Apple · PD 3.1 · Only 28V brick
Apple 140W USB-C: the only 28V Apple makes.
Model A2452 is Apple's sole PD 3.1 adapter. Its top rail is 28V at 5A, a voltage no other Apple brick produces, and it is the only way to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Output profile, including the EPR rail
| Rail | Current | Delivered | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2V | 3A | ~15.6W | PD 3.0 |
| 9V | 3A | 27W | PD 3.0 |
| 15V | 3A | 45W | PD 3.0 |
| 20V | 5A | 100W | PD 3.0 |
| 28V | 5A | 140W | PD 3.1 EPR |
Everything above 100W in USB-C lives in Extended Power Range, which adds 28V, 36V and 48V rails on top of the classic four. Apple implements only the first of those. Anything that cannot speak PD 3.1 — including every older Mac — simply negotiates the 20V rail and gets 100W, which is why this brick is backward compatible with everything.
The cable is part of the spec
140W over USB-C requires a cable e-marked for EPR — in practice a 240W-rated cable, because 240W is the marking the standard uses for 5A EPR cables. A perfectly good 100W 5A cable will hold the adapter at 100W and give you no warning that it is doing so. The MagSafe 3 cable in a MacBook Pro box carries the full 140W. Full explanation: e-marker cables and the 240W USB-C standard.
Who needs 140W and who does not
- MacBook Pro 16″ (M-series): the intended device. Fast charge to roughly half in half an hour is a 140W-only behaviour, delivered over MagSafe 3.
- MacBook Pro 14″: useful headroom, not a requirement — 96W already fast-charges it.
- MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone: over-served by a wide margin. Completely safe; they draw their own rails.
- Everything pre-2021: gets 100W maximum from this adapter, which is still more than any Intel Mac ever shipped with.
PD 3.1 alternatives that genuinely list 28V
- 140W
UGREEN Nexode 140W
Multi-port PD 3.1 GaN — 140W to one port or split across three. Confirm the 28V/5A profile in the listing.
- Output
- 140W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- 140W
Anker Prime 140W 3-Port
Compact 140W with a readout of live per-port draw; the most desk-friendly PD 3.1 brick.
- Output
- 140W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- 240W
SmallRig 240W 4-Port
240W total: 140W to a MacBook Pro 16″ and 100W left over for a second laptop. Replaces a strip of bricks.
- Output
- 240W total
- Ports
- 3× USB-C, 1× USB-A
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- 140W
CUKTECH 140W
140W PD 3.1 in a small GaN housing — the compact travel option at this tier.
- Output
- 140W total
- Ports
- Multi USB-C
- Standard
- PD 3.1
The one rule when shopping third-party at this wattage: the listing must state PD 3.1 or 28V explicitly. "140W" alone sometimes means 140W summed across four ports, with no single port above 100W.
Verdict
Mandatory if you own a 16″ MacBook Pro and want the charging behaviour Apple advertises. Optional headroom on anything else. Apple's implementation is single-port; a 140W GaN with three ports does the same job and charges your phone at the same time. Class overview: 140W adapters, and the tier below at 100W vs 140W.
Related
FAQ
Why does my 140W adapter only deliver 100W?
Almost always the cable. Delivering more than 100W requires an EPR cable e-marked for 240W; a 100W 5A cable negotiates fine but caps at the 20V rail. The MagSafe 3 cable supplied with the laptop carries the full 140W.
Is the Apple 140W adapter safe for an iPhone or iPad?
Yes. USB-C PD devices request their own voltage and current, so an iPhone draws about 27W and an iPad about 30W from this adapter. The extra capability sits unused.
Do I need 140W for a 14-inch MacBook Pro?
No. The 96W adapter already fast-charges the 14-inch. 140W buys headroom and future compatibility rather than a faster charge on that machine.