Macbook air 2020 i3 Taking a long time to charge

[manteiv]

Hi all

I received my macbook air 2020 the base version. I did all the software update and indexing is completed.

Using the stock charger, this is what I have noticed observing the charge time:

- it takes about 3.5 h to charge from 10% to about 95% and another hour from 95% to 100% for a total of 4.5h
- in another test, I observed from 70% to 100%, it took about 1h50

all cases above while continuing to use the laptop: music in the background playing at low volume and casual web browsing using Safari

I have not done the test with the laptop powered off, I believe charging will be faster with the laptop OFF

if I use a higher wattage charger, will it help or not? maybe the laptop is designed to take only 30W ? that is the wattage of the stock charger for the i3 version. I have a 65w usb-c charger from my Thinkpad work laptop that I can try, is-it safe to use a charger from another manufacturer to charge the macbook?

Other than that slow charging issue, I am very happy with the Macbook Air, yes it runs hot but the bottom is only slightly warm and definitely not burning. The fans run silently at 2700 rpm most of the time.

thanks

 

[ghanwani]

I haven't done as much analysis as you, but my 2019 MBA is definitely a lot, lot slower to charge than my 2017 and 2019 MBPs.

 

[octoviaa]

Hi all

I received my macbook air 2020 the base version. I did all the software update and indexing is completed.

Using the stock charger, this is what I have noticed observing the charge time:

- it takes about 3.5 h to charge from 10% to about 95% and another hour from 95% to 100% for a total of 4.5h
- in another test, I observed from 70% to 100%, it took about 1h50

all cases above while continuing to use the laptop: music in the background playing at low volume and casual web browsing using Safari

I have not done the test with the laptop powered off, I believe charging will be faster with the laptop OFF

if I use a higher wattage charger, will it help or not? maybe the laptop is designed to take only 30W ? that is the wattage of the stock charger for the i3 version. I have a 65w usb-c charger from my Thinkpad work laptop that I can try, is-it safe to use a charger from another manufacturer to charge the macbook?

Other than that slow charging issue, I am very happy with the Macbook Air, yes it runs hot but the bottom is only slightly warm and definitely not burning. The fans run silently at 2700 rpm most of the time.

thanks

The MBA will takes in as much juice as it can but not more than it is capable of, so yes it is safe to use higher wattage charger.

 

[twintin]

The MBA will takes in as much juice as it can but not more than it is capable of, so yes it is safe to use higher wattage charger.

It is only safe as long as the voltage is the same of the new charger.

 

[octoviaa]

It is only safe as long as the voltage is the same of the new charger.

USB-C charger is not the same as old laptop charger. We don't check voltage on USB charger.

 

[deeddawg]

It is only safe as long as the voltage is the same of the new charger.

USBC is supposed to negotiate such stuff between the device and the charger, so there won't be an issue.


@manteiv If you look on the bottom it states "Rated 20.0CV - 1.5A or 20.3V - 3.0A"

So it'll make use of a 60W charger if you have one available.

All that said - if you haven't yet done a couple of charge / discharge cycles you ought to do so to ensure the battery meter gets properly calibrated.