Buying a new Apple laptop in the UK or EU? You’ll need to pay extra for the charger

Buying a brand-new MacBook in your quest for the best laptop and discovering there’s no charger in the box might feel like a mistake. But if you’re in the UK or the EU, that’s exactly what’ll happen.

• Read more: MacBook Neo is the budget Apple laptop we all wanted – with a major flaw we really didn’t

Apple’s UK pages for the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro confirm that there’s no charger to be found. The respective product sites do, at least, confirm that a USB-C or MagSafe 3 charging cable will still be included, depending on the model you’re opting for.

So yes, you still get the cable. Hooray! But the wall plug – the rather important bit – is no longer bundled by default in the UK or EU. Across the pond, though, US buyers will still receive a power adaptor at no extra cost.

That means – surprise surprise – that if you don’t already have a compatible USB-C power adapter at home, you’ll need to add one at checkout, or snap one up separately. Naturally, Apple sells a range of USB-C power adapters, but it’s just another expense to add to your ever-growing list.

This isn’t the first time Apple has sold a MacBook without a charger, mind. The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) in October 2025 was the first to drop the in-box power adapter in the UK and multiple European countries.

Now, the same approach applies to all newly announced MacBooks in the UK and EU – including MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

The charger situation is particularly notable because it lands alongside the debut of the MacBook Neo – a new entry-level MacBook with an iPhone-class chip.

Ironically, the most affordable MacBook Apple has launched in years could also be the one most likely to catch out first-time buyers – because if you don’t already own a compatible MacBook charger, you’ll have no choice but to fork out extra for one.

• Read more: I’ve used the MacBook Neo, Apple’s new $600 laptop – here’s why it could be a game changer

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.