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Wattage · PD 3.1 EPR, 28V
140W: the first rung above the old 100W ceiling.
140W is 28V × 5A, the first fixed voltage added by PD 3.1 Extended Power Range. It exists because the 16″ MacBook Pro asks for more than USB-C could previously deliver — and it is the only wattage in this range that a single device really can consume on its own.
A new voltage, not just more current
Before PD 3.1, USB-C had four fixed rails topping out at 20V, and 5A was the current limit. To go past 100W the standard had to raise voltage rather than current, so EPR added 28V (140W), 36V (180W) and 48V (240W). A 140W adapter therefore advertises the old rails — 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V — plus 28V/5A for the machines that ask for it. Everything smaller keeps negotiating exactly what it always did.
The cable rule tightens here. Any EPR contract above 100W requires a cable e-marked for 240W (50V/5A); a 100W 5A cable is not sufficient and the charger will refuse to leave the 20V rail with one. Apple's USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable is EPR-rated, as is any lead sold as a "240W" cable. Full detail in the 240W USB-C guide and the e-marked cable guide.
What actually draws 140W
| Machine | Peak USB-C draw | Behaviour on 140W |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16″ (Apple silicon) | 140W | Fast charge — Apple rates ~50% in 30 minutes |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (Pro/Max) | 96W | Fast charge, with 44W of headroom unused |
| Framework Laptop 16 | 180W (36V EPR brick) | Charges at 140W; slower under full GPU load |
| Gaming laptops with USB-C input | 100–140W over USB-C | Full USB-C-side charging; barrel plug still needed for gaming |
| MacBook Air, ultrabooks | 35–70W | Full speed; adapter runs at half capacity |
| Phones, tablets, handhelds | 20–45W | Full speed on the low rails, exactly as on a 30W brick |
140W adapters worth buying
- 140W
Apple 140W USB-C Power Adapter
The reference PD 3.1 implementation, and the only Apple brick with a 28V rail. Ships with the 16″ MacBook Pro.
- Output
- 140W
- Standard
- PD 3.1 / 28V
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Cable
- EPR required
- 140W
Anker Prime 140W
Third-party PD 3.1 done properly, with a multi-port budget on top of the 140W primary port.
- Output
- 140W total
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Ports
- 3
- 140W
UGREEN Nexode 140W
GaN three-port at the EPR tier — 140W to a lone laptop, shared split once accessories attach.
- Output
- 140W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Tech
- GaN
- 140W
CukTech 140W
Compact EPR alternative; verify the listing states 28V/5A rather than a 140W multi-port total.
- Output
- 140W-class
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Check
- 28V rail stated
Ranked options are on the best 140W chargers page; the size story is on 140W GaN.
Above and below
Below: 100W charges every 140W-class laptop fully, just without the fast tier — a fair trade if the machine mostly lives on a desk. Above: 160W, 200W and 240W are shared totals, so they buy you more devices at once rather than more watts for one. Compare directly: 100W vs 140W and 140W vs 240W, or see the Apple 140W adapter page and the wattage index.
FAQ
Does a 140W charger need a special cable?
Yes — an EPR cable e-marked for 240W (50V/5A). A regular 100W 5A cable will not carry the 28V contract, and the charger falls back to 100W.
Can I use a 140W charger on a MacBook Air?
Yes. The Air negotiates its own 35-70W contract and ignores the rest. The only cost is size, weight and price.
Is 140W the maximum for USB-C?
No. PD 3.1 defines 140W (28V), 180W (36V) and 240W (48V). 140W is simply the tier Apple adopted, which is why it is the most common EPR wattage on sale.