Mary-Elisabeth Combs Associate Writer
Mary-Elisabeth is an associate writer on CNET’s How-To team. She’s a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s English Department, and resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. On the How-To team, she covers a little bit of everything. When she’s not writing, she’s catching up on Formula 1 or reading.
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The MacBook Air with Apple’s in-house M2 chip is a great laptop. When purchasing a new model, Apple offers users the option to configure it to their liking. Most choices are familiar to long-time Apple fans, such as selecting your processor and the amount of storage space on your device, but one option stands out: Apple is asking you which power adapter you want with the MacBook Air. With that choice in mind, here are some of the best MacBook Air M2 chargers that you can buy right now.
When you go to buy a new MacBook Air M2, you will have the choice between three adapters: the 30-watt USB-C Power Adapter, the 35-watt Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter and the 67-watt USB-C Power Adapter (Apple calls them 30W, 35W and 67W power adapters). It’s important to note that only the base $1,099 configuration gives you all three options. Bumping up to the $1,499 configuration — a CNET Editors’ Choice winner — gives you a choice between the 35- and 67-watt chargers.
While it’s commonplace to have power options when configuring desktops, it’s out of the ordinary for laptops. Because of that, it might not be immediately clear which will be best for your needs. This list will give you a better idea of what each adapter offers so you can choose the best one for your needs.
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The 30-watt USB-C adapter is the standard adapter that long-time Apple fans will recognize. It comes in at 5.6 ounces (159 grams) and measures 3 by 2 by 2 inches (7.3 by 5.1 by 5.1 centimeters). Choosing this adapter will add no additional cost to your final total. It’s widely compatible with iPhones, iPads and Macs, but Apple recommends primarily using this adapter with your MacBook Air. The 30-watt USB-C adapter is a solid option for people who don’t want to think about their adapter. It does the job, and it does it well.
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The 35-watt Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is a new addition to Apple’s lineup of adapters. Coming in at 3.7 ounces (105 grams) and 1.9 by 1.9 by 1.1 inches (4.7 by 4.7 by 2.9 centimeters) it is a bit lighter than the 30-watt USB-C power adapter. The standout feature of this adapter is that it has two USB-C ports, meaning you can charge two devices at the same time. Much like the 30-watt USB-C adapter, you can use this charger with most devices, but Apple recommends this adapter for the MacBook Air. The 35-watt Dual USB-C Port Compact adapter is ideal for someone who has limited space and multiple devices that need charging. It is worth noting that choosing this adapter will add $20 to your MacBook Air M2 purchase.
The 35-watt charger can also be purchased separately for $59, which is expensive. For the same price, consider Anker’s 65-watt Nano II charger that’s more compact, has two USB-C and a USB-A port and has nearly double the power output.
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The 67-watt USB-C adapter is another option for MacBook Air buyers. It is the biggest adapter of the three, coming in at 7.2 ounces (204 grams) and 2.9 by 2.9 by 1.1 inches (7.5 by 7.4 by 2.9 centimeters). The biggest difference between this adapter and the 30-watt USB-C adapter is the 67-watt USB-C adapter’s charging time. It’s incredibly powerful, with Apple promising it can charge a device from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. To take advantage of the adapter’s superfast charging, Apple recommends pairing it with the MacBook Air M2. Like the 35-watt Dual USB-C port compact adapter, choosing this power adapter will add $20 to your final total.
Apple’s 67-watt charger is available separately for $59 as well. And as with the 35-watt adapter, there are less expensive third-party chargers, such as the $20 RAVPower PD Pioneer, which is smaller, lighter and supports fast charging.
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