Updated October 2026. Written by Vinson, Cofounder at Chargeasap, with 10 years building and testing portable chargers.
Short answer: the best travel adapter carries the plugs for every country on your trip, has a wall socket rated for what you plan to plug into it, and has a USB-C port strong enough for your laptop. That last point is what lets it replace your charger as well as your adapter. Check two things before you buy: the plugs it carries, and the wattage on its best USB-C port.
A travel adapter changes the shape of the plug, not the voltage. Phones, laptops and camera chargers almost always accept 100 to 240V, so for those an adapter is all you need. A hair dryer or straightener often does not, and that is where people get caught out.
Our pick for most trips
US, UK, European and Australian plugs built in, a wall socket and four USB ports. Up to 65W from one USB-C port. 200g.
$39
★★★★★ 5.0 from 17 reviews · 30-day returns · 1-year international warranty
Charging a laptop and a phone at the same time? G6 Pro 100W, $59
Adapter, converter or charger: what each one does
These three words get used as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and buying the wrong one is the most common travel charging mistake.
| Type | What it does | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Travel adapter | Changes the plug shape so it fits the local socket | Every trip to a country with different sockets |
| Voltage converter | Changes the voltage, for example from 230V down to 120V | Only for devices that accept a single voltage, such as some hair tools |
| Travel charger | Turns wall power into USB power to charge devices | To charge phones, tablets and laptops over USB |
A travel adapter with USB-C ports, like G6, is an adapter and a charger in one body. It is still not a voltage converter. Anything plugged into its wall socket has to accept the local voltage on its own.
Which plug you need, by destination
Most of the world uses one of four plug shapes. A good universal travel adapter carries all four.
| Plug | Where it is used | Supply |
|---|---|---|
| USTypes A and B | United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, much of Central America | 100 to 127V |
| UKType G | United Kingdom, Ireland, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia | 230 to 240V |
| EuropeanTypes C, E and F | Most of continental Europe, including France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands | 220 to 230V |
| AustralianType I | Australia, New Zealand, China | 220 to 240V |
A few places use sockets that these four plugs may not fit, including Switzerland, older sockets in Italy, Brazil, India, Israel and South Africa. If one of those is on your route, check the socket type before you go.
Adapter or converter: read the label first
Look at the small print on the device or its power brick. It will say something like INPUT: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz.
- 100 to 240V: works anywhere with just an adapter. This covers nearly every phone charger, laptop charger and camera charger.
- 110 to 120V only, or 220 to 240V only: needs a voltage converter in countries with a different supply. This is common on older hair dryers, straighteners and some kitchen gadgets.
Plugging a 120V-only device into a 230V socket through an adapter can damage it. The adapter will not stop you, because changing the voltage is not its job.
What to look for in the best travel adapter
- The plugs it carries. US, UK, European and Australian covers most trips. Plugs that slide out of the body are harder to lose than loose clip-on pieces.
- The wattage on the best USB-C port. A phone needs about 20W to 30W. Most 13-inch laptops charge well on 65W. A MacBook Air fast charges at 70W, or 67W on 13.6-inch models, and a 14-inch MacBook Pro at 96W or more.
- How the power is shared. The total wattage on the box is shared across the ports. Check what the laptop port still gets when a phone is plugged in beside it.
- The wall socket rating. Look for the maximum load in watts at each supply voltage, and compare it with anything you plan to plug in.
- Built-in protection. An auto-resetting fuse means there is no spare fuse to carry. Look for listed certifications such as FCC and CE.
- Size and weight. It lives in your bag for the whole trip, so every gram counts.
G6 vs G6 Pro: which travel adapter to choose
Both carry the same four plugs and the same wall socket. The difference is how much USB-C power they give your laptop, and whether they keep it when other devices are charging.
| G6 | G6 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39 | $59 |
| Total USB output | 65W | 100W |
| Best USB-C port | 65W on any one USB-C port, used alone | 100W on the laptop port |
| USB ports | 3 USB-C, 1 USB-A | 4 USB-C, 1 USB-A |
| Laptop plus phone at once | 30W + 30W | Laptop port keeps up to 100W |
| Plugs built in | US, UK, European, Australian | US, UK, European, Australian, slide out |
| Wall socket | Up to 800W on 100 to 120V, up to 2,000W on 220 to 250V | |
| Weight | 200g | 250g |
Choose G6 if you mostly charge a phone, tablet or a small laptop, one device at a time. Any one USB-C port gives up to 65W on its own. With two devices plugged in, the split drops to 30W each.
