Teardown of 140W MacBook Pro Power Adapter Shows What's Inside

The 140W power adapter that ships with the 16-inch MacBook Pro models is unique in multiple ways, with Apple introducing new technology in the charger. It is the first Apple power adapter using gallium nitride or "GaN" technology to cut down on size, and it is equipped with USB-C Power Delivery 3.1. ChargerLab today published a teardown of the 140W power adapter, giving those who are curious about what's inside a look under the hood.


The teardown video features general measurements and testing of the power adapter, but ChargerLab also completely disassembles the body to get to the internals. The analysis portion of the teardown is highly technical, but that bit, which starts at around 7:30 into the video, is worth watching for those who want to know about the specific chip setup Apple is using.

As mentioned up above, this is the first power adapter that Apple has introduced with USB-C Power Delivery 3.1, and it is also compatible with devices that support that charging specification. MacBook Pro models are also able to charge with USB Power Delivery 3.1 chargers from third-party brands.

The 140W power adapter ships with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it is also available from Apple for $99.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16"
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence: New Features, Release Date, and More

Thursday October 10, 2024 8:26 am PDT by
iOS 18.1 will be released to the public in the coming weeks, and the software update introduces the first Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone. Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18.1 to be released. iOS 18.1: Apple Intelligence Features Here are some of the key Apple Intelligence features in the iOS 18.1 beta so far: A few Siri enhancements, including improved understanding...
top stories 12oct2024

Top Stories: iOS 18.1 Release Date, New Macs Incoming, and More

Saturday October 12, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
Things are firming up for a big Halloween week for Apple, with the company's next operating system updates reportedly coming early in the week and hardware launches coming a few days later. Ahead of those hardware launches, we've recently seen what appears to be one of the most significant physical product leaks in years, while some of the new features in Apple's recent software updates have ...
16 pro

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Introduce These 5 New Features

Friday October 11, 2024 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 16 series was released just a few weeks ago, there are already many rumored features for the iPhone 17 models, and especially for the Pro models. Below, we recap five key new features rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max so far: 24MP front camera for all iPhone 17 models: All four iPhone 17 models will feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Apple's Shocking M4 MacBook Pro Leak

Friday October 11, 2024 8:27 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the unprecedented leak of Apple's M4 MacBook Pro models and the company's rumored move to more staggered hardware and software releases. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Multiple leaks surrounding Apple's unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip recently surfaced online. The leaks began with unboxin...
ios 18 1 make primary

iOS 18.1 Includes Option to Set 'Primary' Email Address and Change iCloud Email

Friday October 11, 2024 3:55 pm PDT by
In iOS 18.1, there is a new option to set a "Primary" email address in the Settings app, which means it is easier to change the main email address associated with your Apple Account. The Primary email address is the one that is visible to other people when collaborating on and sharing documents, sending calendar invites, and more. Apple did not previously make it easy to change an Apple...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.0

Thursday October 10, 2024 12:10 pm PDT by
Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.0, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.0.1 from downgrading to iOS 18. Apple released iOS 18.0.1 a week ago on October 3. It is not unusual for Apple to stop signing older versions of iOS within a week or two after a new version of iOS is released. When Apple stops signing an update, it can no longer be installed on an iPhone due to a...
iPad mini review thumb

iPad Mini 7 Coming Next Month: What to Expect

Tuesday October 8, 2024 6:16 am PDT by
Rumors strongly suggest Apple will release the seventh-generation iPad mini in November, nearly three years after the last refresh. Here's a roundup of what we're expecting from the next version of Apple's small form factor tablet, based on the latest rumors and reports. Design and Display The new iPad mini is likely to retain its compact 8.3-inch display and overall design introduced with...
When Will Apple Launch More M4 Macs Feature

Will Apple Release M4 Macs Soon? Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

Thursday October 10, 2024 6:22 am PDT by
Apple often releases new Macs in the fall, but we are still waiting for official confirmation that the company has similar plans this year. We're approaching the middle of October now, and if Apple plans to announce new Macs before the holidays, recent history suggests it will happen this month. Here's what we know so far. As of writing this, it's been 220 days since Apple released a new...

Top Rated Comments

BuffyzDead Avatar
39 months ago
The Moral of this entry, Is:

Beware Of Chinese Knockoffs, OR Suffer, at your own doing
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
39 months ago
Dang! They ripped that thing apart. Highly advanced technology in that little adapter.

However, the adapter does get heated while charging your ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ToomeyND Avatar
39 months ago
Title writer took a day off. :)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reelmower Avatar
39 months ago
Kudos for proper use of unique. Most would have written “very unique” (incorrect), instead of “unique in many ways” (correct).
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jaytv111 Avatar
39 months ago

Does anyone know if the new MBP 16" Fast-charge capable with included 140W USB-C Power Adapter will 'fast charge' when coupled with Apple's power adapter extension, or will it revert to normal charging speed?

I still want to benefit from the 0 to 50 percent charge in around 30 minutes, but also want the added length of the 1.8-meter Power Adapter Extension Cable ('https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-extension-cable?fnode=e4e0c67a842678974cd97ceb487b69d129d852354b10a4e7556577b2a319b6a99e611cd15fb812e10892cbb1189ed02bd0956869b824bbd97b9e59c7c03792d00d16bf493215752cba1bc27f25ade51b8a07d1068dd35b4d065ddd3c3e024a81').

Although Apple's site description says "Use it with MagSafe and MagSafe 2 power adapters, 10W and 12W USB-A power adapters and 29W, 30W, 61W, 67W, 87W, 96W, and 140W USB-C power adapters. ('https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-extension-cable?fnode=47c196e1e77061c642eb8ac9977381fcb6d91b5f9152683b823d557991349d7123094ecfb29879eea8be901f2aaa02324b8cc7e2896380606f3dbbbb937a21bc913f8f89700eccfa6b090e87e38795c865ec34aacccb4f3d2632d107d556c38dfa2d9f7e9ad22ad4863f04b5fe4e8103')" The one that Apple just shipped me with my new MBP 16" 2021 box says... MagSafe 2 up to 87W. See Screenshot attached.

So...
[LIST=1]
* Did Apple send me the wrong power extension cable, is there another one compatible with MBP 16" 2021?
* Does the power extension cable work with MagSafe 3 / Fast-Charge and Apple just hasn't updating their specs on the actual box yet?

Thanks for help!


They don't have to change anything on the extension, it's the same extension. Since it's on the AC side of things, it actually doesn't change anything on the DC side (the actual cable you use to charge the device), it just has to be reasonably thick to handle the current (which it definitely is and the increased power barely makes a dent in that thick a cable on the AC side).

The magic of AC power is that the cables can be super long and handle a lot of power, but the disadvantage is that all AC needs to be converted to DC for electronics to work.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mick-Mac Avatar
39 months ago
That restriction is on lithium ion batteries (100VA) - the thing that contains the energy (and can blow up). A battery charger isn't the same thing as a battery.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)