Introduction

Several weeks ago, we posted a video of the charging compatibility 100 test of the brand new 15-inch MacBook Air, and many of your guys requested a more detailed charging review of this laptop, so let's go ahead and test it today. According to Apple's official website, you can choose 35W dual USB-C or 70W charger for this laptop when you place the order.

So, we will test both of those two chargers to see what's the difference.

Product Appearance

Charging Review of New Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (A2941)-Chargerlab

The packaging box for the air lineup retains the classic design, showcasing a side view of the MacBook against a pristine white background.

All the specs info are on the bottom. Model is A2941.

What we got is a Midnight one.

This brand new 15-inch MacBook Air is the largest model in this product line, boasting a maximum brightness of 500 nits and features such as P3 wide color gamut. It serves as the perfect choice for users who desire a larger form factor than the Air series, while not requiring the extensive power of the Pro series. It truly hits the sweet spot for those seeking the ideal balance of size and performance.

In addition to the laptop, it also comes with a 35W dual USB-C charger, MagSafe 3 cable, and an instruction manual.

The cable features a sleek braided design, matching the color of the laptop for a seamless and cohesive look.

The USB-C connector on this side does not adopt a "full-pin" design.

The ChargerLAB POWER-Z KM003C shows it's equipped with an E-Marker chip and can support 240W PD 3.1.

The diameter is about 3.5mm (0.14 inches).

And the length is about 2m (6' 6.74'').

The length of this laptop is about 34cm (13.4 inches).

The width is about 24cm (9.35 inches).

The thickness is about 11mm (0.43 inches).

And the weight is only about 1.5kg (3.31 lb), which reminds me of the LG Gram series.

Charging Review

Now, let's dive into the hands-on experience of using this laptop. ChargerLAB will provide you with a detailed overview, exploring its compatibility, charging capabilities, and more. Get ready for a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of this device from every angle.

First, if we use the default 35W charger inside the box to charge it, the charging power will be limited to 35W.

We also charge it with a brand new 70W GaN charger, the power will be limited to 70W. So, what about a higher charger?

We tried Apple 96W and 140W, the power is only about 71W, which should be the maximum input power of this laptop.

In addition, the charging power of the USB-C is the same as that of MagSafe 3 port. Just choose the one you'd like.

Charging Compatibility Test

As for the charging compatibility, you can click the related articles to check it out.

We tested all kinds of charging devices, such as Apple original chargers and third-party chargers.

Power banks.

As well as portable power stations. All of them can charge this 15-inch MacBook Air successfully.

Full Charging Test

Next, let's use the 35W charger in the box to charge it from 0 to 100%. Here is the charging curve made by the PC software of KM003C.

The voltage is pretty stable, at 20V, and the charging power from 0 to 1 hour and 40 mins is almost a straight line, at 35W. Afterward, there are small fluctuations. At 1 hour and 57 mins, the power slowly drops to almost zero. It takes 2 hours and 52 mins to be fully charged.

We also used the 70W GaN charger to charge it fully.

The charging curve can be divided into four parts. The voltage is always around 20.6V, and the peak power is about 67W at 35 mins. Then, it gradually drops to 50W and 33W in turn. The final part begins at 1 hour and 14 mins, and the power slowly drops to almost zero. It takes 2 hours and 19 mins to be fully charged.

We put those two charging curves in one chart, which can be more intuitive to see which is faster. When charging the MacBook Air from 0 to 50%, the 70W charger is about twice as fast as the 35W charger. But after that, it'll be slowed down. The 70W charger is only 42 minutes faster than the 35W charger when it is charged to 80%. In the end, the 35W charger takes 33 minutes longer to fully charge the MacBook Air than the 70W charger. You can make a decision based on your needs and budget.

Temperature Test

When testing the full charging curve, we put the charger into a 25°C (77℉) thermotank and got its surface temperature.

Firstly, let's see the 35W charger. After 30 minutes of charging, the maximum temperature on the front is 29.9°C (85.82°F).

And 29.6°C (85.28°F) on the back.

After 60 minutes of charging, the maximum temperature on the front is 31.2°C (88.16°F).

And 30.9°C (87.62°F) on the back.

So, the overall temperature is pretty stable at around 30°C (86℉), and the keyboard will be hotter than the back case.

Then, let's move on to the 70W charger. After 30 minutes of charging, the maximum temperature on the front is 34.7°C (94.46°F).

And 33.4°C (92.12°F) on the back.

After 60 minutes of charging, the maximum temperature on the front is 30.4°C (86.72°F).

And 30.2°C (86.36°F) on the back.

This time, the overall temperature is a little higher than 35W, at around 32°C (89.6℉).

Summary of ChargerLAB

Well, that's all the tests we made for this 15-inch MacBook Air. The larger size not only brings a larger display, but also a larger battery and better heat dissipation performance. So, even if it's fast charged for an hour, the temperature will not exceed your body temperature. It also has good compatibility with different charging devices. But for the fastest charging speed, we recommend choosing Apple 70W charger or other third-party PD chargers beyond 70W.

Charging Review of New Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (A2941)