If you've ever packed for a work trip and realised you need your MacBook charger, your phone charger, a travel adapter, and somehow fit it all into a carry-on — this post is for you.
Apple's charger does its job. But it was designed for your desk, not your bag. Here's what actually matters when you're choosing a travel charger for a MacBook, and which options hold up.
What to Look For in a Travel MacBook Charger
Wattage that matches your MacBook. A MacBook Pro 16" needs 140W to charge at full speed. Anything less and it'll charge slowly — or not at all if you're running it hard. MacBook Air is more forgiving at 30–67W depending on the model, but more headroom is always better.
Multiple ports. You're travelling. You have a phone, maybe a tablet, earbuds. A single-port charger means you're either rotating devices or hunting for a second power point at the airport.
International plug support. Australian plugs don't work in Europe or the US without an adapter. Most chargers don't include them. This is a small thing that becomes a big problem the moment you land somewhere new.
Size and weight. The whole point of travelling light is carrying less. A charger that's heavier than your lunch is a problem.
The Options Worth Considering
Apple 140W USB-C Power Adapter — $99 The obvious choice if you already own one. Charges your MacBook Pro at full speed, genuinely compact for what it does. The problem: one port, no travel adapters, and you'll still need to carry a separate phone charger. Fine as a desk charger. Limiting on the road.
Anker 747 GaN Prime 150W — ~$120 USD Four ports, 150W total output, decent size reduction over Apple's brick. A solid option if you're primarily US-based. Doesn't include international adapters and the 150W total means you're sharing power across ports rather than delivering full wattage to everything simultaneously.
Baseus 100W GaN Charger — ~$60–70 USD Good value, compact, handles MacBook Air and smaller MacBook Pros well. Falls short for MacBook Pro 16" users who want full-speed charging. Better suited as a secondary travel charger than a primary one.
Zeus 280W GaN Charger — $219 USD Built specifically for the problem of carrying too many chargers. 280W total across four ports — 140W on each of the two primary USB-C ports, 100W on the third, 65W USB-A. Charges a MacBook Pro 16" at full speed while simultaneously fast-charging your phone, tablet, and earbuds. EU, UK, and AU adapters included. OLED display shows you exactly what's drawing power from each port. The price is higher, but it's replacing four separate chargers — and the weight saving is real.
The Honest Verdict
If you travel once or twice a year and only carry a MacBook, Apple's charger is fine. But if you travel regularly, carry multiple devices, or move between countries — the maths changes quickly. One charger that does everything is lighter, takes up less bag space, and means one less thing to forget.
The Zeus 280W is what we'd pack — and what we designed for exactly this problem.
Chargeasap makes the Zeus 280W — a 4-port GaN charger delivering 280W in a palm-sized hub, with international travel adapters included. Shop at chargeasap.com
