The new MacBook Neo charges faster than Apple claims
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By
Shikhar Mehrotra Published March 20, 2026 |
Apple’s brand-new MacBook Neo runs on the same chip as the iPhone 16 Pro, but it doesn’t charge as fast as the 2024 flagship iPhone. Or at least that is what Apple tells you in the official spec sheet.
The MacBook Neo comes with a 20W USB-C power adapter in the box, a choice that looks increasingly odd, especially since the device had the best Mac launch week ever with first-time buyers.
According to ChargerLAB’s tests, the Neo peaks at just 18W with the bundled charger. Just another day, I saw a YouTube video about the Neo taking about four hours to fully charge, which, in my opinion, is freakishly long.
However, things get slightly more interesting when the Neo is plugged into Apple’s 35W dual USB-C port, as the charging speed jumps to 30W. If you do the math, that’s a 67% increase in the charging speed from a single $59 accessory.
If you ask me, I’ll prefer fast charging speed any day over waiting for my MacBook to hit 90% while I’m getting late for school or work. Although ChargerLAB didn’t mention the time difference, the 35W charger should charge the device in significantly less time (around 20 to 30 minutes).
Not even slightly. In the test, the Neo was also charged with Apple’s 96W and 140W adapters. But both of them deliver the same charging speed — 30W — as Apple’s 35W charger. More watts, same result; that sounds like a very Apple way to spend money.
The good news? Third-party chargers from reputable brands rated 30W or higher can also hit the MacBook Neo’s peak charging speed, helping you reduce charging time from freakishly slow to moderately slow. So, instead of spending $59 on Apple’s 35W charger, you can spend half the money (or probably even less) on a 30W+ charger and live happily ever after.
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