The upside of a laptop having two charging ports (and why some don't) - Engadget

Multiple USB-C ports are more useful than you might think. When looking for a new laptop, you're generally focused on what processor it has, how much RAM there is under the hood and whether there's enough storage space to justify the price. Rarely does one check how many USB-C ports the computer actually has and what those ports can do. It doesn't sound like a major thing to look into, but when you're stuck choosing between charging your laptop and connecting a monitor that requires the same port, the situation changes quite a bit. Dual USB-C charging ports solve that problem in ways that go beyond basic convenience. They let you charge your laptop and use peripherals at the same time, which is something multi-monitor users look for. The reason most laptops skip the second port comes down to cost. Extra Power Delivery controllers, circuit board space and engineering complexity add up to an expense most brands aren't willing to absorb. My main gripe with the fact that my laptop only comes with one USB-C port is that I have to take the hard route to connect my portable monitor. First-world problems, right? I frequently work out of coffee shops and fast food joints, so I tend to carry

Aug 31, 2026 → Aug 31, 2026