MacBook Pro's 140W adapter is Apple's first GaN charger

Apple Macbook Pro 14 16 Inch
Apple Macbook Pro 14 16 Inch (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • Apple's new 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with a 140W charger.
  • Apple has confirmed the new adapter features gallium nitride technology.
  • It also supports USB-C PD 3.1, so will work with other devices.

Apple has confirmed that the new 140W charger that comes with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) features gallium nitride technology and supports USB-C PD 3.1

From The Verge:

Apple's new 140W charging brick, which works with a new MagSafe charging cable to power the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, uses the USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 standard, Apple has confirmed to The Verge. As well as being included with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, the brick is available separately for $99 (not including the USB-C-to-MagSafe cable, which costs an extra $49). Meanwhile, the new 14-inch MacBook Pros come with 67W and 96W chargers, depending on the exact model.

As the report notes, the hefty new charger will work across a range of devices that support the USB-C PD 3.1 standard, not just your MacBook. Because the standard works both ways it also means you'll be able to use third-party charging accessories to charge your new MacBook.

Alongside the awesome new M1 Pro and M1 Max Apple silicon and a new 120Hz mini-LED display, the new MacBook Pro gets big battery life improvements on the old 16-inch Intel Pro. The 14-inch device can do 17 hours of video playback, whilst the 16-inch is good for up to 21 hours. Apple also says the performance won't drop off when the MacBook isn't plugged in.

The new MagSafe charger that ships with the new MacBook Pro is moduler, so you can buy a separate new USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable should it break, or you lose one, or you just want a spare. All around, the new MacBook Pro is proving to be a big step up in terms of power consumption and delivery.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9