Choose G6 Pro if you travel with a laptop and charge it alongside other devices. The laptop port holds up to 100W, enough to fast charge a MacBook Air or a 14-inch MacBook Pro, while four more ports charge a phone, earbuds and a watch.
The two travel adapters we make
G6 65W, for phones, tablets and small laptops
Four plugs, a wall socket, three USB-C ports and one USB-A in 200g.
$39 View
G6 Pro 100W, for a laptop plus everything else
100W on the laptop port, four more USB ports and slide-out plugs in 250g.
$59 View
Or skip the adapter: chargers that come with plugs for other countries
If everything you travel with charges over USB, you may not need a travel adapter at all. Our GaN chargers come with plugs for other countries in the box, so the charger itself fits the wall wherever you land. They give a laptop more power than either G6. What they do not have is a wall socket, so they will not run anything with its own mains plug.
Chargers with country plugs in the box
Zeus 280W, for two laptops
Two USB-C ports that each reach 140W, a third at up to 100W and a USB-A port. US plug built in, with UK, European and Australian adapters in the box.
$189 View
Omega 200W, for a laptop plus everything else
Two USB-C ports at up to 100W each and two USB-A. Folding prongs, with Australian, European and UK adapters in the box.
$139 View
Omega 100W, the light one
100W across two USB-C ports and one USB-A. US prongs built in, with Australian, European and UK plugs in the box. 155g.
$49 View
Not sure which suits your trip? Read our guide to the best travel charger.
Choose a travel adapter if you also need to plug in something with its own mains plug: a camera battery charger, an electric toothbrush, a shaver or a dual-voltage hair tool. Choose a charger with country plugs if everything you carry charges over USB-C or USB-A and you want the most power for your laptop.
FAQ
What is a travel adapter?
A travel adapter changes the shape of your plug so it fits a wall socket in another country. It does not change the voltage. Many travel adapters, including G6 and G6 Pro, also have USB-C ports, so they charge your phone and laptop without a separate charger.
What is a universal travel adapter?
A universal travel adapter carries several plug types in one body, usually US, UK, European and Australian, so one adapter works in most countries. Check which plugs it carries rather than relying on the word universal, because a few countries use sockets that the common four plugs do not fit.
Does a travel adapter convert voltage?
No. A travel adapter only changes the plug shape. If a device's label says 100 to 240V, it works anywhere with just an adapter. If it says 110 to 120V only, or 220 to 240V only, it needs a voltage converter in countries with a different supply.
Do I need a travel adapter for Japan?
Japan uses the same flat two-pin plug as the US, so most US travelers do not need one, although a three-pin US plug may not fit older two-pin sockets. Japan's supply is 100V, and most phone and laptop chargers accept it. Travelers from the UK, Europe or Australia need a US-type plug.
Do I need a travel adapter for Mexico?
Not if you are coming from the US or Canada: Mexico uses the same plug types and a similar supply of about 127V. Travelers from the UK, Europe or Australia need a US-type plug.
What travel adapter do I need for Italy?
Italy uses Type C, F and L sockets. A Schuko-style European plug fits Type F sockets and the combined sockets common in newer buildings, but not older three-in-a-row Type L sockets. A slim two-pin Europlug fits all three.
Can I use a hair dryer with a travel adapter?
Only if the hair dryer accepts the local voltage, and only if its wattage is inside the adapter's socket rating. On G6 and G6 Pro the socket handles up to 2,000W on a 220 to 250V supply, such as the UK, Europe and Australia, and up to 800W on a 100 to 120V supply, such as the US and Japan.
Can I use a travel charger instead of a travel adapter?
Yes, if everything you bring charges over USB. A charger that comes with plugs for other countries fits the wall itself, so it needs no adapter. Zeus 280W, Omega 200W and Omega 100W all come with plugs for the US, UK, Europe and Australia. You still need a travel adapter for anything with its own mains plug.
Is a travel adapter the same as a travel charger?
No. A travel adapter fits the wall socket, and on its own it does not charge anything. A travel charger converts power to charge your devices over USB. G6 and G6 Pro are both: a plug adapter with a wall socket on one side and a USB-C charger built in.
Ready for your next trip
G6 65W Travel Adapter
One adapter for the US, UK, Europe and Australia, with a 65W USB-C charger built in.
$39 View
Need more for a laptop? G6 Pro 100W, $59. Or see all travel adapters.
Vinson is Cofounder at Chargeasap, an Australian charging hardware company that has run 14 crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo and shipped to more than 108,000 customers since 2016.
