Apple has released this first multi-port charger with USB-C ports. It costs from 59 dollars. When I saw it, I immediately said – I will definitely get it.
Who released such an adapter is available for free with the purchase of some new MacBook Air with an M2 processor. Models with an advanced processor have it in the kit by default, and for “basic” ones you can choose with a surcharge in the official Apple online store. So he got me.
I could not find tests on the Internet, their power and sensible reviews, so I decided to fill this gap myself.
Charging like charging, just two ports
As used by Apple, there are different types of chargers available for sale in different countries. The new dual port charger has two versions.
Block with ports on lower granites included with the MacBook Air M2 is pretty much with a “flat” plug. For example, in the USA. The case is flattened, “smeared” over the outlet, and the plug is caught (which is convenient).
I did not use this, but I immediately did not like the direction of the ports either up or down the outlet. The idea is so-so, and the associated risks can be broken in vain during operation. Even Apple seems to be in line: after the release of the new iPad, the official release of the online store made it possible to buy a different version of the block.
Block with ports on the rear panel comes with the new Air in other countries. I was specifically looking for one. It almost completely repeats the 30-watt unit that previously existed, sold in Europe and Russia, with the exception of two ports instead of one (of course). It also supports interchangeable wall adapters used by Apple chargers of the last 15 years.
It is easy to guess which of the blocks is objectively better. Removable adapter is convenient and correct. I plugged the first one I came across with a European plug into my dual port charger, no problem. Consider distinguished by movement.
How Apple Dual Port Charging Transfers Power
I was most interested in how the new block distributes power over a port connected to several devices. I think you do too.
Therefore, I conducted a test at home with special Apple technology. It does not pretend to be scientific, a return to foreign Chinese testers, but the establishment of a destination of varying degrees of discharge. But the overall picture should be clear.
Only one port
▹ iPhone: 9W, 2.2A
▹ iPad: 5W, 3A
▹ Apple Watch: 5W, 1A
▹ AirPods: 5W, 1A
▹ Mac: 20-30W, 3A
Two ports at the same time
▸ iPhone + iPad: 9W 1.6A + 5W 1.5A
▸ iPhone + Apple Watch: 9W, 1.6A + 5W, 1A
▸ iPhone + AirPods: 9W, 1.6A + 5W, 1A
▸ iPhone + Mac: 8W, 1.2A + 20W, 1A
▸ iPhone + iPhone: 9W, 1.2A + 9W, 9W, 1.2A
▸ Mac + iPad: 20W 1A + 15W 1A
▸ iPad + iPad: 15W, 1A + 15W, 1A
From my “home” testing, I can draw several conclusions.
The adapter absorbs resources of 35 watts. Loss of efficiency, especially in Chinese multi-port chargers, is a common situation. It is also there, this is physics, but it is a few percent, judging by the tester. With one Mac connected via a MagSafe cable, it is almost the benchmark for the maximum power of the entire unit.
The adapter does not reconnect the device joining or disconnecting new ones. Not news, just made sure. According to the tester, export amps “fall”, but the achievements themselves continue to load as if nothing had happened. Those who understand exercises will praise it – after all, it is very rare.
The adapter does not get very hot. Sure, it’s hot, but not so hot that direct boiling water and providing reliability issues. No more voltage than Apple’s large external charger.
The adapter does not emit extraneous sounds. There is nothing special to add here, nothing else was expected – but hello to the “Chinese”, detection of multiport adapters is observed.
The adapter sensitively recognizes the type of device. Greater variability results from the variety of PD profiles that this charge actually supports. The most expressive profiles are addressed to the top models of iPhone, Mac and iPad Pro. If any of the preparations is almost charged and is not used, it perceives the current in accordance with the parameters of the measured charge.
The main plus is reliability and stability
The very concept of dual-port USB-C charging has long been mastered by other manufacturers. There are models up to 120 watts, there are or even USB-C at the same time.
The difference is that none of them strongly represent Apple’s quality level product. Electronics in cupertino chargers have always been famous for their high reliability, which cannot be said about small brands of accessories manufacturers.
It is easy to find reviews on multiport chargers that break down with owners of different epicness. Somewhere, one of the ports just turns off. Other tissues stop working. Sometimes this is accompanied by plastic melting or an entire socket coming out of the assembly.
I use a lot of multi-port USB-C chargers, including this one. This is a really high-quality thing that generally works better than others, and therefore is relatively expensive. For a year of use, the only problem was that some devices, when capturing all ports at once, simply do not boot. What this is connected with is difficult, but most likely the problem is in the power controller.
When several devices are connected to such charges in turn, they turn off the charging of the previous ones in order to reconfigure the power to the corresponding ports. Sometimes this leads to the fact that one of the ports simply does not work, and you need to reconnect the device. There comes a constant monitoring of whether charging has started again on everything that was connected earlier.
Apple’s new dual-port USB-C charging had no such issues.
Apple charging allows you to change the power on the ports without disconnecting the port for the previously connected device. For chargers, this feature is a really advanced feature that requires devices of a completely different level, multi-port chargers popular on AliExpress.
From the experience of using Apple chargers, their new two-port version can definitely be trusted with expensive devices. Some branded blocks have been working for me for more than 10 years. And during this time, in general, I have never burned or even broken the original adapters. Where else is more reliable?
Beware of fakes!
Since September, online stores in Russia and ad sites have been inundated with Chinese copies of the new original charging block with two USB-C. Apparently, such devices are “inspired” for the US with vertical ports.
So if the discovery of this is on sale with us, then with a probability of 99% it is a fake.
I am sure that there are already (or will soon appear) non-original “correct” versions of this charger on sale – with ports on the rear panel. So the purity of the impact, according to the box, and without experience, you can run into a fake. If I get one, I’ll update this post with a comparison to help others buy.
As a result, top charging, you can take it (not difficult)
There is nothing to complain about here. Unless there are more popular models of the same type. 35 watts is not much for a charger that supports two devices at once.
I think that the appearance of a 67+ W version of such an adapter will not light up, perhaps even this year. It makes sense to play along with the release of the new MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max processors. And in general, with a powerful Apple laptop, there was a better release of the block more powerful.
And for those who are already ready to buy such a 35-watt charger, I can only wish good luck. A separate such block was not found from respected stores. Taking the MacBook Air M2 for the sake of one adapter – well, you yourself understand, is a so-so idea.
Finally, the prices of the official store:
▪ 59 US dollars (3650 rubles)
▪ 65 euros in Europe (4000 rubles)
▪ 229 dirhams in the UAE (3850 rubles)
▪ 1189 liras in Turkey (3950 rubles)
📸 All photos in the article:
Source: Iphones RU
