2017 MacBook Charger?

[D1G1T4L]

Need a new charger for my MacBook. Besides the stock Apple charger is there a good brand to go with? I don't have an Apple store close and need one pretty soon. Not sure I trust Amazon as some have put in their reviews that they are not genuine Apple chargers and cables. Best Buy is another option but not a big fan of them. Is there any third party companies that are trustworthy?

 

[EugW]

The Apple iPad charger works, albeit more slowly (since the power output is lower), and you need a USB-C cable for it. On the plus side, the iPad charger is smaller and lighter.

Otherwise if you want the full power charger, you should just buy the Apple charger.

What's wrong with the charger? If it's just the cable, you can get a new USB-C cable. If you just want a second charger at work or something, the iPad charger might suit your needs.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Absolutely agree with EugW! It's pure insanity to buy any other brand of charger for something as expensive as a MacBook.
Order one on line from the Apple Store. My experience has shown me that they deliver the following day!

 

[Mike Boreham]

Need a new charger for my MacBook. Besides the stock Apple charger is there a good brand to go with? I don't have an Apple store close and need one pretty soon. Not sure I trust Amazon as some have put in their reviews that they are not genuine Apple chargers and cables. Best Buy is another option but not a big fan of them. Is there any third party companies that are trustworthy?

If you just want a charger for your MacBook I agree, just get the Apple 29W one from the Apple store, or you could get the Apple 61W or 87W for more versatility if you think you might want to charge a 13" or 15" MBP at some point.

To be able to charge more than just your MacBook you could consider an Anker 60W five port charger, which I have and use for travel:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Premium-Charger-PowerPort-Delivery/dp/B01C89H12K

This has a USB-C outlet which is USB-PD compliant and has four additional USB-A ports for charging iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch etc.

Anker has a solid reputation, and after the earlier scares about third party USB-C chargers, I have checked it with a Satechi USB-C meter.

I use this when travelling, so that I can take one charger instead of multiple separate ones.

It is not as small as the 29W Apple charger for the MacBook. More like the same size as the Apple 87W charger.

 

[EugW]

Anker has a solid reputation, and after the earlier scares about third party USB-C chargers, I have checked it with a Satechi USB-C meter.

Some of Anker's USB-C products had serious problems.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/...-researcher-demonstrates-unsafe-usb-c-cables/

 

[Mike Boreham]

Some of Anker's USB-C products had serious problems.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/...-researcher-demonstrates-unsafe-usb-c-cables/

Yes, the Benson Leung and Nathan revelations about third party USB-C chargers and leads caused quite a stir in the early days of USB-C. Since I haven't heard much about the problem recently I feel manufacturers have probably got their act together.

In any case this is what Nathan and Leung said about the Anker 5-port charger:

https://plus.google.com/102612254593917101378/posts/Z7uN3G6MF9r

Not an easy article to follow with all the edits and updates, but basically endorsing it in the summary:

"All in all this charger is well built, engineered, and forgoing some (potentially big PDO) glitches is a good multiport charger. So this is proof Anker can make good products, if they put their minds to it."

 

[D1G1T4L]

Thanks for the tips! Ended up just going to the local Best Buy and buying another 29w Apple Charger and USB-C Cable. Expensive lesson learned from leaving my charger behind. Figured it is always best to stick with what I trust.