Since their release in 2016, USB-C chargers have changed how we power our devices. They have a wide range of wattage and incredible power diversification, all at a reasonable price. However, with over a dozen models on the market, it might be tricky to pick the right one. We’ve reviewed the best USB-C chargers for Windows laptops, and here are the top five in our opinion.
- Best Overall: UGreen 65 W
- Best for Performance: Anker 736 100 W
- Best for Budget: Amazon Basics 65 W
- Best for Multiple Ports: UGreen 200 W
- Best for Travel:
Best USB-C Chargers for Windows Laptops: Side by Side Comparison
| UGreen 65 W | Anker 736 100 W | Amazon Basics 65 W | UGreen 200 W | Anker Nano II 65 W | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watts | 65 W max | 100 W max | 65 W max | 200 W max | 65 W max |
| Ports | 2 USB-C,1 USB-A | 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A | 1 USB-C | 4 USB-C2 USB-A | 1 USB-C |
| Size | 2.6 x 1.6 x 1.2 in | 2.6 x 2.2 x 1.2 in | 3.2 x 2.6 x 1.2 in | 4.0 x 4.0 x 1.3 in | 1.7 x 1.7 x 1.4 in |
| Weight | 4.6 oz | 7.2 oz | 5.1 oz | 18.2 oz | 4.0 oz |
| Overcharge protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folding plug | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cable included | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Price | $59.99 | $84.99 | $18.87 | $199.99 | $48.31 |
Best Overall: UGreen 65 W
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It’s unquestionable that the UGreen 65 W is one of the best USB-C chargers for Windows laptops. This device has it all: a good amount of wattage, multiple ports, a slender frame, and a decent price. A C cable would be a nice addition.
This UGreen model gets away with so much because of its GaN semiconductor. This piece absorbs heat better than traditional silicon, allowing it to produce more power without malfunction. The model has two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, so you can charge your laptop and phone at up to 65 watts without burning the device. You can find the UGreen 65 W for about $60.
Check out the UGreen 65 W on Amazon.
Best for Performance: Anker 736 100 W
- CES 2022 Award Winner: An honoree at the CES Innovation Awards in the mobile devices and accessories category.
- Ultra-Fast Charging: Connect to either USB-C port to give your laptop a massive 100W charge.
- Charge 3 Devices at Once: Power up your MacBook, iPhone, and AirPods all at the same time from a charger that's 34% smaller than an original 96W MacBook power brick.
- Powered by GaN II Technology: With a 100% increase in operating frequency, an innovative stacked design, and an upgraded circuit board structure, GaN II technology makes our latest charger smaller without sacrificing a drop of power.
- What You Get: Anker 736 Charger (Nano II 100W), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
If you thought our best overall model was good, wait until you see the Anker 736. This device amps up its power, allowing you to take advantage of its multiple ports. The Anker 736 costs $85, which may feel slightly more, but it does the job.
With Anker’s exclusive charging technology, this model features one of the strongest USB-A ports on the market. You can expect to charge your phone faster than most multi-port chargers, with a max wattage of 22.5 W. All this is crammed in one of the smallest frames for a charger of this category, coming in at about 2 and a half inches square.
Check out the Anker 736 100 W on Amazon.
Best for Budget: Amazon Basics 65 W
- CES 2022 Award Winner: An honoree at the CES Innovation Awards in the mobile devices and accessories category.
- Ultra-Fast Charging: Connect to either USB-C port to give your laptop a massive 100W charge.
- Charge 3 Devices at Once: Power up your MacBook, iPhone, and AirPods all at the same time from a charger that's 34% smaller than an original 96W MacBook power brick.
- Powered by GaN II Technology: With a 100% increase in operating frequency, an innovative stacked design, and an upgraded circuit board structure, GaN II technology makes our latest charger smaller without sacrificing a drop of power.
- What You Get: Anker 736 Charger (Nano II 100W), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Surprised to see an Amazon product here? You shouldn’t. A 65-watt USB-C charger, the Amazon Basics 65 W is USB-IF certified. That’s another way to say the charger is unaffiliated and was tested by a non-profit. You get yours for under $20. So, how does it do it?
First, the Amazon Basics USB-C charger doesn’t use the new GaN semiconductor material. This makes it somewhat larger than other models in this category. It’s actually bigger than the Anker 736. Our only concern is that the charger has a single USB-C port, so there are no multi-charging capabilities. If you’re simply looking for an affordable charger for your computer, this one works great.
Best for Multiple Ports: UGreen 200 W
- High-Speed Charging: Fully charge a 16-in MacBook Pro in 1.5 hours. With the latest GaN chip, get a charge 3X faster than your original iPhone charger.
- 6 Ports, All Your Devices: Bring efficiency and organization to any desktop. The Nexode 200W charger supplies up to 200W of power, charging 3 MacBooks, 2 mobile phones, and AirPods simultaneously.
- Improved Safety: Advanced GaN & SiC chips provide improved heat dissipation. Ugreen's Thermal Guard System takes temperature readings every 0.5 seconds protecting devices from overheating.
- Wide Compatibility: This 6 port desktop charger supports Power Delivery 3.0/Quick Charge 4+/PPS/AFC/5V2.4A/BC1.2 charging protocols. Compatible with MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Dell XPS, iPhone 14/13/12 series, Galaxy S22/S21 series, iPad, Steam Deck and more!
