Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
is it possible to charge my Android phone(Galaxy S6 Edge) using MBA 11's USB ports?
- Thread starter watermelonbook
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
How long can the USB port continue to supply power? Or does the MBA cut off power when it goes into sleep mode or something?
I have a MBA 11 and a Google CR-48 Chromebook(free from the beta test program by Google).
The CR-48 Chromebook's USB port supplies power to the phone for charging, even when it's in sleep mode with the screen closed for several hours.
The MBA 11's USB port doesn't seem to be powered at all times... sometimes I plug it in, there's no reaction. But if I open the screen up, it begins to charge again.
Thanks!
How long can the USB port continue to supply power? Or does the MBA cut off power when it goes into sleep mode or something?
I have a MBA 11 and a Google CR-48 Chromebook(free from the beta test program by Google).
The CR-48 Chromebook's USB port supplies power to the phone for charging, even when it's in sleep mode with the screen closed for several hours.
The MBA 11's USB port doesn't seem to be powered at all times... sometimes I plug it in, there's no reaction. But if I open the screen up, it begins to charge again.
Thanks!
The USB ports should always supply power unless the MBA is closed and not plugged into the wall.
In which case, you can just flip it open for a second, it will start to supply power, and then you can close it again and it will continue to supply power... I think indefinitely.
I need to test this, but are you sure that this works for any USB device? For some reason I was under the impression that USB-power-while-sleeping only worked with iPhones.
-- Nathan
I believe this to be false, as I charge my Pono Player and my phone using the an MBA USB port while my MBA is plugged in and sleeping.
[ edit ]
Not sure if it's a differentiator, but I've got a 13" MBA and didn't notice the OP referred to the 11".
[ /edit ]
Last edited:
How long can the USB port continue to supply power? Or does the MBA cut off power when it goes into sleep mode or something?
I have a MBA 11 and a Google CR-48 Chromebook(free from the beta test program by Google).
The CR-48 Chromebook's USB port supplies power to the phone for charging, even when it's in sleep mode with the screen closed for several hours.
The MBA 11's USB port doesn't seem to be powered at all times... sometimes I plug it in, there's no reaction. But if I open the screen up, it begins to charge again.
Thanks!
My experience with all the other Apple hardware is the computer needs to be running (not sleeping/case closed).
I think but I'm not positive that if you set it to never sleep even with lid closed it will continue to charge.
I admit that I've only tried to charge my iPhone but my MBA definitely charges my phone while sleeping.
If the laptop is plugged in, it will supply power immediately without having to open it to get it started.
If the laptop isn't plugged in, it starts supplying power as soon as I crack the lid open and then continues to supply power after I close the lid.
I've done this many, many times while traveling. It's very convenient to be able to use a laptop battery as an ENORMOUS portable phone charger.