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Apple · Discontinued · 13″ MacBook Pro

Apple 61W USB-C: the 13-inch Pro brick, retired.

The 61W (A1718, later A1947) powered every 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2020. Apple replaced it with the 67W and 70W, and a 65W GaN charger does the same job in half the volume.

The replacement, first

Apple's current equivalents are the 67W and 70W adapters — six and nine watts above the original, and fully compatible with a 2016–2020 13″ MacBook Pro. Third-party 65W GaN chargers are four watts below and equally fine: the laptop asks for 20V and takes what it needs. Nothing on that machine notices the difference between 61W and 65W. If the failure was recent and sudden, work through the replacement checklist before buying.

Check what actually failed. The 61W ships as a brick plus a separate 2 m USB-C cable, and the cable is the part that frays at the strain relief. A replacement USB-C to USB-C cable costs a fraction of a whole adapter — try a known-good cable before you replace the brick.

Output profile

RailCurrentDelivered
5.2V2.4A~12.5W
9V3A27W
20.3V3A61W

Three rails, one USB-C port, detachable AC plug. Note the missing 15V step and the slightly non-standard 20.3V — both artefacts of the era. Modern replacements offer the full 5V/9V/15V/20V set, which is strictly more capability, not less.

What it served

  • 13″ MacBook Pro, 2016–2020: the in-box adapter, including both the two-port and four-port Thunderbolt configurations.
  • MacBook Air (2018 onward): works, and over-serves — the Air's own brick was 30W.
  • iPad and iPhone: safe and unremarkable; they draw 30W and 27W respectively.
  • 15″ MacBook Pro of the same era: under-served. That machine wanted the 87W adapter, and on 61W it can drain while working.

65W-class replacements

  • 65W

    UGREEN Nexode 65W

    65W across three ports, GaN, roughly a third the volume of the 61W brick.

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

    Anker 715 Nano II 65W

    Single-port 65W with folding prongs — the closest thing to a drop-in replacement in a bag.

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

    Statik 65W GaN 3-Port

    Laptop plus phone plus accessory from one outlet; the travel-oriented pick at this wattage.

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

    Insignia 65W USB-C

    Certified 65W available on a retail shelf — the option when the laptop needs power today.

    Output
    65W USB-C PD
    Ports
    1× USB-C
    Class
    Budget certified
    Check price on Amazon

Verdict

There is no reason to buy an original 61W. A 65W GaN charger is smaller, cheaper, usually multi-port, and identical in outcome; Apple's own 67W is the option if you want a first-party part. Class page: 65W adapters. Sizing logic for any laptop: 45W vs 65W and the USB-C laptop charging guide.

Related

FAQ

What is the modern replacement for the Apple 61W adapter?

Apple's 67W or 70W USB-C adapter, or any certified 65W USB-C PD charger. All three cover a 2016 to 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro; the few watts of difference are not detectable in charge times.

Can I use a 65W third-party charger on a 13-inch MacBook Pro?

Yes. The laptop negotiates the 20V rail and draws what it needs. Four watts below Apple's 61W or six above it makes no practical difference to charge rate on that machine.

Does the 61W adapter still work with a modern MacBook?

It charges a MacBook Air at full speed and a 14-inch MacBook Pro at normal speed, but it lacks the 15V rail and cannot fast-charge current machines. It is a usable spare, not a good primary adapter.