Don’t Buy a Laptop if It Doesn’t Have Two USB-C Ports

Searching for a laptop computer means making plenty of choices, so it’s simple to miss a small element or two. Nevertheless, one factor you need to by no means overlook is the variety of USB-C ports. Skimping right here can come again to chew you prior to you assume.

To Be Clear: I’m Speaking About USB-C PD

You may be conscious that many fashionable laptops can now cost by way of USB-C instead of old-school AC barrel chargers. This particular port can be utilized each as a daily USB-C port and for charging, and it is known as USB Power Delivery (PD). The most recent model (USB-C PD 3.2) can obtain as much as a whopping 240W of energy, so many producers design quick charging algorithms round it.

Whereas quick charging requirements can get slightly sophisticated and assist is not all the time assured simply based mostly on wattage, the essential factor is that the port means that you can join any suitable USB-C charger to cost your laptop computer. For instance, I’ve used my brother’s 67W charging brick on my Dell Latitude 5420, and never solely did it cost the laptop computer, nevertheless it additionally supported quick charging.

This primarily means I can use a single charger for each my telephone and laptop computer, so long as it may well cost the laptop computer shortly sufficient for my wants. It eliminates the necessity to carry that cumbersome laptop computer charging brick (assuming I don’t overlook it within the first place).

Nevertheless, not all laptops in the marketplace have USB-C PD. Cheaper or older fashions may need an earlier model of Thunderbolt with out Energy Supply, a regular USB-C port, or no USB-C ports in any respect. I’d suggest avoiding such laptops altogether, as even many inexpensive used fashions can now be discovered with USB-C PD.

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One USB-C PD Port Means No Laptop computer if It Breaks

The principle cause why you need to keep away from shopping for a laptop computer that solely makes use of a single USB-C PD port (just like the infamous 2015 Apple MacBook) is that you just will not have a backup if it breaks.

For a laptop computer, no charging means no laptop computer till you get the USB-C PD port mounted or changed. It is an costly restore that, along with disassembly and soldering, additionally includes using a sizzling air soldering station to soundly take away the port’s contacts with out damaging the PCB. It is much more tough than changing a regular laptop computer energy jack.

Whereas USB-C ports are fairly sturdy and may face up to as much as 10,000 insertion and removing cycles, there is no assure that they can not fail sooner. Just a few situations of tough mishandling, some water and dirt within the port, or an unfortunate drop or bend whereas the charger is plugged in, and you may be left with a non-functional paperweight.

A second USB-C PD port supplies redundancy and doubles your possibilities of avoiding an costly restore. Simply examine the laptop computer’s full specs to verify that each USB-C ports assist energy supply, not only one.

Two USB-C PD Ports Make Life Simpler and Extra Versatile

Whereas redundancy is extraordinarily essential, one other main benefit is performance. There are all types of useful USB-C hubs in the marketplace that may remodel your laptop computer right into a workstation machine with a number of extra USB ports, Ethernet, HDMI, SD card slots, and extra.

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Get plugging.

If you happen to use an external GPU enclosure with Thunderbolt and it does not assist energy supply, your solely actual possibility is to make use of the second USB-C PD port to plug in your charger.

Nevertheless, practicality does not need to contain costly GPU enclosures and hubs; it may be so simple as eager to plug in a USB-C flash drive or dongle whereas the laptop computer is charging. I steadily use the 2 USB-C ports on my laptop computer: one for charging and the opposite for my 2.4GHz dongle for the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, permitting me to recreation with out the latency points related to Bluetooth.

You may as well use the second USB-C port to cost a tool comparable to a telephone or headphones whereas the laptop computer is charging. All you want is an additional USB-C cable, and also you’re all set for a minimalist journey setup.

One other small however essential benefit of laptops with USB-C PD ports on each side is you can cost the laptop computer from both facet. It may be extra handy in tight workspaces or in case your outlet is much away.

Many Trendy Laptops Have Two USB-C PD Ports (However Some Don’t)

The excellent news is that almost all skinny and light-weight laptops now use USB-C PD for charging, and contemplating how important this port is, they arrive with two USB-C PD ports. Except you are shopping for a finances mannequin, like this HP Student/Business Laptop (14-dq6012dx), which has a single USB-C port with out energy supply, you need to be high quality. Nonetheless, it is best to examine the laptop computer’s spec sheet to verify that each USB-C ports assist Energy Supply.

Even Microsoft is probably going going to section out its proprietary Microsoft Connect Port in favor of USB-C, as seen with the new Surface Pro.

One other attention-grabbing pattern is how some gaming laptops are bridging the hole by together with each USB-C PD and a (normally proprietary) barrel connector.

Whereas USB-C PD can ship 240W—way over what most laptops with integrated graphics would ever want—workstation and gaming laptops with dedicated graphics are a distinct beast. Their power-hungry GPUs and highly effective CPUs demand a extra strong charging answer, so along with integrating USB-C PD, additionally they add an AC charger. For instance, along with having two USB-C PD ports, the Alienware x16 R2 Gaming Laptop makes use of a proprietary charger that may do as much as 330W.

Working System

Home windows 11 House

CPU

Intel Core Extremely 9 185H (24MB Cache, 16 Cores, 2.30GHz to five.10GHz P-Core Turbo)

The Alienware x16 R2 is a high-performance gaming laptop computer designed for lovers, that includes a modern, premium construct with a 16-inch show, highly effective Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, and superior cooling expertise for optimum gaming experiences. Its customizable RGB lighting and top-tier {hardware} make it a standout selection for players looking for fashion and energy.

Whereas a second USB-C PD port won’t be on the prime of everybody’s precedence listing when looking for a laptop computer, it positively needs to be. From a long life and suppleness standpoint, I imagine it’s much more essential than having a pleasant show, additional RAM, storage, or a extra highly effective CPU. It reduces the danger of needing an costly restore down the road and provides you way more connectivity choices by the straightforward and versatile USB-C port. So, remember to preserve a watch out for it when procuring!