Anker has a new laptop charger, and this time the pitch isn't more ports, it's smarter ones.
The Laptop Charger Pro, out now in the US for $59.99 through Amazon and Anker's own site, trims the previous 100W Charger down from three USB-C ports to a single one. What it adds instead is a Care Mode that identifies specific laptop and iPhone models and adjusts how it charges them.
For MacBooks, that means a charging limit you can set anywhere between 80% and 100%, a feature lifted straight from the playbook of phone makers who've spent years nudging users toward partial charges to slow battery wear. Anker says sticking to that lower limit can extend battery lifespan by up to 40%, though that figure comes from the company, not an independent test. Anyone who just wants the laptop full and ready can flip over to Auto Mode and skip the limit entirely.
The charger still tops out at 100W, which covers most laptops on the market, and supports the usual spread of fast-charging profiles: 5V at 3A, 9V at 3A, 15V at 3A, and 20V at 5A. A small built-in display shows real-time power output, charging progress and temperature, along with what Anker describes as interactive visuals and animations, the kind of feature that's more fun than functional but doesn't hurt.
Smaller than its predecessor
Dropping two ports also meant a size cut. The Laptop Charger Pro measures 2.44 by 1.34 by 2.17 inches (62 x 34 x 55 mm) and weighs 6.81 ounces (193 g), down from the bulkier three-port 100W model it replaces. The prongs fold flat, so it should sit more comfortably in a laptop bag or a jacket pocket than the outgoing charger did.
Price-wise, it undercuts that older model by $10, and it ships with a USB-C cable in the box. It comes in dark gray or silver.
The trade-off is obvious: if you relied on the old charger's extra two ports to juice a phone and a laptop at once from a single wall outlet, this one won't do that anymore. Anker is betting that battery-care software matters more to buyers than simultaneous multi-device charging, at least for this particular model.
Anker hasn't said when, or if, the Laptop Charger Pro is coming to Europe or to India, where the company sells a wide lineup of chargers and power banks through Amazon and Flipkart. For now, it's a US-only release, and anyone outside that market will have to wait for word on pricing and availability elsewhere.
GDFiled by The Gadgets Desk
Audio, wearables, cameras, tablets, chargers and every other device worth carrying or plugging in.
More from this desk →
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.