After tons of abuse, my MacBook Pro’s 85W MagSafe 2 adapter finally died last week. Often Apple adapters fray at joints and this one did to an insane degree but somehow it kept working for 3 years through plenty of travel, work and even some fun. Is there any Apple 85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter Alternative?
So what to do? Typically I’d buy a replacement Apple Magsafe 2 adapter. But clearly Apple has some redesigned MacBook/Pro/Airs coming later this month and that they will likely be charged via USB-C, a minimum of in some cases. in order that means I only need MagSafe to power this 2013 MacBook Pro for a minimum of a couple of more weeks before it gets relegated to backup machine, kid’s computer or sold off once I get Apple’s new OLED/USB-C creation.
So i assumed I’d get a touch creative and save a couple of bucks at an equivalent time. As i used to be trying to find options on Amazon, I found a stimulating product: The “BND 85W MagSafe 2 Replacement Power Adapter Charger w/ 5 USB Ports for Apple MacBook Pro”. for fewer than half the worth of a reduced $77 Apple MagSafe Adapter this $37 charger includes 5 USB ports and gets solid 4.3/5 star reviews. What the heck, I’ll provides it a try…
A week in, all is well. It shipped quick in easy to open packaging and therefore the product feels solid. My 2013 15″ Retina MacBook Pro charges even as fast because it did with the Apple MagSafe 2 adapter and I’m ready to keep variety of USB devices plugged at an equivalent time or when my MacBook isn’t around. confine mind that this thing only directs 4.5A of power to the USB section which suggests albeit this thing has 5 ports, you’ll only be ready to fast charge (>2A) about 2 USB devices at a time.
The MacBook charger which plugs in via a fanatical 4.5A x 19V = 85.5W port doesn’t hamper and is on a special circuit from the USB ports. it’s worked well thus far .
When you charge a bunch of things, just like the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro at an equivalent time (image below), things get a touch warm – but if I recall not any warmer than the facility adapter it replaced.
For me, this is often just to tide me over for a couple of months while I await Apple’s new MacBook Pros, but I could see using this as a secondary or travel MagSafe Adapter.
The catch is that obviously this isn’t an Apple approved MagSafe implementation and thus i need to add that this might burn your neighborhood down or something. Originally Apple protected its MagSafe products pretty vigorously albeit it’s a dumb charging port standard, unlike Lightning for instance . Apple even went thus far on sue battery maker Hyper for creating a MagSafe battery which forced them into a sophisticated workaround (interestingly, the MagSafe cable included here works with the superb Hyperjuice batteries!).
Lately however, plenty of Magsafe adapters are exposure on Amazon et al. . It isn’t clear why Apple has stopped threatening all of those unlicensed third party makers of MagSafe power adapters, but perhaps MagSafe is on the answer .
That would be a shame because the technology has saved a couple of of my Macs from being thrown onto the ground .
To summarize: Yes, this is often an awesome solution for charging not just a MacBook Pro but a bunch of USB things like iPads and iPhones, but maybe you shouldn’t pip out because Apple could be getting obviate MagSafe and it isn’t “MagSafe Compliant” – nothing not made by Apple is.
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