Apple 87W USB-C Power Adapter on a MacBook Air: Measured

Apple's 87W USB-C adapter measured on a MacBook Air: an 86 W contract at 4.3 A, using the older USB PD 2.0 specification.

Apple 87W USB-C Power Adapter, model A1719, with folding prongs.

Apple’s older 87W USB-C power adapter, tested against a MacBook Air with a low battery, per the methodology.

Input 100-240V~ 1.5A 50-60Hz. Delta Electronics Jiangsu Ltd. Output 20.2V at 4.3A (USB PD), or 9V at 3A (USB PD), or 5.2V at 2.4A. E131881.

The numbers

Rated87 W
Negotiated86 W (20 V up to 4.3 A)
Live draw68.4 W (19.6 V at 3.49 A)
ProtocolUSB PD 2.0

Profile menu: 12 W (5 V up to 2.4 A), 27 W (9 V up to 3 A), 86 W (20 V up to 4.3 A).

A missing rail and an old spec

This adapter predates the modern USB Power Delivery 3.0 standard. It uses the older USB PD 2.0 specification, which explains some of its quirks.

Most notably, it skips the 15 V rail entirely. Modern USB PD 3.0 chargers generally step through 5 V, 9 V, 15 V, and 20 V profiles. The absence of the 15 V rail can cause issues with devices that require it (like older Nintendo Switches or specific power banks), but the Mac happily jumps straight to the 20 V rail.

Additionally, the 5 V rail tops out at 2.4 A (12 W) rather than the standard 3 A (15 W) found on almost every modern charger.

87W USB-C Power Adapter. Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China. Model A1719. TM and copyright 2016 Apple Inc. LPS.

A 5A cable requirement

The top 86 W profile negotiates at 4.3 A. Because this exceeds the 3 A limit of a standard USB-C cable, a 5A cable is required to reach the full power of this adapter.

Replaced by the 96W

Apple no longer sells the 87W adapter. Its direct replacement is the Apple 96W USB-C Power Adapter, which restores the missing 15 V rail and updates the protocol to PD 3.0.