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Sorry if this is a total rookie question but I’ve no idea and goggle is throwing far too much info at me so any help would be appreciated!
My dad has asked for a portable phone charger for Christmas so I’ve ordered him this:
https://www.anker.com/uk/products/variant/bpowercoreb-26800/A1277011?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=A1277011&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhuKd-s6Z7QIVi5ntCh3dwgjjEAQYASABEgLxnvD_BwE
I noticed in the product blurb that it’s also able to charge MacBooks with a “USB A to C cable”. Although it isn’t what he’s asked for the charger for, if it can charge both his phone and his laptop I think he’d be pretty chuffed.. is there any reason it wouldn’t work?
It’s a 2017 MacBook Air and I ~think~ it’s got a usb c port but I don’t think this is what the standard wall charger plugs in to which is what’s causing my uncertainty and confusion
Cheers in advance for any help
Like I said, he’ll be happy enough with just a phone charger but if it can also charge his laptop it’d be good to gift him the required USB A to C cable as well
The 2017 Macbook Air has old style Magsafe chargers so he won't be able to charge using a USB-C cable.
Suspect you can get adapters that will allow the charger to connect to the Macbook, but be aware, recharging the laptop will drink it's charge, so either make sure it has a massive capacity in the portable charger or let him discover the laptop charge feature for himself...
Doesn't the power bank need to conform to the Power Delivery (PD) spec if it's going to be used to charger gadgets and higher power items like the MacBook via USB C?
The more expensive Anker powerbanks (and others) seem to have this feature but I can't see it in the spec for the item listed above.
Thanks for the replies everyone
@russianbob, that's a shame but i guess it was always going to be more of a bonus than a requirement so all is not lost! I'll have a look for USB to Magsafe adapter cables
@DickBarton, it's got capacity to charge an iphone 10 times apparently so hopefully enough to squeeze a few hours out of a laptop?
@cheddarchallenged, I'm really not sure about any of this, I just saw listed on the page there was the option to charge MacBooks with a USB A to C cable. Sorry, what's PD? A defined wattage that the laptop must be charged at?
It might struggle to make a dent - charge-wise for a Magsafe charged laptop. Magsafe chargers deliver 60-80 watts. USB-A outlets are about 2.5watts. So you might be able to find a lead to connect but its maybe going to charge a laptop verry slowly.
The newer Macs charge through their USB-C ports - but again the chargers are delivering about 80 watts.
USB-C is a bit of a mess in terms of chargers and leads - a seller can say that item A will power item B and notionally they do and its great that theres a reasonably standardised port between chargers and devices but theres a range of power requirements (and data rates) and you can't often see the difference in terms of what a device needs and what a charger or lead can deliver either in terms of wattage or data.
I suspect laptop uses more power than a phone...it will charge but probably not a huge amount.