Sure, the new Apple MacBook Pros offer the latest and greatest from the Cupertino-based company including the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips and much, much more. But one particular spec that has seemingly slipped under the radar of most is the all-new 140W USB-C power adapter that ships with the 2021 Macs. And it actually is a game-changer.
Apple has opted for the gallium nitride solution to allow the adapter to be smaller than usual. Adoption of the tech is a big move for Apple indeed as other companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, etc. have been releasing GaN chargers for a while now. But you see, that’s not the most significant bit. The limelight has instead been stolen by the USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 compliance, making the MacBook Pro the very first laptop to use the standard (via: The Verge).
The standard is in fact so new that USB-C cables that are compliant with it haven’t even hit the market yet. In other words, not even a USB-C cable is available in the market right now that can carry 140W using the new standard.
Apple’s solution for this was to make a proprietary USB-C to Magsafe adapter for its 140W charger to fill up the MacBook Pros at the magical 140W speed. Once this standard becomes mainstream, the new 140W MacBook Pro charger will be able to charge all other devices that support this standard.
Apple is thus leading the industry when it comes to the new USB-C PD R3.1 standard. And judging from the past, it’s pretty clear that the rest of the industry will be jumping on to the USB-C PD R3.1 bandwagon as well. Previously, Apple’s adoption of USB-C in the MacBook in 2015 was quickly mimicked by other companies – like Google for their Chromebooks.
However, things might be different this time around – it might not just be laptops adopting the new standard but several other electronics too. In conclusion, the new 140W charger isn’t endemic to the MacBook Pros and can be plugged into other USB-C using electronics as well, such as e-bikes, thus greatly improving its scope.
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