Charging A MacBook Air With An 80W Charger: Read This First!

Apple products tend to be quite restrictive and incompatible with components from other devices, but can you charge a MacBook with an 87W charger?

After extensively researching Apple troubleshooting forums, I have gathered enough information to determine if you can use an 87W charger with the MacBook Air. My research has indicated that Apple always recommends using the charger that came with the device for optimal charging performance. 

Is it Safe to Charge a MacBook Air with an 87W Charger?

Yes, it is safe to charge a MacBook Air with an 87W charger. Although the MacBook Air ships with a 30 to 35W power adapter, you can safely charge with a higher wattage than this without damaging the device.

Apple recommends that you charge the MacBook Air with at least a 45W charger to have optimal charging and battery life.

An 87W charger will not have a negative impact on a MacBook air and you do not need to worry about the device’s components getting damaged.

Which MacBook Models are Compatible with 87W Chargers?

The first MacBook Air came out in 2008, and it was an instant sensation when it launched. Apple has consistently improved the specs and design of the MacBook Air over the years, which has only increased the demand and popularity for this device. 

However, given how frequently Apple has redesigned the MacBook Air, we can expect some models to be incompatible with 87W chargers. In general, MacBook Airs that came out prior to 2018 will be unusable with 87W chargers.

Safely connecting an 87W charger with most MacBook Air laptops released after 2018 should not be an issue. 

These are the MacBook Air models that are compatible with the 87W chargers:

• MacBook Air – 2018, 2019, and 2020 models
• MacBook 12-inch – 2015, 2016, and 2017 models
• MacBook Pro 13 & 15-inch – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 models

How Long Does it Take to Charge a MacBook Air with an 87W Charger?

A quality 87W charger should deliver the same optimal charge time that Apple advertises for the MacBook Air. 

To charge the MacBook Air to 50% with an 87W charger, the wait time should be just 30 minutes. 

However, if you want to charge the MacBook Air to a full battery, the charge time will be roughly 140 min.

Can I Charge a MacBook Air with an iPad Charger?

Yes, charging a MacBook Air with an iPad charger is possible. In recent years, Apple has shifted the design of its chargers to be less exclusive and more cross-compatible.

Given that the iPad also relies on a USB-C charging cable, you should be able to charge the MacBook Air with the same charger. With that said, the biggest downside of charging a MacBook Air with an iPad charger is that you may have to wait a very long time for the battery to get juice. 

Although the USB-C port is compatible with the iPad and MacBook Air, the power delivery is not. This implies that you can use an iPad charging cable, but the wait time for a full charge may be so long that it will likely take over 10 to 12 hours for the battery to be full. 

Keep in mind that Apple only introduced USB-C to the iPad in 2018. Any iPad purchased prior to 2018 will not come with a charger that is compatible with the MacBook Air.

Can I Charge a MacBook Air with an iPhone Charger?

Yes, you can charge a MacBook Air with an iPhone charger. This is great news if you have an extra charging cable laying around from an iPhone, as Apple has now made virtually all of its current products compatible with one another.

With that said, much like with the iPad charger, you may have to wait a long time for your MacBook Air to charge. iPhone chargers do not deliver nearly as much power as the official charger that came with your MacBook Air. 

The wait time to get a full battery will take hours longer than usual, and you may have difficulty charging the device if it’s in use. Attempting to use your MacBook Air while charging it with an iPhone charger may result in the battery life actually going down.

If you just want to conserve your battery, an iPhone charger will be great to have handy. However, if you want to use the device and avoid frustratingly long charge times, I would recommend using the original cable that came with the MacBook Air.

Can the MacBook Air Only Be Charged with Apple Chargers?

The MacBook Air can be charged by a USB-C device – including those not made by Apple. After USB-C was introduced in 2012, Apple began to slowly transition all of its products to this new standard. 

Once the EU passed a law stating that all devices must be USB-C compatible, Apple finally made the full switch over. Now that just about all Apple products use USB-C, you can charge the MacBook Air with any charging cable that fits the device.

However, you need to keep in mind that just because the cable is compatible with the MacBook, it does not mean that it will be ideal for charging.

Apple designs all of its products meticulously to perform optimally. The charging cable that came with your MacBook Air is going to be your best option for charging quickly and efficiently. 

Using an alternative USB-C cable to charge a MacBook Air can potentially result in the battery charging extremely slowly. Naturally, this depends on the quality of the cable and its power delivery. 

Key Takeaways

• You can charge a MacBook Air with an 87W charger. 
• Apple recommends charging the MacBook Air with at least a 45W charger for optimal battery life and charging times.
• The extra wattage of an 87W charger will not damage a MacBook Air.
• It takes roughly 30 min to get a 50% charge with a quality 87W charger, and 140 min for a full charge.