It doesn’t matter whether you use your MacBook for entertainment or work, but waking up to a MacBook that isn’t charged can be annoying. In this article, I will be talking about whether that is possible and if you can use a non-apple or a phone charger to get your Mac up and running, and if it’s safe to do so.
Any USB-C charger can charge your MacBook, but its power capacity needs to match an original server. For example, if the original charger is 60W, you should buy an adapter with 60W power capacity or more.
When it comes to power adapter capacity, it is essential to know if a 30W charger is suitable to charge your MacBook Pro laptop. So, don’t be in a hurry to pick up a charger. You should always pick up what’s best for your device.
For a complete guide on safely charging your MacBook, you can read my helpful article.
Take a look at the best MacBook chargers on Amazon here.
Can I Use A Non-Apple Charger For My MacBook?
You can use a non-apple charger to charge your MacBook as long as it has a USB C port with the same power capacity of the official Apple charger. But using a non-Apple charger is a gamble, as some non-authentic chargers can damage your Mac.
I used a non-official MacBook charger for my MacBook 2015 model for years without serious problems, but it occasionally cause some issues like making the mouse icon disappear.
If you damage your Apple charger, the replacement might be covered by Apples warranty, to learn more about the different Apple repair tiers see my article, as Apple chargers are expensive and cost roughly $50 to $100 dollars for 30W, 60W, and 96W.
However, you can find cheaper quality alternatives to official Apple chargers as they are often out of stock and are expensive, take a look below at four quality chargers you can use to safely charge you’re MacBook.
4 Non-Apple Chargers For Your MacBook
1.RAVPower 90W
If you are not sure about your original adapter’s power capacity, you could use a RAVPower device that has 90 watts charging capacity which provides enough power for every MacBook from air to the 15″ MacBook Pro.
This device is fast and powers your computer in two hours even if you are still using your MacBook. If your scared of devices that can overheat or short-circuit your laptop the RAVPower 90W has inbuilt fuse technology that prevents overheating.
2.Nekteck 45W
The Nekteck 45W is a BARGAIN and costs around $20. It can charge a MacBook Air whilst on but to charge a MacBook Pro it has to be on sleep mode. The Nekteck 45W smartly controls the power output and senses when the battery is almost charged so it changes to trickle charging so it never overcharges your battery.
Imagine how much you will have saved with this product. It is also a fast charger. Since the charger has 45W, it cannot charge a MacBook pro when it is on. Therefore, you have to turn the computer in sleep mode. You will undoubtedly love how Nekteck smartly controls the power inputs. That means it senses when the battery is almost complete and starts trickle charging.
As a MacBook user it is important to understand how your Macs battery works, to see if it’s worth replacing a dead MacBook battery whilst learning more about Mac batteries check out my article.
3.Anker PowerPort Atom III Slim 63W
If you want the fastest alternative to an Apple charger, the Anker PowerPort charger is a great choice.It has a super-fast PowerlQ technology to fill your battery within an hour when you are not using the MacBook.
Interestingly, this charger can charge up to four devices simultaneously. Therefore, you can even connect to your MacBook and simultaneously charge your phone and your friend’s phone! Sounds cool right?
4.Amazon Basics 100W Four-Port GaN Wall Charger
Don’t let the name fool you, Amazon basics four-port Gan wall charger is anything but basic! It’s 100W power is enough power for any MacBook and it’s super fast because of its GaN Technology which optimizes charging energy.
It’s perfect for camping or travelling as the adapter is foldable. It also has four ports that consist of two USB-C ports of 60Wand USB-A ports that charge your phone no problem,
Can I Charge MacBook With A Phone Charger?
Yes, you can charge a MacBook using a smartphone charger as long as your phone uses a USB-C charger. But the charging rate of the laptop would be slow because most phone charges have fewer watts. Besides, unless you use a USB-C converter, you cannot only charge your Mac using a USB-A phone charger.
Let’s face it. It’s normal to forget a laptop charger when you are going on a trip and probably you only have a phone charger with you. You could think of plugging your machine with phone chargers like USB-A which are not compatible with a laptop. Fortunately, most phones use the USB-C charger that can power your laptop but do not guarantee fast charging.
Suppose your charger is a USB-A. What are your options?
First, you can buy a separate USB-C female converter where you can easily attach it to your phone’s USB-A cable. After attaching it to the USB-C cable, connect it to the laptop’s port to charge.
Secondly, you could buy a USB cable with one end having a USB-A port and the other end having a USB-C port, you can find a super fast USB A to USB C cable on Amazon here. For more information on using charging convertors please check this video .
Can You Charge A MacBook Pro With A 30W CHARGER?
A 30W charger can power your MacBook Pro but will charge slowly because it does not match a standard MacBook pro charger which has 60W and above. For efficient charging on a 30W plug, it’s advisable to lock your computer or keep it in sleep mode.
If you don’t mind waiting five hours for your MacBook Pro to charge you can use a 30W charger. Compared to a 60W adapter, the 30 W plug takes a long time to fill a battery, especially when the Mac is on. But if you consistently use the 30W plug, it can damage the laptop battery because of inconsistent power to the battery, which is why it is advisable to use the same charger power per Apples guidelines for the specific Mac.
On that note, it is good to know the power capacity of your charger. For example, to confirm if your MacBook Pro charger has 60 watts, the charger should read C4M or FL4 for its first three characters, or it should be on the charger itself.
Alteratively you can check Apples official recommendations for power adapters and cables on their website here.
Secondly, if the first three markings on your cable are DLC, CTC, FTL, or GOJ, then your cable supports 100W.Lastly, you may identify a counterfeit adapter if it has no such markings. In that case, you can return the charger for replacement because you are entitled to a Takeback Apple’s program.
Curious if there is a benefit to purchasing from the Apple store instead of using Apples official website? Learn the facts in my post.