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Knock-Off Apple Chargers (MacBook Pro)

it probably wont fry your Mac but charger may or may not last that long. Apple do come with warranty though, not sure what the process is in getting one replaced at the store.
 
Just a guess, the cord first gets yellow then breaks at the connection to the magsafe plug ?
 
rgarjr said:
it probably wont fry your Mac but charger may or may not last that long. Apple do come with warranty though, not sure what the process is in getting one replaced at the store.
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I would add that the chargers themselves may not fry the MacBook Pro, but a lot of them appear to lack a lot of the internal protections to protect your MacBooks Pro from power surges.

I only advise ever using a genuine Apple charger, as you’re talking about a $1500 (or more) machine. Using a knock off brand charger is kind of like putting cheap $10 oil in a $50,000 Mercedes, that’s just not something you do because it won’t offer the protections you need for your investment. Also, if any damages occur to the machine from using the wrong charger, the cost of repair is WAY more than spending the extra for a genuine charger.

Also, further to OPs question, after market chargers aren’t necessarily going to last any longer when it comes to durability over the genuine brand. You just need to be careful and avoid bending the cables too tight at their ends.
 
Merkava_4 said:
YES!
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Are the chargers really only lasting for a few months each though? I had my MagSafe charger on my older MacBook Pro for almost a year (until I sold the MacBook) and it was still like new. But it is common for those chargers to yellow and the plastic wrap to shrink, but it usually takes a few years to be bad enough to replace.
 
Are you pulling it straight out of the charging port? Or are you breaking the connection by levering the charger’s connector upwards first?

I’m still using my original and no signs or wear. It gets used every day.
 
Painter2002 said:
Are the chargers really only lasting for a few months each though? I had my MagSafe charger on my older MacBook Pro for almost a year (until I sold the MacBook) and it was still like new. But it is common for those chargers to yellow and the plastic wrap to shrink, but it usually takes a few years to be bad enough to replace.
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The actual charger (transformer part) will last 20 years or more. It's the cord that breaks. One of them had the insulation start crumbling off all along the entire cord. I wish the small cord was as durable as the big cord.
 
The Apple chargers are very poorly made, there are some negative reviews on the store. They are also very expensive. The best replacement method I’ve found is to buy a refurbished charger on eBay from a local supplier. The charger arrived with completely new parts barring the internal part of the pack. It had all the qualities, better even, than the Apple version and cost less than £25. Your experience may vary by supplier of course.
 
If your cords (on genuine Apple chargers) are only "lasting 3 months" before they break, then you're doing something wrong.

The charging cord on my 2010 MBP charger still "looks like new".
 
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You should be able to find genuine magsafe chargers for fairly cheap on amazon or ebay since they're now legacy. I got one a few months ago for about $30.
 
If you don't wrap the cord with sharp bends, especially around those wing/clip things, it should last for years. And of course, don't pull on the cord. I have the original ones for 2011 and 2012 units that work great.
 
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