Device · MacBook Air 13″ & 15″ (M-series)
MacBook Air: it ships with 30W or 35W, and it can take 70W.
Which adapter came in your box depends on the configuration you bought — a 30W single-port, a 35W dual-port, or a 70W on higher-end 15″ builds. All three charge the machine. Only the 70W triggers Apple's fast-charge figure, and none of them are the cheapest way to get there.
What the machine accepts
Max input: 70W. Apple's fast-charge claim for M-series Airs is quoted with the 70W adapter (or a 67W/96W brick on some configurations); above 70W the machine simply stops asking.
Protocol: USB-C Power Delivery on the 20V rail. No PD 3.1, no PPS.
Cable: USB-C to USB-C, or USB-C to MagSafe 3. Below 60W a standard 3A cable is fine; at 67–70W you want a 5A e-marked cable, which is what Apple's own MagSafe 3 cable is.
If you use less: a 30W adapter charges it slowly but reliably; a 20W phone brick will run the machine at idle and struggle to gain ground while you work.
| Adapter | Result on a MacBook Air |
|---|---|
| 20W phone charger | Emergency use. May not gain charge under load. |
| 30W (in-box on some configs) | Charges fully, slowly. Fine overnight. |
| 35W dual (in-box on others) | Same speed as 30W when both ports are busy; two devices from one outlet. |
| 65W | Near-full speed and enough left over for a phone on a second port. The value pick. |
| 70W | Apple's fast-charge configuration. |
| 96W–140W | No faster here. Buy only if a Pro-class laptop shares the brick. |
Three adapters worth buying
- 35W
Apple 35W Dual USB-C Compact
Budget pick, and the one many Airs ship with: two ports sharing 35W, which is enough to charge the laptop overnight while a phone tops up beside it.
- Output
- 35W shared
- Ports
- 2× USB-C
- Form
- Flat
- 67W
Anker Prime 67W 3-Port
Best overall. Sits at the wattage the Air actually rewards, with two more ports — a full desk on one outlet, at a fraction of the size of Apple's brick.
- Output
- 67W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Tech
- GaN
- 70W
Apple 70W USB-C Power Adapter
Multi-device alternative and the fast-charge reference. Single port, but it is the configuration Apple's own charge-time figure is measured on.
- Output
- 70W USB-C PD
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Cable
- Sold separately
Don't waste money on
96W and 140W bricks. They are safe and they are wasted: the machine's request tops out at 70W. That wattage belongs to the 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro.
Third-party MagSafe cables of unknown rating. A MagSafe 3 cable must carry 5A to deliver 70W; an unmarked one may quietly cap you at 60W.
"100W" multi-port units whose per-port maximum is 65W. Read the port table, not the headline — the difference is explained in MacBook charging explained.
Other machines to size against: the iPad Pro shares a brick happily at 45W, and if you are choosing between laptop chargers, Air vs Pro adapters covers the overlap. Everything else is on the device index.
FAQ
Can I charge a MacBook Air with a phone charger?
In a pinch. A 20W adapter keeps a sleeping machine alive and charges it slowly when closed, but under real workloads the battery can still fall. 30W is the sensible floor.
Does a 100W charger charge it faster than 70W?
No. 70W is the ceiling the machine requests. Anything larger is headroom for other devices sharing a multi-port unit.
Do I need an e-marked cable?
Above 60W, yes — a 5A e-marked USB-C cable. Below that, a standard 3A cable is fine. Apple's MagSafe 3 cable is already rated for the full 70W.
Is it bad to leave it plugged in all the time?
No. macOS manages charging behaviour and can hold the battery below full when it detects a stationary routine, which is better for long-term cell health than repeated full cycles.