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How Many Watts Does Your USB-C Charger Really Need?
October 28, 2026 · 6 min read
When you open the box of a new phone you'll see a cable, some paperwork, but no charger. Apple stopped including the charger years ago, then Samsung and Google followed. Now you're shopping for this small white brick and every listing has a different power rating: 20W, 45W, 140W, 160W.
The only point worth considering is this: that number shows how much power the charger is capable of supplying, since the appropriate amount will vary according to what you are charging. If it's too small the laptop will charge very slowly. If it's too large, that's fine but larger chargers are more expensive and might not be necessary.
Here's how to match the watts to your devices.
Just a phone
Most phones reach full charging speed at a power level between 20 and 45 watts, with iPhone generally settling at the lower end of that range for average users, and many Samsung phones being able to draw a bit more.
If the only device you're charging is an iPhone, then the 20W adapter that Apple sells does perfectly. It's small, it's simple, and it's the one that Apple would have included in the box. The price doesn't change much. it's only a dollar or so above the lowest we've seen, so this is as good a time as any to buy - not worth waiting for a steeper discount.
Apple 20W USB-C Power Adapter
This compact wall charger delivers fast charging speeds for your phone or tablet through a USB-C connection. It's small... more
For a few more dollars, we'd rather have the Anker Nano 45W since it charges any phone at full speed, including Samsung's faster-charging models. It also has enough power left over to charge an iPad or a MacBook Air if necessary (even though it's slower than the charger that comes with Apple's laptop). The plug can fold flat so it won't scratch anything when packed away in a bag.
This is the cheapest price we have ever tracked and a good buy right now.
Anker Nano 45W USB-C Charger with 180° Foldable Plug
This compact USB-C charger delivers up to 45W of fast charging power for your phone, tablet, or laptop. We love the 180-... more
A laptop and everything else
Laptops are where wattage start to become important. A MacBook Air or a slim Windows laptop only needs 30 to 65 watts, while larger laptops, like a 14 or 16 inch MacBook Pro, require 90 watts or more if they are to charge quickly while you're working.
Multi-port chargers divide their power among the different ports. For example, a 140W charger with both a laptop and a phone connected would probably supply the majority of the power to the laptop and only a smaller amount to the phone. Therefore, when comparing these chargers, consider which devices you'll connect at the same time, and not just the number on the box.
Anker's 140W charger has four ports and a little screen that displays how much power each port draws. It might sound like a gimmick at first until you're ask yourself why your laptop is charging slowly. One of these chargers can replace a whole drawer of old ones on a desk or nightstand.
The price is reasonable, but not great. We see it drop lower every couple of months and then come back up, so if your current charger works, hold off on this unit before making an upgrade.
Anker Laptop Charger 140W Max 4-Port GaN USB C with Smart Display
140 watt Anker charger with four ports and a display showing power output. GaN tech keeps it compact despite the high wa... more
The Anker Prime 160W is a slight upgrade. It features three ports instead of four, but offers more total power. Both a large laptop and a tablet can charge at nearly full speed at the same time. It is the top pick for someone who travels frequently and wants to bring a single charger.
It's sitting in the middle of where we've seen it, but it's been noticeably cheaper. For most people the 140W model would be sufficient anyway. Wait on this purchase unless you know you need the extra headroom.
Anker Prime 160W 3-Port GaN USB-C Charger with Display
This compact charging hub delivers up to 160W of power across three ports, so you can charge your MacBook, laptop, and p... more
The cable can be the slow part
A powerful charger is only useful when the cable is capable of carrying the power. Many cheap USB-C cables are limited to 60 watts, which is fine for phones but reduces the charging speed for larger laptops. Cables rated at 100W or 240W have a small chip built into them that tells the charger it's safe to send more power.
Apple's 240W woven cable is capable of handling any of the chargers on this list and, at a length of 2 meters, can reach from a wall outlet to a couch or a bed. Moreover, the woven outer is more durable than the rubber cables which tend to split at the plug. It's normal price right now so it's worth waiting and only get it when you need it.
Apple 240W USB-C to USB-C Woven Charge Cable (2m)
This high-powered charging cable delivers 240W of fast charging for your devices. The woven design is built to last long... more
Wireless on the nightstand
Wireless charging is slower than using a cable, and that's fine when you're charging overnight. The main reason for wireless is convenience since you can just put the phone down and it will begin to charge without fumbling for the cord in the dark.
The Anker Zolo pads use Qi2, the magnetic standard which was developed from Apple's MagSafe. The phone snaps in place securely, so it won't slide off its sweet spot and stop charging in the middle of the night. Recent iPhone models work out of the box, while Android phones may require a magnetic case to stay in place. This is a 2-pack, enough to cover both sides of the bed or a nightstand and a desk.
This is a few dollars more than the lowest price we've seen and right at its usual sale price. Good price for two magnetic chargers, so we'd recommend to buy now.
Anker Zolo Magnetic Wireless Charger 15W Qi2 2-Pack
We came across this wireless charging pad that works great with iPhones and AirPods using MagSafe technology. This 2-pa... more
The car
The USB port found in many cars is weak. They're able to keep a phone alive but charges the phone very slowly, especially when navigation apps are in use. This problem can be solved by using a plug-in car charger.
Anker's 40W car charger has two ports so both the driver and a passenger can charge their devices. Although 40 watts is enough for two phones, the charger is not intended for use with laptops. It's priced a bit higher than the lowest price we have recorded but it's still reasonable for a product of this type and not worth waiting a month in order to save a dollar or so.
Anker 40W 2-Port PowerIQ 3.0 USB-C Car Charger
This dual-port car charger delivers fast charging power for two devices at once, perfect for road trips or your daily co... more
Quick math before you buy
- Add up what charges at the same time. If you have the phone and laptop running at the same time, work out their total power consumption and purchase a charger to match.
- More is safe. A higher-watt charger won't overcharge or damage a phone. Devices only take what they can use.
- More is safe. A high power charger won't overcharge a phone or cause any damage. The devices will only draw the amount they need.
- GaN is why chargers are smaller now. The majority of new chargers, like the Anker models we mentioned, use gallium nitride components which run at a lower temperature and can fit more power in a less space. If your old laptop charger is as big as a sandwich, a GaN charger is a real upgrade.
- Check the cable. If a new charger appears to work slowly with a laptop, try a cable that is rated at 100W or higher before blaming the charger.
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