USB-C On A Laptop

[dpk4588]

I recently bought a new laptop (this one), and it has a USB-C port, but when I plug in my phone charger, it says it's too weak to charge the laptop.

My two questions are:

• Are there chargers that are strong enough to charge a laptop via USB-C?
• If I can't charge the laptop with that port, what can I do with it?

[Naftuli19]

I recently bought a new laptop (this one), and it has a USB-C port, but when I plug in my phone charger, it says it's too weak to charge the laptop.

My two questions are:

• Are there chargers that are strong enough to charge a laptop via USB-C?
• If I can't charge the laptop with that port, what can I do with it?

AFAIK u can use a reg USB C charger the laptop should come with a special converter

[dpk4588]

I'll have to double check but I don't remember seeing anything.

AFAIK u can use a reg USB C charger the laptop should come with a special converter

[Naftuli19]

AFAIK u can use a reg USB C charger the laptop should come with a special converter

I'll have to double check but I don't remember seeing anything.

sorry meant CAN'T

[dpk4588]

sorry meant CAN'T

But you think it came with a converter from regular USB-C to a laptop charging one?

[Naftuli19]

But you think it came with a converter from regular USB-C to a laptop charging one?

every laptop does it should have (usually) a 3 prong plug with a converter (im not sure what its called) in middle and USB C at the end

[as2]

The amperage will be different for a phone charger than a laptop. There are standard looking laptop chargers (with the bulky black box in the midsection) that have a type C at the end.

[dpk4588]

The amperage will be different for a phone charger than a laptop. There are standard looking laptop chargers (with the bulky black box in the midsection) that have a type C at the end.

So that's something I'd have to buy separately? Is there an advantage of charging via USB over the standard charger?

[as2]

So that's something I'd have to buy separately? Is there an advantage of charging via USB over the standard charger?

Not sure. It's possible there are advantages when using it for data, but don't know about charging.

[mileagejunkie]

I recently bought a new laptop (this one), and it has a USB-C port, but when I plug in my phone charger, it says it's too weak to charge the laptop.

My two questions are:

• Are there chargers that are strong enough to charge a laptop via USB-C?
• If I can't charge the laptop with that port, what can I do with it?

Your laptop supports Power Delivery, so TECHNICALLY you could charge it with a regular USB C charger. There are plenty of 60watts+ chargers available, I would highly recommend you pre-order this one (ships June 30th) as the form factor is unbelievable: https://www.ravpower.com/p/ravpower-61w-pd-3.0-gan-wall-charger.html
However, I would recommend you first borrow someone's Mac charger to test if it works (a 45w Mac charger should work as well) since some laptops (like HP) are restricted to the brand's charger and it could be that Dell included PD and restricted it because it plans on coming out (or already sells?) its own charger.
About its uses, USB C is the new standard, windows PC and peripherals are just slower adopting it. Personally, I use it almost exclusively (only exception would be in the car).

[dpk4588]

Your laptop supports Power Delivery, so TECHNICALLY you could charge it with a regular USB C charger. There are plenty of 60watts+ chargers available, I would highly recommend you pre-order this one (ships June 30th) as the form factor is unbelievable: https://www.ravpower.com/p/ravpower-61w-pd-3.0-gan-wall-charger.html
However, I would recommend you first borrow someone's Mac charger to test if it works (a 45w Mac charger should work as well) since some laptops (like HP) are restricted to the brand's charger and it could be that Dell included PD and restricted it because it plans on coming out (or already sells?) its own charger.
About its uses, USB C is the new standard, windows PC and peripherals are just slower adopting it. Personally, I use it almost exclusively (only exception would be in the car).

If I recall correctly (and I could confirm when I get home) it said the minimum wattage was 72 so that 61W charger wouldn't work either. I don't know if I know anyone who has a Mac with a USB-C charger. In terms of USB-C uses, other than charging, what uses would it have on my laptop?

[mmgfarb]

If I recall correctly (and I could confirm when I get home) it said the minimum wattage was 72 so that 61W charger wouldn't work either. I don't know if I know anyone who has a Mac with a USB-C charger. In terms of USB-C uses, other than charging, what uses would it have on my laptop?

A lower wattage charger will probably still work, it just may charge slower than the charger that came with the laptop. 

[mileagejunkie]

If I recall correctly (and I could confirm when I get home) it said the minimum wattage was 72 so that 61W charger wouldn't work either. I don't know if I know anyone who has a Mac with a USB-C charger. In terms of USB-C uses, other than charging, what uses would it have on my laptop?

Regular USB C is included as to somewhat future proof the laptop. On laptops that have a thunderbolt port (looks the same but more powerful), it supports higher resolution screens, external GPUs, some RAIDs and more.