- Efficient Energy Use: Innovative Hybrid Power solutions increase power conversion rates to 95%, providing industry-leading efficiency and reducing wasted energy.
If having multiple ports is essential for you, there’s no better USB-C charger than the UGreen 200 W. Yeah, this is a beast of a charger and pretty expensive to match. But that’s why it’s our pick for this category, its total wattage notwithstanding.
An important aspect of multi-port chargers is their wattage distribution. When you plug in multiple devices, the charger has to split up its max wattage. That’s fine when you’re charging two devices, but what if you’re charging more? Suddenly, the diversified wattage gets small, and your big devices don’t charge as fast.
The remedy? Pack in nearly 200 maximum watts. UGreen comes with four USB-C and two USB-A ports, so you can use this device to charge your and your entire team’s devices simultaneously. As a desktop piece, however, it’s not as portable as other models on this list.
Check out the UGreen 200 W on Amazon.
Best for Travel: [Amazon link=”B08T5QN2TR” title=”Anker Nano II 65 W”]
- The Only Charger You Need: Say goodbye to your old power bricks. Anker 715 Charger (Nano II 65W) has the power you need to fast charge your phone, tablet, and USB-C notebook from a single tiny charger.
- High-Speed Charging: Charge a 2020 MacBook Air in less than 2 hours, a MacBook Pro 13ʺ at full speed, an iPhone 13 up to 3× faster than with an original 5W charger, and charge the latest Samsung phones at full speed with Samsung Super Fast Charging.
- Downsized Design: At 58% smaller than an original 61W USB-C charger, and with a foldable plug, Anker Nano II takes up less space while giving you just as much power.
- Powered by GaN II Technology: With a 100% increase in operating frequency, an innovative stacked design, and an upgraded circuit board structure, GaN II technology makes our latest charger smaller without sacrificing a drop of power.
- What You Get: Anker 715 Charger (Nano II 65W) / Anker Nano II 65W, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service (cable not included).
If you spend a lot of your days in different places, it’s likely the previous model won’t cut it. You’ll want to check out the [Amazon link=”B08T5QN2TR” title=”Anker Nano II 65 W”], one of the best USB-C chargers for windows laptops when traveling. It comes with a good amount of wattage for one of the smallest models on the market, backed by Anker’s incredible reputation.
The Nano’s most prominent feature is also its least prominent feature. The device comes in at just four ounces and is smaller than a two-inch square. It credits its incredibly slender frame to its GaN semiconductor, the most advanced in the industry. While it only comes with a single USB-C port, that’s plenty for a quick charge at the airport or bus station. The Anker Nano II has a price of $48.
Check out the [Amazon link=”B08T5QN2TR” title=”Anker Nano II 65 W”] on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best USB-C Charger for Windows Laptops: Step by Step
When choosing the right USB-C charger for your Windows laptop, there are three main considerations.
- Wattage
- Available ports
- Price
Let’s review each one in more detail.
Wattage
You might look at different chargers and think that more wattage is better. While it is true that some computers charge quicker with more wattage, that isn’t the case for all computers. You’ll want to check the laptop model to ensure you get the right wattage for your Windows device.
Once your know the device’s power rating, you can try to match it accordingly. If you’d like to charge multiple devices, you’ll want to consider their wattage. More power is fine, but the more excess you have, the less value.
Available ports
Next, think about how many ports you need. Knowing how many devices you plan on charging and how the charger distributes power is crucial. The more devices connected to the charger, the less power each device receives. In some cases, a 100 W charger split up four-way will only send 30 or so watts to your computer.
Price
The price of USB-C chargers doesn’t vary much, and you’ll pay for what you get. The main price difference comes with the number of watts and ports but will rarely go over $100 (unless you get a hub like the UGreen 200 W). If budget is a concern, prioritize wattage before considering ports to keep the price under control.
What to Know Before Buying a USB-C Charger for Windows Laptops
Before you buy a USB-C charger from a third party, it’s important to know how they affect the warranty on your device. If your device malfunctions due to a faulty charger, it can void coverage. Check for USB-IF certification when shopping for one of these chargers. An unaffiliated and non-profit organization tests every model, ensuring customers get a quality product that won’t mess up their devices.
While searching for the USB-IF certification, you might notice a GaN abbreviation. This refers to the gallium nitride material that makes up the semiconductor inside the charger. It’s a new material that resists heat much better than silicon, allowing it to transfer more electricity without failure. Products with GaN semiconductors are typically much smaller than older models but more trustworthy.
Using a USB-C Charger for Windows Laptops: What It’s Like
When testing these chargers with Windows laptops, many users considered wattage, ports, and ease of use. They tested multiple Windows brands, including HP, Lenovo, and Dell models. Each of the charging blocks on our list performed great when charging most laptops. However, they felt the Anker Nano II was lacking when charging a laptop and a smartphone as it has only one port. The Anker performed phenomenally, but its size and cost didn’t justify a better position than the UGreen 65 W. The 200 W felt a little overkill until two laptops, and two phones were plugged in, allowing all of them to receive full power.
Further Reading
For more technology recommendations, check out the articles below.
- The Best USB-C Hubs for Your MacBook Pro
- USB-A vs USB-C: Full Comparison
- Thunderbolt vs USB-C: Full Comparison
Last update on 2022-11-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
