One long-standing characteristic of Apple products is users' almost obsessive trust in original accessories. But in the realm of chargers, the market in 2026 tells a different story. This is especially true for those who purchased the MacBook Pro 14 M5 in Europe, where the box no longer includes a charger. This forces users to consider a crucial question: besides the original, what are my options?
The answer is: more than you might think. The MacBook Pro 14 M5 supports the standard USB Power Delivery (PD) fast charging protocol, meaning any charger that supports PD can charge it. Testing shows that third-party chargers perform exceptionally well in terms of compatibility, with most delivering over 87W of actual output power, reaching up to 91.61W.
To give you a clearer picture of third-party charger performance, here are the real-world test results compiled by ChargerLAB:
Original Apple Charger Performance: When using the 70W original charger, actual output power measured approximately 69.83W, fully charging the laptop in 1 hour and 56 minutes. When using the 140W original charger, actual output reached 91.82W.
Third-Party Charger Performance: Among the many third-party chargers tested, the Sharge 140W Display Charger delivered outstanding performance, achieving 91.61W actual output power. Other high-power PD-compatible chargers generally reached 87-90W.
Power Bank and Car Charger Performance: Power banks supporting 100W PD can deliver approximately 90W of charging power to the MacBook Pro. For car chargers, the Samsung 45W car charger tested at 44.23W, while the Xiaomi 100W car charger reached 43.89W.
This means that if you already own a high-power PD-compatible charger, you can confidently use it to charge your MacBook Pro without needing to purchase an additional original accessory.
Based on market reviews from 2026, the following brands stand out in the fast charging space for Apple devices:
CUKTECH: As a representative of technical strength, CUKTECH's product line covers everything from portable to desktop scenarios. Its 10号 Super Energy Bank Ultra supports up to 120W output, perfectly matching the MacBook Pro's full-speed charging requirements while intelligently distributing power to iPhones, iPads, and other devices. The 6号 GaN Power Card Player Edition focuses on extreme portability, reducing volume by 70% compared to Apple's 67W charger.
Belkin: As a long-term Apple partner, Belkin's products are known for official-grade compatibility, with all products certified by Apple's MFi program and USB-IF. Their chargers integrate deeply with the MacBook's charging management system. If you're looking for a "closest to original" stable experience, Belkin is worth considering.
Baseus: Baseus has been deeply involved in GaN multi-port fast charging for years. Its 100W and higher power chargers typically feature 2C1A or multiple ports, allowing simultaneous charging of laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices. For users with multiple Apple devices, this offers an efficient balance of performance and cost.
Huntkey: As a long-established power supply manufacturer, Huntkey's chargers are known for being safe and reliable, adopting stricter 3C certification standards than industry requirements. Some models are certified for altitudes up to 5,000 meters. The flagship GaN S240 charger supports 240W multi-port output, making it suitable for desktop users who need to power high-performance laptops and multiple devices simultaneously.
When selecting a charger, consider the following dimensions:
Power Matching: The 14-inch MacBook Pro supports up to 96W charging, so choosing a PD-compatible charger with 65W or higher will meet daily needs. If you also need to charge other devices simultaneously, a 100W+ multi-port charger will be more practical.
Usage Scenario: Frequent travelers can opt for compact GaN technology models, such as the CUKTECH 6号 Power Card (only 14.3mm thick). For office or home use, high-power multi-port chargers that achieve a "one-cable-solution" are ideal.
Safety Certification: Prioritize products that have passed authoritative certifications such as national 3C certification or the German Rheinland TÜV "Safe Charging" certification. These certifications indicate that the product includes multiple protective mechanisms against over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature.
Overall, the MacBook Pro 14 M5 performs excellently in terms of charging compatibility. Whether using original chargers, third-party chargers, or power banks, the device generally achieves the maximum PD fast charging power supported by either the charger or the laptop itself. This means you can freely choose the charging solution that best fits your budget and usage habits.
