How to Choose a Safe Third-Party Charger for MacBook?

When using a MacBook, if the original charger is damaged or a backup is needed, third-party chargers become a common choice for many users. However, improper selection may cause damage to the device. The following will explain how to select a safe third-party charger for MacBook from aspects such as charging protocols, risk warnings, essential functions, and power requirements.

I. Analysis of Apple Charging Protocols: Compatibility Between PD Versions and MacBook

Currently, all MacBook models adopt the USB – PD charging protocol, and its version compatibility directly affects charging efficiency and safety.

• PD 3.1 is the relatively new version at present, with a maximum output power of up to 240W. For example, the 16 – inch MacBook Pro (equipped with the M3 Max chip) supports this version. When paired with a PD 3.1 charger that meets the standards, it can charge the battery from 0% to approximately 55% in 30 minutes.
• The PD 3.0 version has a maximum power of 100W and is suitable for most 13 – 14 – inch MacBooks, such as the MacBook Air (equipped with the M2 chip). Using a PD 3.0 charger to charge it takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge, and the efficiency difference compared with the original charger of the same power is less than 5%.
• The PD 2.0 version has a power limit of 60W and is still compatible with older MacBooks equipped with Intel low – voltage processors (e.g., the 2019 13 – inch MacBook Pro). However, when charging new models that support high power, the charging speed will be slow. For instance, charging the 14 – inch MacBook Pro (equipped with the M1 Pro chip) takes more than 3 hours, which is much longer than the 1.8 hours required by the original charger.

In practical scenarios, if you often take the 16 – inch MacBook Pro on business trips, carrying a PD 2.0 charger will result in insufficient power. When processing large documents or editing videos, the battery power of the computer will not increase but decrease, affecting normal use.

II. Risk Warning: How Do Inferior Chargers Damage the Motherboard?

Due to cost control, inferior chargers have serious defects in component selection and circuit design, which can easily damage the MacBook motherboard.

• In terms of capacitors, high – quality chargers usually use high – temperature – resistant solid capacitors, while inferior products mostly use liquid electrolytic capacitors. A test conducted by an organization on 100 inferior chargers showed that after 1 hour of continuous charging, 38% of the products had capacitor bulging. When the capacitor breaks down, it will cause an instantaneous voltage imbalance.
• Lack of a voltage stabilization circuit: The output voltage fluctuation range of a normal charger can be controlled within ±3%, while the voltage fluctuation of an inferior charger often exceeds ±10%. When the voltage rises sharply, it will directly impact the Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) of the MacBook. Maintenance data shows that cases where the PMIC is damaged due to inferior chargers account for 27% of MacBook motherboard failures, and the cost of replacing this chip usually exceeds 1,000 yuan.

When charging at night, if an inferior charger is used and no one is watching, once a voltage imbalance occurs, it may not only damage the motherboard but also pose a risk of causing a fire.

III. Essential Functions: Overvoltage, Overcurrent, and Short – Circuit Protection Mechanisms

A safe third – party charger must be equipped with complete overvoltage, overcurrent, and short – circuit protection mechanisms, which are the core to ensuring the safety of the device.

• Overvoltage Protection: When the output voltage exceeds 110% of the rated value, the protection mechanism should cut off the power within 0.1 seconds. Tests have shown that a charger that meets the standards can immediately stop outputting when the simulated voltage rises abnormally to 12V (with a rated voltage of 10V); while a charger without this function will continue to output high voltage, which can instantly damage the device.
• Overcurrent Protection: When the charging current exceeds the maximum current allowed by the device, the charger needs to automatically reduce the current. For example, the maximum charging current of the 14 – inch MacBook Pro is 7A. A charger with overcurrent protection will activate the protection when the current reaches 7.5A, while an inferior charger may continue to output a current of more than 8A, causing the charging interface to overheat and melt.
• Short – Circuit Protection: When a short circuit occurs in the charging cable or interface, the charger needs to cut off the power immediately. Tests indicate that a high – quality charger can cut off the power within 0.05 seconds after a short circuit occurs, while an inferior charger may fail to do so, leading to a line fire.

IV. Power Recommendations: Different Requirements for M – Series and Intel Chips

MacBooks equipped with different chips have different requirements for charger power, so accurate matching is necessary when making a selection.

• M – Series Chips: The 16 – inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip has high power consumption, and it is recommended to choose a charger with a power of 140W; the MacBook Air with the M2 chip has low power consumption, and a 67W charger can meet its needs. If a 67W charger is used to charge the MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip, not only will the charging speed be slow, but the performance will also be reduced due to insufficient power supply when running large – scale software.
• Intel Chips: For the older 13 – inch MacBook Pro equipped with the Intel i7 processor, a 65W charger is sufficient; for the 16 – inch MacBook Pro (2019 model) equipped with the Intel i9 processor, it is recommended to choose a 96W charger. Using a charger with a power lower than the rated power will cause the battery to be in a low – power charging state for a long time, affecting the battery cycle life.

In addition, regardless of the power of the charger chosen, it is necessary to ensure that it meets the USB PD standard. Non – standard chargers may fail to charge or damage the battery due to incompatible protocols.

In conclusion, when choosing a third – party charger for MacBook, attention should be paid to the compatibility of the PD version, whether it has a complete protection mechanism, and at the same time, a charger with appropriate power should be selected according to the chip model to avoid device damage caused by improper selection.