All models of Apple’s recently refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro notebook ship with a 61-watt USB-C power adapter, but only higher-end configurations are able to draw power from Apple’s 87W adapter that shipped with the previous-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro.
All new 13-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with Thunderbolt 3 ports and Intel’s tenth–generation processors are reportedly configured to accept a higher-wattage adapter even though they still ship with Apple’s 61W adapter.
Does that mean you’ll be able to charge your 13-inch MacBook Pro faster by connecting it to an 87-watt adapter? In a word, no. According sources that spoke with MacRumors, higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pros that are able to use an 87-watt adapter won’t be able to charge any faster due to the fact that internal charging settings have not changed from the previous generations.
While it’s reasonable to think that the higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models might be able to charge more quickly using an 87-watt adapter than they do with the 61-watt adapter they ship with, sources tell MacRumors that this isn’t the case. The maximum charging speed configured on the machine remains the same, so you won’t see any difference.
For those interested in the technicalities, the now discontinued 15-inch MacBook Pro was configured to support a draw rating of 20.3 volts and 3 amps via the included 87-watt adapter. By comparison, select models of the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro carry a dual power input rating of 20.3 volts and 3 amps, and 20.2 volts and 4.3 amps.
As AppleInsider notes, even though these machines can now accept power from Apple’s 87W adapter, benefits are limited. MacRumors explains that folks running demanding apps that generate high transient workloads might see some benefit with a higher-wattage adapter.
Under these situations, there’s a bit more headroom for an 87-watt adapter to deliver additional power to the machine. Still, the vast majority of users won’t be bumping against the limits of the included 61-watt adapter, especially on a frequent basis, so those users won’t see any benefit.
The 13-incher has shipped with a 61-watt power adapter since 2016, but — as the publication reiterates — the maximum power draw is capped by the computer itself, meaning it won’t charge any faster. Another fun fact: this is the first MacBook Pro with a dual power rating.