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MacBook Neo Charging Test: Here's Which Apple Charger is the Fastest

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While the MacBook Neo is not "fast-charge capable," according to Apple's tech specs, the laptop can still charge faster with certain Apple chargers.

MacBook-Neo-Charging-Test-Here’s-Which-Apple-Charger-is-the-Fastest-Feature.jpg

Apple includes its 20W USB-C Power Adapter with the MacBook Neo (except in the UK and the EU, where the laptop does not ship with a charger at all), but a new charging test has revealed that Apple's 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is a better choice if you want the fastest charging speeds at the lowest additional cost from Apple.

In the video below, ChargerLAB shows that the MacBook Neo reaches a peak charging speed of 18W with the included 20W charger, but this rises to 30W with Apple's 35W adapter, which is available in two sizes for $59 on Apple's online store.


ChargerLAB did not show exactly how much time you can save by using the 35W charger over the 20W charger, but it is probably up to 20-30 minutes for a full charge.

Of course, a variety of 30W-and-higher chargers sold by Apple and other companies can charge the MacBook Neo at peak speeds of 28W to 30W, so look beyond Apple if you want to save money. If you stick with Apple, just know this: its 35W adapter is faster than the included 20W adapter, but its expensive 96W and 140W chargers do not charge the MacBook Neo any faster than the 35W adapter despite costing more.

MacBook Neo launched last Wednesday, and Apple's CEO Tim Cook today revealed that the Mac just had its best launch week ever with first-time buyers.

Article Link: MacBook Neo Charging Test: Here's Which Apple Charger is the Fastest
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/20/macbook-neo-charging-test/
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In order to be able to swap the power plugs from US to UK to Europe, Apple's choice is not only the 35 watt dual USB-C outlet unit, but the 70, 96 and 140 watt options. Power outlets in overseas motel/hotels are sparse at best, so a more powerful ul wall wart can be more useful. A Neo sucking hard on the power straw gets nearly all of the out put of the 35 watt dual unit.

We carry multi-outlet power bricks because of the dearth of power outlets in overseas accommodations.
 
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As of 2026, I wish Apple would just include chargers with devices that charged at maximum speed. They literally charge $20 on the MacBook Air to get the 70 W charger over the 40 W to dynamic 60 W charger, why not just put full speed chargers in the box

EDIT: lol who could possibly disagree with this. Someone reads this and is like absolutely not lets put chargers in there that can’t charge it full speed. I want a MacBook Neo, but I only wanted to come with a charger that can charge it just over half the speed that it could actually charge. How dare anyone suggest that it comes with a charger that can charge it full speed.

This blows my mind
 
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If you’re going to spend extra money on a charger, it makes more sense to buy a non-Apple charger, but instead a 75-120w charger with multiple outputs from a reputable third party brand.

In the sąme way, I don’t understand why people buy cables from Apple, unless it is something unavailable from anywhere else. ( e.g TB 1/2 to TB USB-C).

I’m not saying “buy cheap”, but there are better options out there at a better price.
 
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KPOM said:
The Neo seems to top out at around 33W. The 40W Dynamic Power Adapter is less expensive than the 35W dual adapter if price is the main concern.
Click to expand...

That adapter is actually pretty good, as I really prefer plugging my Macs into Apple chargers. I would like to see them do similar in a higher wattage adapter as all their higher wattage ones are enormous.
 
Happy_John said:
If you’re going to spend extra money on a charger, it makes more sense to buy a non-Apple charger, but instead a 75-120w charger with multiple outputs from a reputable third party brand.

In the sąme way, I don’t understand why people buy cables from Apple, unless it is something unavailable from anywhere else. ( e.g TB 1/2 to TB USB-C).

I’m not saying “buy cheap”, but there are better options out there at a better price.
Click to expand...
A lot of people want an appliance and they “trust” that Apple is going to give them a quality experience.

Unfortunately, they don’t realize that there are better, higher quality accessories from 3rd parties that also cost less. This is mostly because there are hundreds/thousands of cheap ones that muddy up what is good/great. They may have tried a cheaper one and it turned out to be short lived garbage so they give up and just buy Apple next time.
 
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Mikeske said:
I have to ask have you ever traveled overseas from your home country. I have many times and to take only a small part of the persons post and state this is only partly true. I have frequently traveled Asia and it is true in many hotels and motels that the rooms have very few power outlets.
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I’ve done a lot of travelling in my time. The easiest thing to do is simply bring a powersocket bank /powerstrip (whatever you call them, a strip of four or five sockets with an extension cord and a single plug) with a surge protector built in, and then put a travel adaptor on the plug end.

Problem solved.
 
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Happy_John said:
I’ve done a lot of travelling in my time. The easiest thing to do is simply bring a powersocket bank . Strip (whatever you call them, a strip of four or five so lets with and extension cord and a single plug) with a surge protector built in, and then put a travel adaptor on the plug end.

Problem solved.
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wouldn't it be better to get a dumb power strip? The smarter surge protectors might blow up over voltage differences
 
platinumaqua said:
wouldn't it be better to get a dumb power strip? The smarter surge protectors might blow up over voltage differences
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It might be. It pretty common where I am to get them with a surge protector with a quick reset - I’d doubt it would blow-up, but it might burn out, but I’d prefer the damage to be done to my strip than to the chargers or devices plugged into them.

EDIT - it’s probably worth mentioning that I live in 220v -240v land, and so any equipment I’m plugging into to mains power, either here or travelling, is going to be equipped for 240v anyway, but can handle variations in voltage.
 
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Why is nobody reporting that the included charger for the M5 Max models is not sufficient anymore. Apple now is selling underrated chargers with their MBPs.
 
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t0rqx said:
Why is nobody reporting that the included charger for the M5 Max models is not sufficient anymore. Apple now is selling underrated chargers with their MBPs.
Click to expand...

To get you to buy a better charger. It’s a sneakier way to apply their “no charger in the box in the UK / EU” to other regions.

If you get used to having to buy another charger anyway, it will be easier to accept Apple not putting a charger in the box at all.
 
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Personally I'm glad Apple includes the 20W charger. I have a room full of 18W, 29W, 30W, dual 35W, and 67W chargers. Having another 20W charger around is nice.
 
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Happy_John said:
It might be. It pretty common where I am to get them with a surge protector with a quick reset - I’d doubt it would blow-up, but it might burn out, but I’d prefer the damage to be done to my strip than to the chargers or devices plugged into them.

EDIT - it’s probably worth mentioning that I live in 220v -240v land, and so any equipment I’m plugging into to mains power, either here or travelling, is going to be equipped for 240v anyway, but can handle variations in voltage.
Click to expand...
oh makes sense if you're only traveling between 220V countries, I'm in 110/120V land and I've heard stories of 120V surge protectors blowing up when they use it in 220V countries
 
Have been traveling the world for over 25 years. While in the US we have 60 cycle single phase 120/240Vac in our homes, other parts of the world have combinations of 50 and 60 cycle and single and three phase power and several different voltages and power plug/receptacle configurations. And African accomadations may not have more than one outlet but that one may be for a shaver in the bathroom. Non-international traveling folks in the USA do not appreciate that things (including electrical power) can be much different elsewhere.
 
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Tyler O'Bannon said:
As of 2026, I wish Apple would just include chargers with devices that charged at maximum speed. They literally charge $20 on the MacBook Air to get the 70 W charger over the 40 W to dynamic 60 W charger, why not just put full speed chargers in the box
Click to expand...

I honestly would not want Apple to include a heavy brick. Very few people want maximum charging speed.

The 40W charger is 80g. The 70W is 165g.
 
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