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

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 a portable monitor with me to make it easier to actually get work done while still tending to my family's needs. There are two ways to connect this monitor to my laptop — via USB-C and via HDMI. The easiest, obviously, is via USB-C, but the problem is that my laptop is a few years old at this point, and battery life is a nightmare, so it needs to stay plugged in quite a bit. Therefore, I have to carry two extra cables with me. The HDMI to mini-HDMI handles the video bit, while the USB-A to USB-C handles the monitor's need for power. It's either this or remembering to pack the hub in my backpack.

Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not. Is it an inconvenience that has made me mumble about the laptop's lacking collection of ports? Absolutely yes.

That second port frees up space for various peripherals that simply work better with a USB-C, like my portable monitor, an external drive or a docking station . If your laptop's battery is just as junk as mine is, then handling everything with a single USB-C port can be annoying. Plus, what happens if that port eventually fails and you're no longer able to charge your device? Then what?

Even for those who don't need multiple peripherals connected at once, the most immediate benefit is placement flexibility. With ports on both sides of the laptop, you can connect the charger from whichever side is closest to the outlet, avoiding awkward cable placement. If they're next to each other, they just open up your laptop's versatility when it comes to accessories.

The good news is that a lot of mid-range, premium and professional laptops now ship with at least two USB-C ports, many supporting Thunderbolt 4, 5 or USB4.