One kind of charger for most new laptops
Most laptops made in recent years charge through USB-C, and they all speak the same language to their charger: USB Power Delivery, set by the USB-IF. When you plug in, the charger offers what it can, the laptop asks for what it needs, and only then does the power step up. That is why one USB-C charger can charge a laptop, a tablet and a phone, and why a spare from this range can sit in the bag while the original stays on the desk. Every charger here has a UK three-pin plug.
The four power ranges
What you will find across them
Most of these chargers are GaN, short for gallium nitride, a material that lets a charger of the same power be much smaller and lighter than an old one. Many have two, three or more sockets, mixing USB-C and USB-A, and several have a small screen that shows the watts going out. Some have a USB-C cable built in that winds back into the charger, so there is no lead to forget.
How to choose the power
Look at your laptop's original charger: the watts printed on it are the figure to match or beat. A charger with more watts is safe, because the laptop only takes what it asks for. One with fewer will usually still charge it, more slowly, and may barely keep up while the laptop works hard. A Mac shows "Slow Charger" when the power is too low, and Microsoft says a Surface below its recommended wattage may charge slowly or not at all.
On a charger with several sockets, the figure on the box is usually the total, shared between them. Check what the laptop's socket gives with everything else plugged in. And above 60W, use a cable rated for it: USB-C to USB-C laptop cables rated 100W or 240W.
Questions people ask about USB-C laptop chargers
Can I use my phone charger?
If it supports USB Power Delivery, it will charge a USB-C laptop slowly. It may not keep up while you work.
Will it fit my laptop?
It will fit any USB-C charging socket. Whether it gives enough power depends on the watts on your original charger.
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