Best USB-C Power Delivery Chargers 2021


If you’re wondering why your laptop will happily charge from some USB plugs but not others, the answer is USB-C Power Delivery. We’ve rounded up some great examples you can buy right now.

It’s not quite as simple as searching for a charger with Power Delivery support, however. While some laptops will charge from a 30W adaptor, others require significantly more power. These chargers range in output up to 100W, so to find a compatible device you really need to know what is required by your particular model of laptop.

If you’re looking to fast-charge a smartphone that promises sky-high charging of, say, 65W, do note that many third-party Power Delivery chargers will not support protocols such as PPS (Programmable Power Supply) or SCP (Super Charge Protocol) that is required by proprietary fast-charging standards. You can expect 18W charging for such devices, regardless of the theoretical output of the USB-C port.

Best USB-C PD Laptop Charger Reviews

Nekteck 111W USB C Charger

This is a slightly different breed of charger than those we’ve discussed so far in this group test, and is what we call a desktop charger. Rather than hugging the power socket, it has a 1m extension cable that lets you plug it into the wall but bring the USB outputs themselves up to a more accessible area on the desk.

It has five USB outputs in all, making it an ideal device if you have multiple devices to charge. However, not if you have multiple laptops to charge…

Four of these five ports are full-size USB-As, rated at 12W. That’s pretty fast if you want to charge a phone, but it’s not Quick Charge-fast. Indeed, Quick Charge is not supported; nor are proprietary protocols used for various phone makers’ fast-charging standards. And the device’s maximum output with all ports in use is 111W, which means you can’t run them all at full power at once.

Yet we are drawn to the versatility of this desktop charger, plus the impressive 87W output of the single USB-C PD output. This will support any USB-C laptop, although Nekteck claims some, such as the Dell XPS 13, might restrict charging to 45W with third-party chargers.

We’re impressed to find a 100W USB-C cable is provided in the box, as this will be required to fully utilise that output. 

Our only real gripe is with the design: viewed from one side it looks fine, plastic, yes, but with smooth rounded corners and a small, unobtrusive logo in the bottom corner; viewed from the other side the entire surface is filled with tech specs and safety information. Of course, this being a desktop charger, you can simply turn it on its side.

RavPower PD Pioneer 65W 4-Port Desktop Charger (RP-PC136)

Unfortunately this RavPower wall charger is currently available only in the US, and only direct from RavPower, which is a real shame because we love its design. Sitting somewhere between multiport desktop charger and sleek GaN adaptor, it offers multiple fast-charging ports, but without the traditional plasticky rectangular design.  

This is a matte black rectangular brick, with smooth, rounded edges, an unintrusive RavPower logo running along two of its edges and a silver trim around the end output plate. It’s incredibly compact for such a device, roughly 3in long and about 1.5in wide.

You get two PD ports, plus two full-size USB-As. Each of the two USB-C PD ports are capable of outputting 65W, while the USB-As go up to 18W with Quick Charge support. However, the maximum output of the device is 65W, so using more than one port will lower these outputs. Therefore, you should not expect it to be capable of powering two laptops at once.

With both PD ports in use one will run at 45W and one at 18W; with a PD port and a USB-A port in use you’ll see the same 45W and 18W; with two USB-A ports in use you’ll see 12W and 12W; and with all four in use you’ll get 18W from each PD port and 12W from each USB-A.

Nevertheless, this is a super-handy charger whether you want to power multiple gadgets or particularly power-hungry devices such as a laptop.

If you like this model but need a bit more power, also check out the RavPower PD Pioneer 120W (again, available only in the US). Each of its two USB-C PD ports can output 100W when used alone, but when used together each offers 60W. There are also two full-size 18W USB-A outputs, with the device’s maximum total output rated at 120W.

Currently retailing at $99.99, it is an absolute beast, and worth every penny.

