Charging ports used to be more ‘proprietary.’ Every device had its own charger, and they were rarely interchangeable. The advent of smart devices, however, has changed that. There are now more standardized connectors replacing proprietary charging connectors.
It is possible to charge a USB-C laptop with a phone charger. But it is not recommended, as you may run into some issues. Charging your laptop with your USB-C charger is less efficient, so charging will take longer. It can also cause damage to your laptop battery, depending on your laptop type.
The EU’s policies on charging ports for portable devices now forces manufacturers to adopt USB Type-C ports. This regulation should go a long way in forcing more companies to adopt USB Type-C charging ports. Let’s look at the problems and potential of this unified charging standard.
Will a USB-C Phone Charger Work on a Laptop?
In short, yes. That said, there is an obvious problem. The USB Type-C cable needs to connect to a charging brick, which also needs to be compatible with your laptop.
Aside from countries with different electrical standards, single‑phase voltages, and frequencies, device manufacturers also use varying wattages, which can affect cross-charging devices.
Using the wrong charging device can decrease your laptop’s battery life, permanently damage the laptop, or damage the charging unit. These risks are why manufacturers recommend only using the provided charging unit when charging your device.
That said, if you can use just one charger for everything, that can be really convenient, so it’s worth figuring out.
Is Using a Phone Charger for Your Laptop Efficient?
Next, there is the matter of efficiency. You may be familiar with the smartphone ‘fast-charging’ trend over the last couple of years. Higher charging speeds depend on a higher wattage capacity. Some of the fastest devices charge at 210W, while others max out at 20W or less.
While a 20W charger won’t damage a 210W capable smartphone, it will be an incredibly inefficient way to charge it. The same goes for your phone charger when compared to your laptop’s charging capacity.
Is it Safe to Charge a Laptop With a Phone Charger?
There are a lot of things to consider the specifications of the charging unit. How does it work, and how much power does it supply?
Charging Unit Specifications
Almost all devices have a power supply unit. For example, in your PC, the power supply is a large PSU to which the rest of the components can be connected to for power.
Your smartphone has a component that works with its power supply unit. However, most of the power supply unit’s functions happen in the charging ‘brick‘.
The 1200W power supply of your gaming PC will damage your phone if you connect the two directly. So that is why specifications can be a concern when cross-charging devices.
If you purchased your phone charger cable and brick in the same region as your laptop, and the manufacturer specifications are similar, you shouldn’t have this problem.
Apple Charging Devices
Apple devices are a bit more complicated. If you have a laptop with USB Type-C ports, it is likely that most similar phone chargers should be able to charge it.
You can use your iPhone charger if you have a Mac Book with a lightning port. However, if you have an older model with an older MagSafe charging port, you will need special adapters to charge your laptop using USB Type-C.
USB-C phone chargers do not play nice with any current Apple laptops. There always seems to be an efficiency issue, even when it works.
Charging Performance
Performance is another area where you may encounter safety issues when charging. For example, using a 65W charger to charge your idle laptop is fine when your laptop idles below or equal to 65W.
However, most laptops run at <150W when in use. When the wattage exceeds the supply, it will often look like the battery drains normally. However, the supply may damage the laptop’s lithium-ion battery.
As for the 65W adapter, the difference in demand vs. capacity could damage the unit and constitute a fire risk.
Can You Connect a Phone Charger Cable to a USB-C Adapter?
Whether you can connect a phone charging cable to any adapter is determined by compatible ports. For example, most new adapters have a USB Type-C port.
If that is the case with your adapter, your cable will either be USB Type-C on both ends or USB Type-C on one end and Lightning on the other. Either cable is compatible with a USB Type-C adapter.
How to Tell Which USB Type Your Device Has
Size And Shape
Simply put, the size and shape of a USB connector indicate what type it is. For example, the large, rectangular connector on old USB thumb drives is USB Type-A.
The smaller, asymmetrical USB port with almost square dimensions is Mini-USB. Then there’s the flatter, but still asymmetric Micro-USB, which was the most used USB standard before USB Type-C.
USB Type-C and Lightning connectors are symmetrical, but USB Type-C has a central cavity that hosts most connectors. Lightning connectors are solid, with the pins exposed on either side.
Charging Cable Protocol
The transfer protocol your device allows defines what your USB ports can do. It also indicates their overall bandwidth. These protocols are not an indication of the type of physical port.
Here’s how to find the protocols for your specific device.
- Search for ‘Device Manager‘ using your device’s search function.
- Click the plus symbol next to Universal Serial Bus controllers.
- A list displays the USB protocols your device supports.
The most common protocols are as follows:
- “Universal Host” is version USB 1.1. An unlikely port, especially on modern laptops. It was developed in 1998.
- “Enhanced Host” is USB 2.0. Your device supports USB 2.0, developed in 2000.
- “USB 3.0.” Your device supports USB 3.0, released in 2008
- “USB 4.0.” The latest USB standard is in its early days, officially released in 2022.