This $12 USB-C accessory is one of the best investments I’ve made for my electronics

These useful 240W USB-C magnetic adapters are on sale for simply $12 (with the added coupon) for one on Amazon.

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. Positive, it is not as flashy as a hardware-encrypted storage gadget or as geeky as a USB energy meter, but it surely does one factor extremely properly: defending your USB-C ports from injury.

I’ve misplaced observe of what number of USB-C ports I’ve seen destroyed as a result of somebody yanked a cable out too arduous. 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, a couple of 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. These items had been a complete game-changer. In case you’ve been following my writing, you have in all probability seen me rave about them earlier than.

However then 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 stop the connector from breaking away when you don’t need it to whereas nonetheless permitting it to disconnect simply when wanted. It is the very best of each worlds.

And don’t be concerned — while you do want it to interrupt away, it completely will! 

That mentioned, there’s one factor to remember. This specific 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 information switch connector.

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It does help USB 2.0 information switch charges (480 Mbps), but it surely does not deal with the blazing 40 Gbps speeds of the non-swivel 24-pin variations. 

So, if you could switch information at excessive speeds or use the connector for a show, you may wish to follow 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 don’t seem to be ideally suited for information switch or powering shows since, properly, the cable may break free on the worst attainable second, inflicting information 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 package additionally features a useful device for eradicating the magnetic connector from USB-C ports. However if you happen to’re something like me, that device will shortly disappear into the void of misplaced issues. 

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However don’t be concerned. You’ll be able to simply take away the connector by wrapping a little bit of fishing line or dental floss round it. Or, if you happen to’re feeling courageous (and do not thoughts sacrificing a couple of fingernails), you’ll be able to simply pry it out along 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 implausible addition to my ever-growing toolbox of tech goodies. They work fantastically and are the proper complement to their non-swivel counterparts. 

You can even purchase them connected to cables if you happen to desire for a couple of extra {dollars}.