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Back in 2006, Apple stuck a magnet on their power cable and everyone, even Apple skeptics, had a wish-I’d-thought-of-that moment. MagSafe went away for a while with the introduction of USB-C, but then it came back—and now lots of third-party companies offer magnetic charging cables for a whole range of devices.
Generally, here’s how magnetic cables work now. They come in two parts: a head and a cable. You plug the head into your device (say, a USB-C into your tablet) and when you need to charge, your cable attaches to the magnetic head. Simple, right? Well, there are some pros and cons, so let’s break it down.
Pro: Ease of Connection
The biggest benefit of your magnetic cable? Ease of connection. When you want to plug it in, you don’t even have to plug it; you just put the magnetic end of the cable up to the magnetic head and they snap together. Unplugging is just as easy.
Con: Compatibility Concerns
Most magnetic cables you find on the market are created by third-party companies, and they aren’t always compatible with the device you have. On top of that, you sometimes need to be wary of sites that overpromise how compatible their cables are.
Pro: Reduced Wear & Tear
Plugging things in and out produces a little bit of wear and tear every time. If you just plug a magnetic head in once and forget about it, you have less wear and tear.
Con: Limited Charging Speeds
Generally, magnetic cables charge more slowly than the cable that came with your device. Not much slower, but it’s noticeable. Whether this matters to you or not depends on how you use your devices. This may be a deal breaker for your smartphone but not for your tablet, for example.
Pro: Safety
Cables are a trip hazard. And they’re easy to snag on things. Of course, you’re probably not that worried about safety of your person—it’s your expensive device you’re worried about. This is where magnetic chargers really shine. Just a little force applied to your cable, and your magnetic cable breaks off from the magnetic head.
Con: Dependency on Accessories
How many cables do you want in your life? For some of us, an extra cable per device isn’t a big deal because we’re constantly schlepping a backpack around with a pocket devoted to accessories, but for others, extra cables are an annoyance. You just need to ask yourself what matters most to you—the convenience of magnetic charging or the convenience of fewer cables in your life.
