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Apple · Discontinued · 2015 MacBook

Apple 29W USB-C: the first one, and its replacement.

Model A1540 was Apple's original USB-C brick, built for the 12-inch MacBook in 2015. If yours has died, the replacement is the 30W — and almost any modern PD charger works too.

What to buy now

The direct successor is the Apple 30W USB-C Power Adapter, and any certified 30W or larger USB-C PD charger is an equally valid replacement. The 12″ MacBook negotiates power like any other USB-C device: give it a modern adapter offering 15V or 20V and it takes what it needs. You do not have to find a period-correct 29W on a resale site, and you should not pay 2015 prices for one. Walkthrough: how to replace a lost charger.

The original spec

RailCurrentDeliveredNote
5.2V2.4A~12.5WLegacy USB level
14.5V2A29WPre-dates the PD 15V fixed rail

That 14.5V rail is the historical curiosity. Apple shipped the 29W before the USB-C PD fixed-rail set settled on 5V/9V/15V/20V, so the adapter uses a voltage no modern charger produces. It did not hurt anything then and it does not matter now — the 12″ MacBook's PD controller happily accepts a standard 15V or 20V rail from a current adapter.

The 29W's slide-off AC plug is the same duckhead Apple has used on every Mac power adapter since 2015. Keep it even if you retire the brick: it fits the 30W, 67W, 70W, 96W and 140W, and it is what a World Travel Adapter Kit blade replaces.

What it powered, and what it never could

  • Designed for: the 12″ MacBook (2015–2017), a fanless machine with a small battery and a modest ceiling.
  • Also fine on: iPhones and iPads via a USB-C cable, at whatever their own peak is — an iPhone tops out near 27W anyway.
  • Never enough for: any MacBook Pro. The 13″ Pro of that era used the 61W brick and the 15″ used the 87W.
  • No PPS, no EPR, no second port — none of which existed in a consumer adapter in 2015.

Replacements at 30W and above

  • 30W

    Anker Nano 30W

    30W with four modern rails, folding prongs, and a fraction of the 29W's volume.

    Output
    30W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Plug
    Folds flat
    Check price on Amazon
  • 30W

    UGREEN Nexode 30W

    Straight 30W GaN replacement — the sensible default for a 12″ MacBook still in service.

    Output
    30W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Tech
    GaN
    Check price on Amazon
  • 65W

    Anker 715 Nano II 65W

    Buys headroom for whatever laptop replaces the 12″ MacBook, in a body no larger than the 29W.

    Output
    65W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Tech
    GaN
    Check price on Amazon
  • 65W

    Statik 65W GaN 3-Port

    One brick for the old MacBook plus a phone plus earbuds, with a folding plug for travel.

    Output
    65W total
    Ports
    2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
    Tech
    GaN
    Check price on Amazon

Verdict

A museum piece with a working successor. Buy 30W if you want a like-for-like replacement, or 65W if the same charger should outlive the laptop. See 30W adapters, the MacBook charging guide, and the rest of the Apple lineup.

Related

FAQ

What replaced the Apple 29W USB-C adapter?

The 30W USB-C Power Adapter. It swaps the non-standard 14.5V rail for the proper PD set of 5V, 9V, 15V and 20V, which is why it also works well with iPhones, iPads and later MacBooks.

Can I charge a 12-inch MacBook with a modern 65W charger?

Yes. The laptop requests its own profile and draws roughly what the 29W supplied. A higher-wattage USB-C PD charger is never a risk — the device sets the terms of the negotiation.

Why does the 29W use 14.5 volts?

It pre-dates the settled USB-C Power Delivery fixed-rail set. Apple built it for the 2015 12-inch MacBook before 15V became the standard step, so it uses a voltage no current charger produces.