Compare · Apple's own bricks
Apple 30W vs 35W Dual: five watts and a second port.
Apple sells these two at nearly the same size and nearly the same bracket. The 30W is one port at 30 watts. The 35W Dual is two ports sharing 35 watts — full 35W to a single device, roughly half each when both are occupied.
Spec sheet, side by side
| Apple 30W USB-C | Apple 35W Dual USB-C | |
|---|---|---|
| Rails | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/2A, 20V/1.5A | Same rail set, 35W ceiling |
| Ports | 1× USB-C | 2× USB-C |
| One device attached | 30W | Up to 35W |
| Two devices attached | Not possible | Roughly 17.5W each |
| Form factors | Single cube | Sold as a compact folding-pin body and a flat two-port body |
| Best-suited devices | iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air baseline | iPhone + Watch or AirPods overnight; MacBook Air solo |
Neither triggers MacBook Air fast charging, which needs 70W on the models that support it. Both charge an Air at normal speed — 30W is the wattage Apple shipped with M-series Airs in the first place.
Where each one wins
30W wins when one device needs all the power. An iPad Air or iPad Pro will take close to 30W continuously; on the 35W Dual it gets that too, but only while the second port stays empty. If the adapter lives behind a desk where someone will inevitably plug in a second cable, the single-port unit is the predictable one.
35W Dual wins on the nightstand and in a carry-on. Two ports at 17.5W each is enough for an iPhone at near-full speed and a Watch or AirPods case simultaneously — the exact overnight pairing most people have. It also delivers 35W solo, so it is a strict superset of the 30W when only one cable is attached. Per-model pages: Apple 30W USB-C and Apple 35W Dual USB-C.
Verdict: 35W Dual for nearly everyone
Buy the 35W Dual. It matches the 30W on every rail, exceeds it by five watts when solo, and adds a second port for the same class of money — better watts per dollar and strictly more capability. Judged on the criteria that decide these pages, the 30W loses on headroom and ties on everything else. The exception is genuine but narrow: if this adapter's only job is charging an iPad Pro or a MacBook Air and you want a guaranteed, unshared 30W that nobody can halve by plugging in a Watch, take the single-port 30W. If your device list has grown past a tablet, look at Apple 35W vs 40W Dynamic or step up via 30W vs 45W and the MacBook charging guide.
- 30W
Apple 30W USB-C Power Adapter
The single-port side: an unshared 30W for an iPad Pro or MacBook Air.
- Output
- 30W USB-C PD
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Rails
- 5V/9V/15V/20V
- 35W
Apple 35W Dual USB-C Compact
The dual-port side: 35W solo, about 17.5W each with two devices, folding pins.
- Output
- 35W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C
- Plug
- Folding
- 40W
Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter
The step up for iPhone 17 owners: dynamic output with a higher short-burst ceiling.
- Output
- 40W dynamic
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Standard
- PD 3.1
All Apple bricks are indexed at Apple power adapters; all head-to-heads at charger comparisons.
FAQ
Does the 35W Dual give 35W to one port?
Yes, when only one port is occupied. Plug a second device in and the adapter re-splits the budget to roughly 17.5W each, briefly interrupting the first device while contracts renegotiate.
Can either adapter fast-charge a MacBook Air?
No. MacBook Air fast charging requires 70W on the models that support it. Both of these charge an Air at normal speed, which is what Apple shipped in the box.
Which is better for an iPhone plus Apple Watch overnight?
The 35W Dual. About 17.5W is more than an iPhone can use after the first 30 minutes and far more than a Watch puck needs, so both finish long before morning.