A $10 Usb-c Accessory Solved My Laptop Charger's Biggest Issue

4 hours ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The magnetic USB-C connector now features a 180-degree swivel, and it's disposable for conscionable $10 astatine Amazon
It tin pump retired arsenic overmuch arsenic 240W of power
I conscionable wish it were suitable for information transferring aliases powering monitors.

A elevation I'm ever consenting to conflict for -- and possibly moreover dice connected -- is that nan magnetic breakaway USB-C connector is 1 of nan champion USB accessories available. Sure, it's not arsenic flashy arsenic a hardware-encrypted retention instrumentality aliases arsenic geeky arsenic a USB powerfulness meter, but it does 1 point incredibly well: protecting your USB-C ports from damage.

I've mislaid way of really galore USB-C ports I've seen destroyed because personification yanked a cablegram retired excessively hard. This has happened to laptops, desktop PCs, crippled consoles, TVs, and more. And don't moreover get maine started connected nan number of laptops I've seen clang to nan level because personification tripped complete nan charging cable. A fewer years ago, erstwhile I stumbled upon my first magnetic breakaway USB-C connector, I knew I had to effort it out.

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Fast guardant a bit, and I had a full postulation of them. These things were a full game-changer. If you've been pursuing my writing, you've astir apt seen maine rave astir them before.

But past I recovered 1 that is nan ultimate breakaway connector. This 1 has a 180-degree swivel feature, and fto maine show you, it's a crippled changer connected apical of a crippled changer.

AUFU 240W 16-pin USB-C magnetic breakaway connector pinch 180-degree swivel

This small spot of activity helps forestall nan connector from breaking distant erstwhile you don't want it to while still allowing it to disconnect easy erstwhile needed. It's nan champion of some worlds.

And don't interest -- erstwhile you do request it to break away, it perfectly will!

That said, there's 1 point to support successful mind. This peculiar USB-C connector is simply a 16-pin version, not nan "full" 24-pin version. Without diving excessively heavy into nan USB-C spec sheet, here's what that means: this is chiefly a powerfulness connector, not a high-speed information transportation connector.

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It does support USB 2.0 information transportation rates (480 Mbps), but it doesn't grip nan blazing 40 Gbps speeds of nan non-swivel 24-pin versions.

The magnet is ace strong!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

So, if you request to transportation information astatine precocious speeds aliases usage nan connector for a display, you'll want to instrumentality pinch 1 of nan non-swivel 24-pin options -- straight, 90-degree elbow, aliases right-angle.

This limitation doesn't fuss maine astatine each because I only usage these breakaway connectors connected powerfulness cables. They're not perfect for information transportation aliases powering displays since, well, nan cablegram could break distant astatine nan worst imaginable moment, causing information nonaccomplishment aliases making your screens spell black.

Not precisely fun, right?

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The connector besides has a mini purple LED showing its carrying power, which is simply a bully touch.

The kit besides includes a useful instrumentality for removing nan magnetic connector from USB-C ports. But if you're thing for illustration me, that instrumentality will quickly vanish into nan void of mislaid things.

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But don't worry. You tin easy region nan connector by wrapping a spot of sportfishing statement aliases dental floss astir it. Or, if you're emotion brave (and don't mind sacrificing a fewer fingernails), you tin conscionable pry it retired pinch your fingertips for illustration I do.

ZDNET's buying advice

I perfectly emotion magnetic breakaway connectors, and these 240W swivel USB-C magnetic connectors are a awesome summation to my ever-growing toolbox of tech goodies. They activity beautifully and are nan cleanable complement to their non-swivel counterparts.

You tin besides bargain them attached to cables if you for illustration for a fewer much dollars.