8

Anker PowerPort III 65W – Best Travel Charger

Anker PowerPort III 65W Travel Charger

  • Pros
    • Interchangeable plugs for international travel
    • Three USB outputs
  • Cons

Anker’s PowerPort III is interesting for two key reasons: first, it has three outputs (one 45W USB-C PD, and two full-size USB-As), which makes it super-versatile; and, second, supplied in the box are interchangeable plugs for the UK, US and Europe, making it an excellent travel charger.

This is another GaN charger, which means it is delightfully small for a device that is potentially going to be consuming suitcase room.

With a 45W maximum output for the PD port, do double-check this is sufficient for your laptop before you buy. It’s also worth pointing out that unlike some of Anker’s other adaptors, which support the PPS protocol required by some devices for their proprietary fast-charging standards, this one does not.

It does support PowerIQ, however, which is Anker’s own intelligent device-detection tech, able to adjust the output for optimal charging of the connected device.

9

HyperJuice GaN 100W USB-C Charger – Most Powerful

HyperJuice GaN 100W USB-C Charger

  • Pros
    • Two 100W PD outputs
    • Multiple outputs
    • Travel adaptors
  • Cons
    • Expensive
    • Overkill for many users

As a GaN charger, the HyperJuice 100W USB-C Charger is much smaller than other PD chargers with multiple ports. It weighs 217g and will fit in your pocket – it’s the width and length of a credit card, although deeper, of course.

At 100W (PD 3.0), it’s also the most powerful we have tested – enough to full-speed power-up a large, top-end laptop plus other devices.

There are two 100W USB-C power ports, and two 15W QuickCharge 3.0 USB-A ports, which should be enough to charge most of your devices out of one charger. You could charge a laptop, tablet, and a couple of phones at the same time (maximum 100W).

It comes with US, UK, EU and AU pin converters, so should also do away with the need for a dedicated travel adapter.

The HyperJuice features over-current, over-voltage, overheating and short-circuit protection.

10

Satechi 75W Dual USB-C PD – Best for Multiple Power Delivery Outputs

Satechi 75W Dual USB-C PD

  • Pros
    • Multiple USB outputs
    • Nicely designed
  • Cons
    • Second PD port is low-power
    • Expensive

A version of Satechi’s desktop charger with two USB-C Power Delivery ports and two USB-A ports – especially useful if you’re travelling with more than one power-hungry USB-C device.

However, do note that one will charge at the full 60W and the other at a more sedate 18W (fine for a phone, but unlikely to be enough to power a laptop). 

The two USB-A ports are handy as most of us still have devices that require a charging cable connection into this old standard.

It is light enough for travel at just 214g.

11

Satechi Type-C PD Car Charger (60W PD + 12W) – Best for Car Charging

Satechi 72W Type-C PD Car Charger

  • Pros
    • Powerful, on-the-go charging
  • Cons
    • Overkill for anything that’s not a laptop

Charging on the road, or rather in your car that’s on the road?

Try the Satechi 72W Type-C PD Car Charger.

It delivers up to 60W from its USB-C port to fast-charge compatible laptops, tablets and phones, and features an extra USB-A port to simultaneously power another device, at up to 12W.

How much power do I need to charge my laptop?

The easiest way to find out how much power is required to charge your laptop is to inspect the charger that was sold with it, if you have that to hand. Alternatively you can look for its specification on the manufacturer’s website. 

You’re looking for a figure in Watts, although it may be expressed in Volts and Amps. If so, simply multiply these two numbers to get the figure you need. For example, a laptop that requires 12V/2A to charge will need a 24W USB-C PD charger (12×2=24).

Once you know what power rating you’re looking for, finding a USB-C PD charger for your laptop or console is easy. Sometimes it can pay to get one a little faster than you need – it may be more expensive, but you’ll be pleased you bought it if you later decide to upgrade your laptop.

Look out for newer GaN (gallium nitride) chargers that require fewer components than traditional silicone chargers, allowing them to be less bulky and also more efficient.

We’ve put together a range of articles to help you choose the best charging tech for the mobile devices you carry everywhere. You’ll also like:

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