Why I Can't Live Without This Magnetic Usb-c Accessory - And All The Devices It Can Charge

2 months ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

These destruct nan consequence of breaking a USB-C port.
Most tin transportation 240W of power, 40Gb/s of data, and 8K@60Hz video.
There are moreover breakaway connectors pinch powerfulness meters.

The different time I was asked astir my astir recommended USB-C product. I'm not judge what nan personification asking nan question, a PR typical for a tech firm, expected. Maybe that I'd opportunity nan merchandise they were pushing? A power bank? A cable? Some fancy satellite-enabled communicator that tin past being thrown into Mount Doom? An electrical toothbrush that's besides a feline brush?

Nope. None of those.

Also: This $12 USB-C accessory solved nan biggest rumor I had pinch my laptop's charger

My favorite, astir highly recommended USB-C merchandise is nan magnetic breakaway connector. I first came crossed these astir six years ago, and while nan conception has changed and been built connected successful that time, nan existent thought is still a winner.

Haven't seen one?

They're mini two-part USB-C connectors, a antheral connector connected 1 that fits into nan instrumentality successful question, a female nan different that goes onto nan cable, and beardown neodymium magnets betwixt nan 2 parts holding them together.

The magnets are ace strong!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The thought is to let you to person nan convenience and information of Apple's MagSafe MacBook breakaway connector connected each your devices.

These connectors travel successful each sorts of styles. They started retired beautiful basic, pinch straight, elbow, and right-angled styles, and I recovered these were awesome for things for illustration laptops, powerfulness banks, and powerfulness stations -- fundamentally anyplace personification mightiness travel complete a cable, and that trip-up could origin damage.

Also: My favourite USB-C accessory conscionable sewage moreover amended pinch a built-in powerfulness metre - and it's only $20

They tin happily transportation 240W of powerfulness without getting basking aliases causing immoderate mayhem pinch nan charger aliases device, and they tin moreover transportation 40Gb/s of information and 8K@60Hz video.

Then nan connectors started to get fancier.

I've besides sewage breakaway connectors that swivel that connection a precocious level of flexibility, making them awesome for ports that are successful awkward locations. These swivel connectors do person limitations erstwhile it comes to information transfer, but if it's mostly powerfulness you're aft transferring, these are fine.

Also: This USB-C accessory gave my Android and iPhone an ingenious emergency tool

You tin besides get swivel breakaway connectors already attached to cables, which intends 1 little point to lose!

But they tin get fancier

USB-C magnetic breakaway connector pinch powerfulness meter

There are now breakaway connectors pinch powerfulness meters built in, and while these meters are only meticulous to 0.1 solution for amps, volts, and watts, they're good for checking whether thing is moving and really accelerated it's charging. These support 240W power, transportation 40Gb/s of data, and 8K@60Hz video.

I emotion these, and they adhd a spot of techy glitz to thing that mightiness different look dull.

Also: Why your USB-C instrumentality won't complaint - and what you tin do instead

Price wise, each 3 of these connectors are successful nan $20 to $30 value scope for packs of two. Sometimes you tin get immoderate deals, truthful support your eyes open.

ZDNET's buying proposal

I can't urge these enough. My favorites are nan basal straight, elbow, and right-angle style, but I do person rather a fewer of nan swivel, and power metre versions astir nan place.

A mates of pieces of advice, though, if you're utilizing these.

Also: This USB-C accessory unlocked thermal imaging powers connected my Android and iPhone

First, nan antheral portion of nan connector that goes into nan instrumentality tin beryllium alternatively difficult to remove, and you mightiness beryllium tempted to effort prying it retired pinch your fingernails. I cognize I was, and my fingernails paid nan price. Some of nan breakaway connectors travel pinch a mini removal tool, but if yours is down -- aliases you "misplaced" it -- you tin ever usage immoderate drawstring thread aliases dental floss.