Apple's 140W power adapter for the 16-inch MacBook Pro features a redesigned duckhead connector that differs from traditional C7 shapes. This change, revealed via ChargerLab teardowns and user reports, disrupts compatibility with older accessories like the $19 Power Adapter Extension Cable and World Travel Adapter Kit. Early adopters of the M5 Pro and M5 Max models note the new symmetrical connector lacks backward compatibility, raising concerns about accessory obsolescence.

The updated design replaces Apple's legacy C7 duckhead—a familiar trapezoidal plug used in modular power adapters since 2008—with a more streamlined, symmetrical form. While Apple still markets the 140W USB-C Power Adapter as compatible with the extension cable, real-world tests show otherwise. The $19 extension cable, discontinued from MacBook Pro boxes in 2016, and the World Travel Adapter Kit (no longer sold but referenced in Apple's support docs) fail to connect to the new adapter.

This shift highlights Apple's tightening grip on ecosystem control, prioritizing slim profiles over universal compatibility. The company previously removed duckhead accessories from MacBook Pro packaging a decade ago, but the 16-inch model's abrupt connector redesign risks alienating users reliant on third-party peripherals. The unresolved issue suggests potential supply chain splits, with some units retaining older designs.

Consumer frustration mounts as Apple offers no official explanation for the change. The adapter's $99 price tag—the highest for a MacBook charger—contrasts with its limited backward compatibility, drawing comparisons to past controversies over Lightning-to-USB-C transitions. Industry analysts speculate the move could pressure competitors to adopt similar proprietary designs, further fragmenting accessory markets.