We all know the powerbank or external batterieswidely used on trips for iPhones and other mobile devices. However, few people consider using it. for laptops u larger teams, often thinking that it is impossible for it to work, although this is not the case.
Most MacBooks have a “small” battery, only its optimization and system makes it last a long time, so it is possible to charge them with a simple powerbank, without a real plug or a special charger, as we will see below.
How to charge a Mac with an external battery
The process to charge a computer with one of these batteries is the same as with a cell phone. You will only need a USB-C charger, or failing that, the one your device uses, and the USB port of the powerbank. Plug it in, and go.
Now, how much capacity does this have to have to be able to fully charge a Mac again? Well, the first thing we are going to see is the capacity of each model from recent years.
Macbook Air
- M1 (2020): ≈ 4,379 mAh
- M2 (2022): ≈ 4,614 mAh
- M3 (2024): ≈ 4,614 mAh
- M4 (2025): ≈ 4,614 mAh
- 15-inch M2/M3/M4 (2023–2025): ≈ 5,833 mAh
MacBook Pro
- 13″ M1 (2020): ≈ 5,152 mAh
- 13″ M2 (2022): ≈ 5,152 mAh
- 14″ M1 Pro (2021): ≈ 6,068 mAh
- 14″ M2 Pro/M3/M4 (2023–2025): ≈ 6,263 mAh
- 16″ M1 Pro/Max (2021): ≈ 8,652 mAh
- 16″ M2 Pro/Max (2023): ≈ 8,652 mAh
- 16″ M3 Pro/Max (2024): ≈ 8,652 mAh
- 16″ M4 Pro/Max (2025): ≈ 8,652 mAh
With this, we can deduce the type of external battery we need, always taking into account that there will be a loss in the transfer of energy, and that therefore we must choose a slightly larger one.
We must also take into account the charging speed, and it will not be as high as in a wall socket, and this can give us the false feeling that it does not complete 100%, because, in the process, which can last 3 hours quietly, we will be consuming energy, while it is completed, so we must keep this in mind.
We leave you a recommendation from Amazon here, although as we said, any one you have at home will do, however, in this case, it will be interesting that it has a good output power, so that the speed is high, since low energy could mean that we will not be able to charge it while we use it, or that it may even discharge due to this.
And you, have you ever charged your Mac with a powerbank? Did you know what can be done? Choosing a good one, like the one we have shown you today, works wonderfully, and you will have several charges for not only your iPhone, but also your laptop, since you never know when you may need power, and not have a plug at hand, without the need for a more powerful and expensive station, which will not be profitable in these cases. Leave us a comment with your experience and opinion about it.
