Anker 20W Nano Pro on a MacBook Air: Measured

Anker's 20W Nano Pro measured on a MacBook Air M5: 18.4 W delivered from two profiles - a readout identical to Apple's own 20W adapter.

The Anker 20W Nano Pro (USB-C charger block, PIQ 3.0), tested against a MacBook Air M5 with a low battery, per the methodology.

The numbers

Rated20 W
Negotiated20 W (9 V up to 2.22 A)
Live draw18.4 W (8.6 V at 2.15 A)
ProtocolUSB PD 3.0

Profile menu: 15 W (5 V/3 A), 20 W (9 V/2.22 A - active).

Identical to Apple’s cube

Set this readout next to Apple’s own 20W adapter and there is nothing to tell them apart. Same two profiles. Same 9 V / 2.22 A active contract. Same 18.4 W live draw, at the same 8.6 V and 2.15 A.

As far as macOS is concerned, these are the same charger. Whatever differences exist between them - build, efficiency, heat, physical size, warranty - none of them show up in the power contract, because both are implementing the same small corner of the same USB Power Delivery specification.

That’s worth internalising when a listing charges a premium for a wattage figure: the profile menu is the product. Two chargers advertising the same rungs will behave the same way, regardless of the badge.

The 9 volt ceiling

Like most 20 W chargers, this one has no 15 V or 20 V rail - the rungs a laptop normally charges on. Its top rail is 9 V. A MacBook Air will still charge from it, just slowly, and it will charge faster than it discharges under light use.

Buying one

The Anker 20W Nano Pro does exactly what a 20 W charger should. Nothing about its measured behaviour argues for paying more elsewhere at this wattage.

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