Best GaN Chargers for MacBook Air: 30W vs 67W vs 100W

The MacBook Air M4 ships with a 30W charger. It works, but it’s painfully slow — a full charge takes over three hours. And it only has one port, so you need a separate charger for your phone.

GaN (Gallium Nitride) chargers solve both problems. They’re physically smaller than Apple’s brick, deliver more power, and have multiple ports. You replace two or three chargers with one.

Why GaN Matters

Traditional silicon chargers get hot and bulky at high wattages. GaN conducts electricity more efficiently, which means less heat and smaller size. A 67W GaN charger is often smaller than Apple’s 30W adapter. It’s not marketing — the physics genuinely work.

The MacBook Air M4 draws a maximum of about 35W while charging and working simultaneously. So why would you want 67W or 100W? Two reasons: faster peak charging speed, and enough headroom to charge your phone and iPad at the same time.

Best Overall: Anker Prime 67W — $36

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The Anker Prime 67W is 51% smaller than Apple’s 67W charger and costs less than Apple’s 30W adapter. Three ports (2x USB-C, 1x USB-A), foldable prongs, and enough power to fast-charge a MacBook Air and an iPhone simultaneously.

At 148g, it disappears into a bag. This is the charger we’d put in every MacBook Air buyer’s hands.

Best for: Most people. The right balance of power, size, and price.

Best for Power Users: UGREEN Nexode 100W — $56

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If you travel with a MacBook Air, an iPad, and a phone, the UGREEN Nexode 100W charges all three at once. Four ports (3x USB-C, 1x USB-A) with 100W total output. The main USB-C port delivers 100W to a single device — overkill for the Air, but future-proof if you ever upgrade to a Pro.

It’s larger than the Anker at 218g, but still significantly smaller than carrying three separate chargers.

Best for: Multi-device travelers or anyone planning to upgrade to a MacBook Pro later.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Apple 30W	Anker Prime 67W	UGREEN Nexode 100W
Price	$39	$36	$56
Max Output	30W	67W	100W
Ports	1 USB-C	2 USB-C + 1 USB-A	3 USB-C + 1 USB-A
Weight	105g	148g	218g
Foldable Plug	No	Yes	Yes
Full Charge Time (Air)	~3.5 hours	~1.5 hours	~1.5 hours

What About Apple’s 70W USB-C Charger?

Apple sells a 70W USB-C charger for $59. It works fine and supports fast charging on the MacBook Air. But it only has one port, doesn’t fold, and costs $23 more than the Anker Prime 67W. The only reason to consider it is brand loyalty or wanting the matching white aesthetic.

In practice, third-party GaN chargers from reputable brands like Anker and UGREEN use the same USB Power Delivery standards as Apple’s charger. They’re equally safe and often better built.

A Note on Wattage and Cable Quality

Your charging speed is only as good as your weakest link. A 100W charger paired with a cheap USB-C cable rated for 60W will cap out at 60W. Make sure your cable supports the wattage you need — look for cables rated for 100W or labeled “USB-C PD 3.0” at minimum. The cable Apple includes in the box works fine up to about 60W.

Our Verdict

The Anker Prime 67W at $36 is cheaper than Apple’s 30W and charges your MacBook twice as fast. There’s genuinely no reason to use the included charger. Buy this on day one.

If you charge multiple devices daily, the UGREEN at $56 gives you four ports and 100W. Overkill for the Air alone, but perfect for a full Apple ecosystem.