Laptop Chargers
Losing a charger is frustrating. If you have an urgent work project or school homework due, a dead laptop can quickly create stress. It feels even worse when it’s your only computer and you don’t have a recent backup of your files. The good news is that chargers are simple to replace, and Fix My Laptop Brisbane keeps a wide range in stock to get you powered up again.
Laptop Chargers Considerations
We stock laptop chargers for all major brands, including Acer, Asus, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Microsoft, and many others at our shop. If you are looking for a laptop charger, come talk to us and don’t forget to bring your laptop!
Most laptops still rely on proprietary chargers, which means you usually need one from the same brand. If you own several laptops from a single manufacturer, there is a good chance the chargers will be cross-compatible.
Business models such as the HP ProBook or EliteBook often use different chargers compared to consumer ranges like the HP Pavilion or Envy. Lenovo takes it further, with five or more charger types, including some obscure models that are difficult to match.
Manufacturers always recommend using original chargers. In our experience, most laptops also work fine with quality aftermarket or third-party options, like those sold at OfficeWorks or Jaycar. The drawback is that these are often more expensive than brand-name originals.
Buying a charger online can look appealing. Websites such as eBay advertise them for as little as $20. The reality is that these are knockoffs. They may work at first, but they are poorly built, often smell of chemicals, and rarely last long.
Wattage Matters!
When replacing a laptop charger, both the connector type and voltage must match your original. The wattage can be higher, and in some cases slightly lower, but that does not always guarantee the charger will work. For example, a 90W charger will reliably power a laptop that needs 65W. The reverse, however, is not always true.
Using an undersized adapter may still allow charging, but it will be slow and often limited to when the laptop is off or running light tasks. For gaming or other power-intensive work, it is unlikely to keep up. Fortunately, it is rare for a smaller charger to cause damage. More often, it will simply fail to charge the battery.
Some laptops display a warning when a lower-rated charger is connected. Dell models are well known for showing a boot-up message that the attached adapter is not powerful enough.
Today, many laptops rely on USB Type C charging, which is becoming the industry standard. With this connector, you can usually use any charger of equal or greater wattage to power your device. Lightweight models such as the Apple MacBook Air can even charge through a car’s 12V port, giving you extra flexibility when travelling.