By device · Dell XPS
Dell XPS: match the number printed on your brick.
Current XPS laptops charge over USB-C PD, and Dell ships three different wattages across the 13, 14 and 16 — roughly 60W, 100W and 130W. Buying below your machine's figure works, but the laptop tells you about it, and under load it charges only when you are not using it.
How to read your own adapter in 30 seconds
Turn the brick over and find the OUTPUT line. It reads something like 20V ⎓ 3.25A. Multiply: 20 × 3.25 = 65W. That number, not the model year and not the marketing name, is what you are replacing. Do the same on any charger you are considering and compare the top rail.
Broadly: the XPS 13 ships with a 60W-class USB-C adapter, the XPS 14 with 100W, and the XPS 16 with a 130W USB-C unit. Configurations with discrete graphics sit at the top of that range.
The 100W wall. Standard USB-C PD delivers at most 100W over the 20V rail (20V × 5A). A Dell 130W USB-C adapter goes beyond that using an extended profile your third-party charger does not offer, so the honest ceiling for a generic replacement on an XPS 16 is 100W. It will charge the machine and run it; under a sustained CPU+GPU load it will hold station rather than gain, and Dell's firmware may warn that the adapter's wattage cannot be determined or is insufficient.
What each wattage does on an XPS
| Charger | Result |
|---|---|
| 30W phone brick | Charges while asleep only; drains in use |
| 45W | Fine for light work on an XPS 13; slow under load |
| 65W | Comfortable daily driver for the XPS 13 |
| 100W | Correct for the XPS 14; the practical ceiling for the 16 |
| Dell 130W USB-C (OEM) | The only unit that reaches the XPS 16's top rate |
Older XPS models — roughly pre-2018 — use a 4.5mm barrel connector with a centre ID pin, not USB-C. No USB-C charger works with those at any wattage; you need a barrel adapter or the Dell brick. Background on how any of this negotiates: USB-C laptop charging.
Three replacements
- 65W
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 65W Dual
For an XPS 13 that mostly does documents and calls: two USB-C ports, laptop and phone at once.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C
- Build
- GaN
- 100W
Anker 736 Charger (Nano II 100W)
The best all-round XPS answer: 100W into the laptop, or split across three devices on the road.
- Output
- 100W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Build
- GaN II
- 140W
Anker Prime 140W
Desk anchor for an XPS 16 plus everything around it, with PD 3.1 headroom for a 140W laptop later.
- Output
- 140W total
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
Don't waste money on
A 65W charger for an XPS 16. It is safe, and it will hold the battery steady on a video call, but it is not a replacement — you will lose charge whenever the GPU wakes up.
Unbranded "Dell compatible" USB-C bricks. The failure mode is a laptop that charges but throttles because the firmware cannot identify the supply. Certified GaN units from the mainstream brands avoid it.
A 5A cable you do not need. Below 60W any 3A cable is fine; above it, buy the e-marked one once and stop thinking about it (cable guide).
Also see ThinkPad charging, HP Spectre, our ranked laptop chargers, and the device index.
FAQ
Can I charge a Dell XPS with a 65W charger instead of the 130W one?
Yes, safely. The laptop draws what the charger offers. Expect slower charging, and under sustained CPU and GPU load expect the battery to hold or fall rather than rise.
Why does Dell warn me about the power adapter at boot?
The firmware could not identify the adapter or read a sufficient wattage. That warning usually accompanies reduced performance limits until a matching adapter is connected.
Do all Dell XPS laptops charge over USB-C?
Modern ones do. Models from roughly 2018 and earlier use a 4.5mm barrel connector and cannot be charged over USB-C at all.
Will a 140W PD 3.1 charger charge an XPS faster?
No faster than 100W. The laptop requests standard rails; the additional EPR voltage steps go unused.