These useful 240W USB-C magnetic adapters are available in a two-pack and are on sale for simply $13 at Amazon. This deal solely applies to the black adapters; the silver units price a little bit over $14.
A hill I am at all times keen to battle on — and perhaps even die on — is that the magnetic breakaway USB-C connector is without doubt one of the greatest USB equipment on the market. Certain, it isn’t as flashy as a hardware-encrypted storage system or as geeky as a USB energy meter, however it does one factor extremely properly: defending your USB-C ports from harm.
I’ve misplaced monitor of what number of USB-C ports I’ve seen destroyed as a result of somebody yanked a cable out too exhausting. This has occurred to laptops, desktop PCs, sport consoles, TVs, you identify it. And do not even get me began on the variety of laptops I’ve seen crash to the ground as a result of somebody tripped over the charging cable. So, just a few years in the past, after I stumbled throughout my first magnetic breakaway USB-C connector, I knew I needed to strive it out.
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Quick ahead a bit, and I had an entire assortment of them. This stuff have been a complete sport changer. If you happen to’ve been following my writing, you’ve got in all probability seen me rave about them earlier than.
However the different day, I discovered one that’s the final breakaway connector. This one has a 180-degree swivel characteristic, and let me let you know, it is a sport changer on high of a sport changer.
This little little bit of motion helps forestall the connector from breaking away when you do not need it to whereas nonetheless permitting it to disconnect simply when wanted. It is the most effective of each worlds.
And don’t be concerned — whenever you do want it to interrupt away, it completely will!
Full 180-degree swivel motion!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
That mentioned, there’s one factor to bear in mind. This explicit USB-C connector is a 16-pin model, not the “full” 24-pin model. With out diving too deep into the USB-C spec sheet, this is what meaning: that is primarily an influence connector, not a high-speed knowledge switch connector.
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It does help USB 2.0 knowledge switch charges (480 Mbps), however it does not deal with the blazing 40 Gbps speeds of the non-swivel 24-pin variations.
The magnet is tremendous sturdy!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
So, if it’s good to switch knowledge at excessive speeds or use the connector for a show, you may need to keep on with one of many non-swivel 24-pin choices — straight, 90-degree elbow, or right-angle.
This limitation does not trouble me in any respect as a result of I solely use these breakaway connectors on energy cables. They are not superb for knowledge switch or powering shows since, properly, the cable might break free on the worst attainable second, inflicting knowledge loss or making your screens go black.
Not precisely enjoyable, proper?
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The connector additionally has a small purple LED exhibiting its carrying energy, which is a pleasant contact.
The equipment additionally features a useful software for eradicating the magnetic connector from USB-C ports. However for those who’re something like me, that software will shortly disappear into the void of misplaced issues.
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However don’t be concerned. You possibly can simply take away the connector by wrapping a little bit of fishing line or dental floss round it. Or, for those who’re feeling courageous (and do not thoughts sacrificing just a few fingernails), you possibly can simply pry it out together with your fingertips like I do.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I completely love magnetic breakaway connectors, and these 240W swivel USB-C magnetic connectors are a improbable addition to my ever-growing toolbox of tech goodies. They work superbly and are the right complement to their non-swivel counterparts. You can too purchase them hooked up to cables for those who want.
Proper now, Amazon has them on sale for round $13 (with the clip-on coupon) for a pack of two, making them an reasonably priced set of charging equipment.
