand at first. The two USB-C ports do not each seem to be capable of 100W. Or at least, the device seems to prioritize them differently. If I plug into port 1 (on the outside of the three ports) and have something else plugged into the center USB-C port, the one on the edge shows to the laptop as 35W available. If I reverse the plugs and connect the laptop to the center USB-C port, it shows as a 60W port.
Last edited by gfunkdave; Mar 28, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Mar 28, 2024, 5:12 pm
#814
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,931
OK now I have to correct myself. Still using the 100W Anker. If I plug in my Sony earbuds case into the USB-A port (case says input 5V 1A = 5W) then my laptop complains that the charger is slow. But the laptop only needs 65W so I don't know why it would complain .
edit: OK, I figured it out. It appears that the power supply works the way Anker's website says, which I didn't understand at first. The two USB-C ports do not each seem to be capable of 100W. Or at least, the device seems to prioritize them differently. If I plug into port 1 (on the outside of the three ports) and have something else plugged into the center USB-C port, the one on the edge shows to the laptop as 35W available. If I reverse the plugs and connect the laptop to the center USB-C port, it shows as a 60W port.
edit: OK, I figured it out. It appears that the power supply works the way Anker's website says, which I didn't understand at first. The two USB-C ports do not each seem to be capable of 100W. Or at least, the device seems to prioritize them differently. If I plug into port 1 (on the outside of the three ports) and have something else plugged into the center USB-C port, the one on the edge shows to the laptop as 35W available. If I reverse the plugs and connect the laptop to the center USB-C port, it shows as a 60W port.
Mar 29, 2024, 11:07 am
#816
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Doesn't show what the charger supports, but it does at least show what's being used - although only in terms of watts and not volts/amps. Good for confirming that a charger/battery pack/etc can actually deliver what they claim.
Mar 29, 2024, 11:52 am
#817
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
I bought an Anker Prime 100W. That thing is heavy for its small size! Amazon has them on sale for $67, which is still maybe a little much but not awful. I like that either USB-C port can output the full 100W, and if you have multiple things plugged in there aren't per-port maximums (aside from the 100W). The USB-A port can only output 22.5W max, which still seems like a lot for such a port at 5V.
It's powering my laptop now. I got it because my laptop would complain when I used the Anker GaN 65W power supply and tried to charge my phone or headphones or whatever.
edit: I was looking at the specs and it lists multiple voltages for the USB-A port. How is this possible?
USB-A: 4.5V⎓5A / 5V⎓4.5A / 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A / 10V⎓2.25A (22.5W Max)
It's powering my laptop now. I got it because my laptop would complain when I used the Anker GaN 65W power supply and tried to charge my phone or headphones or whatever.
edit: I was looking at the specs and it lists multiple voltages for the USB-A port. How is this possible?
USB-A: 4.5V⎓5A / 5V⎓4.5A / 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A / 10V⎓2.25A (22.5W Max)
The 150w one adds again, more watts, one more C port, and a slimmer albeit taller form factor. It’s only $10 more than the 100w version, for me that would be better value