I’ve noticed that my Steam Deck is charging slowly with an 87 watt MacBook charger I’ve been using. The Steam Deck comes with a 45 watt charger, which I figured was less than what my MacBook charger can handle. It’s USB-C, and I know it supports power delivery because it claimed it would fully charge in about two hours from 11%. So, what could be causing the slow charging?
3 Answers
The slow charging could be due to the USB-C negotiation phase. If the charger and device can’t properly ‘handshake,’ it defaults to a very low charge rate – sometimes as low as 3 watts. It might be worth checking the cable you’re using as well, since not all USB-C cables can handle high speeds. They definitely vary in quality!
Make sure your charger is actually Power Delivery (PD) certified. Even if it’s rated for 87W, it needs to communicate with the Steam Deck correctly to supply the needed voltage and amps. If your charger has multiple ports, it might split power, affecting how fast your Deck charges. Also, using a USB-A with a USB-C cable could limit it to 18W – so double-check that as well!
Exactly! If it’s an old charger designed for something else, it really might not work with the Steam Deck’s power needs.
With Apple chargers, things can get tricky. They tend to stick to specific voltages that work for their devices, which might not align with what the Steam Deck needs. Some Apple chargers might not even support the protocol required for full charging, which could explain why it’s slower than expected. Check the wattage ranges marked on the charger; they often vary with different outputs, too!
Exactly, I found that out the hard way. Apple just doesn’t design their chargers for universal compatibility!
Definitely double-check the cable. A lot of people think any cable can handle any speed, but that’s not the case. The cable needs to be rated for the wattage you want.