Written by Vinson, Cofounder at Chargeasap, with 10 years building and testing portable chargers.
I have been on the road for most of the past decade. In that time I have left chargers in hotel rooms in six countries, blown a fuse in a Bali guesthouse with the wrong adapter, and once spent an entire long-haul flight watching my laptop battery drain because the only charger I had was the wrong voltage for the seat USB port.
Every one of those problems came down to the same root cause: carrying the wrong travel charger. This guide covers what actually matters when choosing a travel charger, what the common mistakes are, and which options I recommend based on real-world use.
The Problem With Most Travel Chargers
Most people solve the international charging problem by buying a universal travel adapter. You know the type: a large plastic block with sliders that push out different prongs for different countries. They are sold in every airport and cost about $15.
The problem is that a travel adapter is not a charger. It is just a plug converter. You still need to bring your laptop's original charging brick, your phone charger, and your tablet charger separately. The adapter just lets you plug them into a foreign wall socket. You have not reduced what you are carrying at all.
A genuine travel charger solves both problems at once: it has built-in international plugs for multiple countries, and it has enough ports and wattage to charge all your devices simultaneously from a single wall socket.
What to Look For in a Travel Charger
Before buying, check these four things:
1. Built-in international plugs. The charger should include snap-on or fold-out plugs for at least US, UK, EU, and AU outlets. This covers the vast majority of destinations worldwide. A charger that requires a separate adapter defeats the purpose.
2. Total wattage. Add up the wattage of everything you charge simultaneously. A MacBook Pro (140W) + iPhone (30W) + iPad (30W) = 200W minimum. If the charger's total output is lower than your combined device needs, something will charge slowly or not at all.
3. USB-C Power Delivery (PD) support. Your laptop charges via the USB-C PD standard. The charger must support PD to negotiate the correct voltage for your laptop. Without it, the laptop port will only deliver 5W, which is useless for anything larger than a phone.
4. Voltage compatibility. Most modern GaN chargers are dual-voltage (100-240V), meaning they work on both the 110V systems used in North America and the 220-240V systems used in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Always check the label before plugging in. If it says "100-240V," you are fine anywhere in the world.
The Biggest Mistake Travellers Make
Buying a travel charger based on the number of ports rather than the total wattage. A charger with 6 ports and 65W total output will throttle every device connected to it. A charger with 4 ports and 200W total output will fast-charge everything simultaneously without compromise.
Port count is a marketing number. Total wattage is the number that actually determines whether your devices charge properly.
Our Recommendations by Travel Style
For light travellers: Omega 100W
If you travel with a MacBook Air or a Windows ultrabook, a phone, and earbuds, the Omega 100W covers everything in a compact, pocket-sized body. It has 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port, foldable prongs for the US, and is small enough to forget it is in your bag.
For frequent flyers and digital nomads: Omega 200W
The Omega 200W is the charger I recommend for most travellers. It has 200W total output, 2 USB-C ports and 2 USB-A ports, and built-in snap-on adapters for US, UK, EU, and AU outlets. It works in over 190 countries without needing a separate adapter. It is compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket and replaces every charger in your bag.
For power users and MacBook Pro 16-inch owners: Zeus 280W
If you own a MacBook Pro 16-inch or travel with multiple laptops, the Zeus 280W is the only travel charger that guarantees full-speed charging for everything simultaneously. It has 280W total output, dual 140W USB-C ports, a built-in OLED display showing live wattage per port, and snap-on adapters for 190+ countries. We raised $777,629 from over 11,000 backers on Kickstarter to build it.
"Two units cover all our family's devices across domestic and international trips - iPhones, iPad, Apple Watch, laptops, and power banks. Everything in one small pouch. Replaced 4 chargers in my bag."
- Alan M., verified buyer
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Omega 100W | Omega 200W | Zeus 280W | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total output | 100W | 200W | 280W |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| USB-A ports | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Max single port | 65W | 100W | 140W (PD 3.1) |
| Built-in global adapters | US only (foldable) | US, UK, EU, AU | US, UK, EU, AU |
| OLED display | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | MacBook Air, light travel | Most travellers | MacBook Pro 16", power users |
How Does Zeus 280W Compare to the Competition?
The two most commonly considered alternatives in the travel charger category are the Anker 747 GaNPrime and the Satechi 145W Travel Charger. Here is how they compare against the Zeus 280W on the specs that matter for travellers:
| Zeus 280W | Anker 747 (150W) | Satechi 145W Travel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total output | 280W | 150W | 145W |
| Max single port | 140W (PD 3.1) | 100W | 140W (PD 3.1) |
| Ports | 3x USB-C + 1x USB-A | 3x USB-C + 1x USB-A | 4x USB-C |
| Built-in international adapters | Yes (US, UK, EU, AU) | No | Yes (US, UK, EU, AU) |
| MacBook Pro 16" at full speed + other devices | Yes (140W on port 1 guaranteed) | No (max 100W single port) | Yes (140W on port 1) |
| OLED display | Yes (live watts per port) | No | No |
The Anker 747 is the most popular travel charger on the market, but its 100W single-port cap means it cannot fast-charge a MacBook Pro 16-inch. The Satechi 145W matches Zeus on single-port output and includes international adapters, but has 135W less total overhead, meaning it will throttle when all ports are in use. The Zeus 280W is the only travel charger in this comparison that delivers full speed to every port simultaneously, with a live OLED display to confirm it.
A Note on Voltage and Safety
All three Chargeasap chargers above are rated 100-240V, 50/60Hz. This means they are safe to plug into any wall socket in the world with the correct physical adapter. You do not need a voltage converter. The charger handles the conversion internally.
One thing to check when arriving in a new country: the wall socket voltage. Most of Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa use 220-240V. North America, Japan, and parts of South America use 100-120V. If your charger is rated 100-240V, both are fine. If it only says "120V," do not plug it into a 240V socket without a voltage converter.
Shop the full Chargeasap travel charger range here.
Vinson is Cofounder at Chargeasap, an Australian charging hardware company that has shipped 13 Kickstarter products to tens of thousands of backers since 2016. He has personally tested every charger in this guide across multiple continents.
FAQ
What is the best travel charger for international use?
The best travel charger for most people is the Chargeasap Omega 200W. It has 200W total output, built-in snap-on adapters for US, UK, EU, and AU outlets, 2 USB-C and 2 USB-A ports, and works in over 190 countries. It replaces your laptop charger, phone charger, and universal travel adapter in one compact device.
Do I need a voltage converter for a travel charger?
Not if your charger is rated 100-240V. Most modern GaN chargers, including all Chargeasap models, are dual-voltage and work on both 110V and 240V systems worldwide. Check the label on your charger before travelling. If it says 100-240V, you do not need a separate converter.
Can I charge a MacBook Pro with a travel charger?
Yes, provided the travel charger supports USB-C Power Delivery (PD) and outputs enough wattage. A MacBook Pro 14-inch needs at least 67W. A MacBook Pro 16-inch needs 140W to charge at full speed. The Chargeasap Zeus 280W delivers 140W from a single port and is the only travel charger that guarantees full-speed charging for a MacBook Pro 16-inch while also powering other devices.
How many devices can a travel charger charge at once?
It depends on the charger. The Chargeasap Omega 200W can charge 4 devices simultaneously (2 USB-C, 2 USB-A). The Zeus 280W can charge 4 devices simultaneously (3 USB-C, 1 USB-A) with no throttling on any port.
