USB-C, avoid troubles with a magnetic adapter?

Earlier, I wrote about the rather poor sustainability of many USB-C connectors. However, I may have found a potential “solution”…!

USB-C connectors are prone to wear and tear over time, as more and more people are experiencing. Unfortunately, I’m one of them, as I mentioned before. Suddenly, I wondered if there might be magnetic adapters available. And lo and behold, after some searching on Amazon, I found a wide variety of them. Apparently, there is a demand for such adapters. However, it’s important to be cautious about which specific adapter you order because, as is typical with USB-C, there can be significant differences. I will discuss this further down below.

Adapter options

First, let me explain what a magnetic adapter is. There are essentially two options: one consists of a tiny plug that you insert almost invisibly into the USB-C port of a device. The other part is a simple component, also equipped with a strong magnet, with the option to plug in an existing USB-C cable. The replacement connector on the other end is a proprietary type that is not compatible with anything else, so it is advisable to order multiple adapters at once. This way, you have a universal system at home that can easily connect multiple devices equipped with the magnetic adapters to, for example, a charger.

Cable with fixed magnetic coupling

The other solution consists of a similarly small converter plug that does not protrude much when inserted into the USB-C port of a device. On the other end, there is a cable with a USB-C connector and, typically, a once again unique magnetic connector. In this scenario too, it is recommended to purchase multiple combinations of these. Personally, I opted for a set consisting of an adapter plug and a connector plug-in, aka the first option. The reason being that I already had enough (expensive) USB-C and Thunderbolt cables, so why invest in additional cables that may be of inferior quality?

Take speed and power in consideration

With the latter option – Thunderbolt – we come to the crux of the matter. Many of the cable sets (option two above) achieve a maximum data transfer speed equivalent to USB 2. So, for instance, you won’t achieve 4K resolution with them. In other words, we encounter the same problem as with all USB-C cables: some are suitable for fast charging, while others are designed for quick data transfer. Finding a combination of both is rare. Therefore, before making a purchase, carefully consider what you need: only fast charging for your phone, or do you also want to transfer photos and videos at USB 3.x or even Thunderbolt speeds? Backups at USB 2 speed can become a tedious exercise too. Additionally, when it comes to fast charging, there are various variants to watch out for as well…

Thunderbolt and 100W fast charging

After some research, I finally found a set that was suitable for both USB-C and Thunderbolt, with a transfer speed of up to 40 Gbps and a maximum charging power of 100W. After buying a single set initially to test if it does what it promises, I can confirm that it indeed works flawlessly. However, keep in mind that the magnetic couplings work best with flexible cables. If you have very stiff cables, it’s better to put your iPad, for example, on a stand during use. Otherwise, with slightly enthusiastic movements, the cable may detach. For me, it’s not an issue because the thicker cable is a Thunderbolt cable connected to an external monitor. I don’t carry that configuration around; everything is set up on a stand. For charging, I highly recommend using the ultra-flexible cable that comes with the iPad.

I have also attached an adapter to a flexible USB-C cable that connects to a portable DAC, and it works perfectly fine as well. An additional advantage of the magnetic coupling is that if someone accidentally trips over the charging cable, it detaches without causing any damage or inconvenience. Your iPad or laptop won’t be pulled off the table, which is always convenient.

The ultimate solution?

The question remains whether this is the ultimate solution. For now (and after working with it for some time), it seems to be the case. After all, there’s no need for constantly plugging and unplugging USB-C cables anymore. Only time will tell how durable the magnetic couplings are. The ones I have here appear to be well-designed and neatly finished. Even if one of them were to malfunction after a year of use, replacing it wouldn’t be a particularly costly affair. It’s just a shame that, as mentioned in the previous article, nobody thought ahead before implementing a law, realizing that the solution might be worse than the (largely non-existent) problem. But that’s how things often go in politics…