Can you charge these new MacBooks with a powerbank?

[ian87w]

Simple question out of curiosity. Can these Apple Silicon MacBook Air be charged with a power bank outputting 18-20W USB-PD?

 

[Shirasaki]

Should be possible. I am charging my M1 MacBook Pro using a USB-C PD power bank and it seems to work just fine.

 

[Tagbert]

I think anything at least 15w will work, it just will take some time. After you plug it in, make sure that the MacBook is getting the charge and not the other direction.

 

[JPack]

Works fine. I've seen people use a 10W charger from old iPads on their M1. It'll register as charging in macOS.

In fact, 5W charger on the Intel-based MacBooks will work, and I suspect it will continue to work on Apple Silicon.

 

[thadoggfather]

Could charge a M1 MBA from a Baseus 65w 20,000 mAh battery bank too without worrying about damaging the battery?

 

[astorre]

Could charge a M1 MBA from a Baseus 65w 20,000 mAh battery bank too without worrying about damaging the battery?

you could connect it to 200W battery bank, it will take only the juice it needs with wattage it needs

 

[SupremeMayo]

Yes, I charge mine with a power bank with a 90w output.

 

[RedTomato]

I think anything at least 15w will work, it just will take some time. After you plug it in, make sure that the MacBook is getting the charge and not the other direction.

How do you set the MacBook to charge from the battery, or if you want to go the other way, set it to charge the external battery? It's great to have that choice, but I'm not sure how it works?

 

[pilotkid]

How do you set the MacBook to charge from the battery, or if you want to go the other way, set it to charge the external battery? It's great to have that choice, but I'm not sure how it works?

I've discovered at least on my Anker power banks that you press and hold the power button until all the LED's cycle through on the power bank. Once thats happened it will reverse itself....charge the connected device or be charged by the connected device. You have to press and hold the power button for a good 10 seconds or so.

 

[h.gilbert]

Could charge a M1 MBA from a Baseus 65w 20,000 mAh battery bank too without worrying about damaging the battery?

As I understand it's the device that negotiates the charging parameters, not the thing doing the charging.