Brand · Spec-transparent value · Cable range
Monoprice: the value brand that publishes the numbers.
Monoprice grew up selling AV cable to people who read datasheets, and that habit survived the move into charging. Where a house brand prints a wattage on a box, Monoprice tends to publish the output profiles, the per-port behaviour and the cable ratings — which is precisely the information that decides whether your laptop charges at full speed.
Why disclosure is the feature
Three specifications determine real charging speed, and two of them are usually hidden. The first is the list of fixed PD rails an adapter offers — 5V, 9V, 15V and 20V, plus 28V on PD 3.1 units. The second is what each port delivers once its neighbours are occupied. The third is the cable's current rating, since anything above 60W requires an e-marked 5A cable and anything above 100W needs a 240W-rated EPR cable.
Monoprice listings generally state all three. That turns buying from guesswork into arithmetic: if a 65W two-port unit publishes a 45W/20W split, you know exactly what your laptop sees with a phone attached. The mechanics are explained in e-marked cables and USB-C Power Delivery explained.
Reading a Monoprice spec sheet
| Line on the sheet | What to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Output profiles | 9V and 15V present, not just 5V/20V | Missing mid-rails slow tablets and handhelds |
| PPS range | e.g. 3.3–21V programmable | Required for Galaxy Super Fast Charging 2.0 |
| Per-port split | Stated for every port combination | Decides laptop speed on a shared brick |
| Cable rating | 3A vs 5A e-marked vs 240W EPR | Caps the whole chain regardless of adapter |
| Safety mark | UL or ETL printed on the housing | The non-negotiable floor |
The picks
- 65W
Monoprice 65W-class GaN USB-C charger (best value in the line)
Laptop-class output with published profiles, at value-brand pricing. The tier where knowing the port split actually changes your purchase.
- Output
- 65W-class GaN
- Ports
- USB-C, often 2
- Documented
- Profiles + split
- Best for
- Ultrabooks
- 100W
Monoprice 100W-class multi-port charger
Desk-tier consolidation for a MacBook Pro 14″ plus accessories, with per-port numbers you can plan around.
- Output
- 100W-class total
- Ports
- Multi USB-C + A
- Best for
- Desk hubs
- Check
- 28V support if 100W+
- Cable
Monoprice USB-C to USB-C cable, 5A e-marked
The unglamorous fix for slow charging: a cable rated for the current your adapter can actually supply.
- Rating
- 5A e-marked
- Supports
- Up to 100W
- Lengths
- Multiple
- Best for
- Laptop charging
If you are pushing past 100W, the cable rules change again — see 240W USB-C (EPR) explained and the 100W class.
Who should skip Monoprice
Skip it if you want the smallest possible brick — the range is priced for value, not for record-setting volume, and Anker still wins on pocketability. Skip it if you need same-day pickup, where Insignia exists, or if you want a designed object for a visible desk, where Satechi fits better. Buy Monoprice when you want to know exactly what you are getting and would rather spend the difference on a proper cable. Broader context in GaN vs silicon and the wall adapter guide.
FAQ
Is Monoprice a real manufacturer or a reseller?
It is a house brand that contracts manufacturing, like most charging brands. What distinguishes it is documentation: output profiles, port splits and cable current ratings are usually published rather than summarised as a single wattage.
Do I need a 5A e-marked cable?
Above 60W, yes. The e-marker chip tells the adapter the cable can carry 5A; without it the chain is limited to 3A, which caps a 100W adapter at 60W with no error message — just slow charging.
Are Monoprice chargers certified?
Look for the UL or ETL mark on the housing, the same test you should apply to any brand. Retail-channel brands generally carry one; the listing text alone is not proof.
Does Monoprice support PPS?
Some units do and the spec sheet will say so with a programmable voltage range such as 3.3–21V. If that range is absent, the unit is standard PD and will not trigger Samsung's 45W mode.