If you would like to delve deeper into the energy efficiency of the M5 chip, please refer to this article:
➤ "Behind the Myth of 24-Hour Battery Life: How the M5 Chip Redefines Mobile Productivity"
In September 2025, Apple officially released iOS 26. For iPhone 13 Pro users, the best news is that your device remains on the supported list. According to Apple's official compatibility roster, iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and newer models, as well as iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer—meaning the iPhone 13 Pro is definitely included.
What does this mean for you? Following Apple's typical practice of providing 5-6 years of major iOS updates for iPhones, the iPhone 13 Pro (released in 2021) can expect at least another 1-2 years of major version updates. By the time iOS 27 arrives in 2027, the iPhone 13 Pro will likely still be eligible for support. In other words, after installing a new iPhone 13 Pro battery, your device is fully qualified to continue enjoying the latest system features and security updates.
Will the new system drain more battery? This is the question every user considering an upgrade asks. According to user feedback data compiled from Zhihu columns, after upgrading to iOS 26.3 official release, 49.4% of users felt battery life improved, 37.4% noticed no change, and only 13.2% experienced worse battery drain.
Looking at specific device models, the iPhone 13 Pro is listed among the versions that saw battery life improvements. This aligns with Apple's official statements: iOS 17 introduced a "performance degradation compensation algorithm" that extended iPhone 13 series battery life by 23%. iOS 26 further optimized background process management efficiency. For iPhone 13 Pro users with a fresh battery, upgrading to iOS 26 can deliver even better battery performance.
Of course, some users have commented that "the phone feels noticeably slower after updating." This is likely related to the device's existing iPhone 13 Pro battery health—if it's already below 80%, the system may throttle performance to maintain stability, creating the perception of slowdown. And this reinforces the point made in our earlier articles: replace the battery first, then consider the OS update.
The core factors determining whether a phone can "last several more years" are not just system support, but chip performance. How does the A15 chip inside the iPhone 13 Pro hold up in 2026?
According to UL Benchmarks data, the A15 scores 2949 points in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, with Wild Life stability reaching 70%. In Geekbench benchmarks, the A15 achieves approximately 1733 points for single-core and 4716 points for multi-core performance. Where does this stand in 2026? While it has been surpassed by the A17 and A18, it still outperforms many mid-range Android chips. Counterpoint Research data shows that after 24 months of continuous use, the A15's single-core performance degrades by about 12%, but multi-core performance maintains 98% of its original level.
What this means for daily use—scrolling through social media, watching videos, editing documents, playing mainstream games—is that the A15 is absolutely not a bottleneck. Only when running the most demanding 3D games or performing heavy tasks like video rendering will you notice a gap compared to the newest flagship devices.
Synthesizing all the analysis above, the decision path for iPhone 13 Pro users in 2026 is actually quite clear:
If your battery health is below 80%: Prioritize battery replacement. With Apple's 399 RMB half-price promotion, investing less than 400 RMB buys you at least two more years of smooth usage. The combination of A15 chip + iOS 26 is more than sufficient for the vast majority of daily needs.
If your battery health is still acceptable (above 85%): You can hold off on replacement for now. However, keep an eye on battery health trends and plan ahead. Stay current with system updates to enjoy the new features and optimizations iOS 26 brings.
If you have a strong need for Apple Intelligence features: This is a reason to upgrade. The AI capabilities in iOS 26 (such as on-device intelligence) are limited to iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. If these features are critical to your workflow, you may need to consider moving to a newer iPhone.
In 2026, the iPhone 13 Pro finds itself at an interesting juncture: system support continues, the chip remains capable, and the battery can be replaced at a low cost. Spending 399 RMB on a new iPhone 13 Pro battery, then upgrading to iOS 26, gives you a reliable device that can easily accompany you into 2028. In an era where smartphone performance has long exceeded everyday needs, this might just be the most rational choice.
Want to know how much battery life can be improved after replacing the battery? Click here to read:
→ "Test: iPhone 13 Pro Battery Life Before and After Replacement - Surprising Results"
Still struggling to choose between an original battery and a third-party battery? Take a look:
→ "iPhone 13 Pro Battery Replacement Guide: Original, Third-Party, and DIY Battery Comparison"
