MagSafe vs. USB-C: Which is better for charging your MacBook?

Modern MacBooks can use two different types of cables to charge, but is USB-C or MagSafe a better option overall. MagSafe vs. USB-C: Which is better for charging your MacBook. MagSafe is safer and simpler, but USB-C has a few advantages of its own.

It’s one of those features that’s a make-or-break factor for some people. And it’s no wonder — these chargers attach magnetically and disconnect if the cable is pulled sharply, like when tripping over it. But Apple laptops can also be charged via USB-C, which has become an industry standard.

While you can’t use both at the same time, they can both be great charging options depending on what you need at a given moment. While it has the same name, don’t confuse the MacBook’s charging tech with the iPhone’s MagSafe, which is a different technology. While the iPhone’s MagSafe is based on the Qi standard, the MacBook’s MagSafe uses a proprietary — and much smaller — connector.