Early adopters of Apple’s latest 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips have discovered a subtle yet significant update in the included 140W power adapter. This change affects compatibility with certain accessories.
Key Design Shift in the Duckhead Connector
The power adapter features a removable AC wall adapter, known as a duckhead, which traditionally uses a C7 connection shaped like a pair of glasses. The new version adopts a more symmetrical design, diverging from this standard.
Incompatible Accessories Reported
Customers highlight two main accessories impacted by this update. Apple’s $19 Power Adapter Extension Cable, which matches the conventional duckhead shape used in prior adapters, no longer connects properly. Apple previously bundled these cables but discontinued the practice starting with the first Touch Bar MacBook Pro models about a decade ago.
Additionally, the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit proves incompatible with the revised connector. Although Apple has removed this kit from its online store, a support document still describes its features.
It remains uncertain whether the standalone $99 140W USB-C Power Adapter has adopted the new design, as Apple continues to indicate compatibility with the Power Adapter Extension Cable in its listings.
