Can I use a 65-watt USB-C charger to charge my 16-inch MacBook Pro (Intel)?

[SW3029]

I could use some help so I don't do something that ends up damaging my MacBook Pro.

I have a 2019 16-inch MBP (Intel) and a third-party 65-watt USB-C charger.

Can I use this 65-watt charger to charge my MBP or will it short it out or damage it in some way?

I should note that I don't plan to use the 65W charger as my main charger, but will keep it in my briefcase in case I am out somewhere and my MBP needs a quick charge.

Really appreciate any help!

 

[jaytv111]

It should have no problem. It may be a bit lower power than it wants (originally it comes with a 96 watt charger), but it would work just fine as long as the CPU and GPU load isn't maxed out. If you are maxing out those it may drain the battery, albeit slower than without power, or not charge the battery if it is to be charged.

Slight footnote, if it's a random 3rd party charger from a company with no established reputation then it's possible it malfunctions and screws things up, but in theory any USB-C charger with enough power is as good as any other USB-C charger with enough power. I've used a bunch of type-C chargers with my iPad and Macbook Pros and most of them work out okay, but sometimes the charger itself is defective (I bought a new multiport charger recently that had one problem so it was defective and I sent it back).

 

[ascender]

Can I use this 65-watt charger to charge my MBP or will it short it out or damage it in some way?

Yes you can and no it won't damage it.

 

[doolar]

I’ve sometimes used the 18/19/20w Apple charger, it’s slow but it is charging. Should be no problem. Power is not just fed, a simple explanation is that the computer ask for a certain current. It’s quite difficult to destroy a computer using PD with any (good quality) PD charger.

Watch out for the cheap knockoff chargers. I’ve seen enough fires caused by Wish chargers in my line of work.

The components, r&d and build quality of an Apple brick and one of the cheap knockoffs differs vastly, and there is a reason besides the Apple tax that Apple chargers are expensive. Actually, they are quite cheap when I think about it.

 

[TinyMito]

Short answer: Yes, modern tech usb charger self regulates.

 

[yuletide]

I just ran into a weird issue with my 2022 14” mpb using my 65W charger where it charge cycles repeatedly; the first time I left it overnight and it had kernel panicked from the cycling.

I took it in to Apple and they insisted it’s being caused by using the lower wattage charger, which makes little sense to me. I’ve used these for months with no issue but now my machine has started doing this intermittently.

I’d rather not buy another 4 chargers since I have plenty already. Is this a firmware / software problem? It doesn’t charge slowly it just cycles between charging and not charging every few seconds.

 

[jaytv111]

I just ran into a weird issue with my 2022 14” mpb using my 65W charger where it charge cycles repeatedly; the first time I left it overnight and it had kernel panicked from the cycling.

I took it in to Apple and they insisted it’s being caused by using the lower wattage charger, which makes little sense to me. I’ve used these for months with no issue but now my machine has started doing this intermittently.

I’d rather not buy another 4 chargers since I have plenty already. Is this a firmware / software problem? It doesn’t charge slowly it just cycles between charging and not charging every few seconds.

That sounds like a charger problem. Does the laptop work with other chargers? Is this a 3rd party charger? My multiport charger did that before I sent it back and got a replacement that doesn’t have this problem. Devices like my MacBook would charge to 100 then get reset constantly until the MacBook shutoff the charging ports and I had to reboot the MacBook.

 

[yuletide]

That sounds like a charger problem. Does the laptop work with other chargers? Is this a 3rd party charger? My multiport charger did that before I sent it back and got a replacement that doesn’t have this problem. Devices like my MacBook would charge to 100 then get reset constantly until the MacBook shutoff the charging ports and I had to reboot the MacBook.

The Apple tech tested my cable and charger (OEM from an older USBC MBP) and the only error he got was that it was the wrong Voltage

 

[jaytv111]

The Apple tech tested my cable and charger (OEM from an older USBC MBP) and the only error he got was that it was the wrong Voltage

If you can replicate the problem with another charger then that would prove the MacBook is at fault.

 

[jav6454]

I could use some help so I don't do something that ends up damaging my MacBook Pro.

I have a 2019 16-inch MBP (Intel) and a third-party 65-watt USB-C charger.

Can I use this 65-watt charger to charge my MBP or will it short it out or damage it in some way?

I should note that I don't plan to use the 65W charger as my main charger, but will keep it in my briefcase in case I am out somewhere and my MBP needs a quick charge.

Really appreciate any help!

Yes, but it will charge slower than usual.

 

[yuletide]

If you can replicate the problem with another charger then that would prove the MacBook is at fault.

Restarting seems to resolve it for some time, whatever that is worth. I’ll be home next week so can compare other chargers.