By device · Chromebook
Chromebook: 45W is the floor, 65W is the safe buy.
Chromebooks are the most standards-obedient laptops you can buy: plain USB-C Power Delivery, no proprietary handshake, no vendor lock. Almost all of them ship a 45W adapter, larger Chromebook Plus machines ship 45W or 65W, and ChromeOS tells you out loud when you have undershot.
The spec
Input: 45W typical (20V/2.25A or 15V/3A), 65W on larger and higher-spec models. Protocol: standard USB-C PD — nothing else required. Cable: any 3A/60W USB-C to USB-C. Because there is no proprietary layer, any certified PD charger from any brand is a legitimate replacement, which is not true of most Windows laptops.
ChromeOS gives you the diagnostic for free: connect an underpowered supply and it raises a low-power charger notification. That message means the adapter is below what the machine wants, not that it is unsafe. The device keeps charging, just slowly, and under a full load of tabs and a bright screen it may not gain at all.
Most Chromebooks accept charge on either side's USB-C port. If one port charges and the other does not, that port is data-only — a design choice on cheaper models, not a fault.
Wattage → outcome
| Charger | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 5W/12W USB-A | No PD contract. Slow trickle or nothing at all |
| 20W PD | Low-power charger warning; overnight charging only |
| 30W PD | Usable for light browsing; slow refill |
| 45W PD | OEM equivalent for the vast majority of Chromebooks |
| 65W PD | Correct for larger Chromebook Plus models; universal safe buy |
Three that fit
- 45W
Anker Nano II 45W (712)
Exact-spec replacement for a standard Chromebook, in a plug-sized GaN body.
- Output
- 45W
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Build
- GaN II
- 65W
Anker 735 Charger (Nano II 65W)
Best overall: covers any Chromebook including the big Plus models, plus a phone and earbuds.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Build
- GaN II
- 65W
Statik 65W GaN 3-Port
Family or classroom pick — folding plug, three ports, one outlet for a Chromebook and two phones.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Build
- GaN
Don't waste money on
Brand-matched "Acer/HP/Lenovo Chromebook chargers". There is no vendor-specific charging on a USB-C Chromebook. A certified PD adapter at the right wattage is the whole requirement.
100W and above. A Chromebook will not take it. Buy that only if a 14″ or 16″ laptop shares the charger — see best laptop chargers.
A charger, when the cable is the problem. Charge-only or thin USB-A-to-C cables cannot carry a PD contract. Details in the cable guide, and symptoms in slow charging fixes.
Neighbours: Surface, ThinkPad, MacBook Air, the laptop hub and the device index.
FAQ
What does 'low-power charger connected' mean on a Chromebook?
The attached USB-C adapter supplies less than the machine wants, typically under 45W. Charging continues at a reduced rate; it is not dangerous.
Can I use a phone charger on a Chromebook?
A 20W or 30W PD phone charger will charge it slowly, mostly while idle. For normal use, 45W is the floor.
Do Chromebooks need a special charger brand?
No. USB-C Chromebooks use standard Power Delivery, so any certified PD charger at 45W or more works regardless of who made the laptop.
Can I charge a Chromebook from either USB-C port?
On most models yes. Some budget machines designate one port as data-only, in which case only the other will charge.