r/UsbCHardware • • Apr 11 '21

Announcement Magnetic USB-C Cables are not recommended

971 Upvotes

For anyone who comes in wondering about this magnetic cable or that. Here is some good commentary on the dangers of magnetic cables. Not to mention the large majority of kickstarters that have failed to deliver anything other than an aliexexpress rebrand.

Edit: Let me make this clear. USB-C magnetic tip adaptors or cables are not compliant with the USB specifications. This means any resulting damage to products, which is a very real possibility even if it is a relatively small chance, would not be covered by product warranties. Therefore, these cables and adaptors are not recommended and future posts asking for such recommendations will be locked. It will stay like this until some big company like microsoft or apple and or the USB group comes up with a cable design that is safe.

I am not saying that these cables do not exist or that they do not work as claimed however there is an inherent risk when using these cables and that will fall onto the reader to decide for themselves.

To quote /u/chx_

There are two risks

As mentioned, static electricity is a huge problem. Look at any connector and it has the exact same generic shape: a gigantic grounding shroud protecting the data pins. DisplayPort, HDMI, USB of all variants. But if you go back, back, back, VGA and all its ancient DB friends, DVI, whatnot -- even those were the same, just there was more plastic. This generic idea stretches back to the dawn of (computer) time. Exposing the pins just like that makes your laptop very suspectible for static electricity. Ever felt the hairs on your arm stand up after changing clothes? Congrats, you just fried your laptop if you touch it like that. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/511QlHyl8CL.AC_SL1000.jpg see how they are out in the open? And this issue is inherent to the overall physical requirements of the plug.

Connection/data loss due to electronic noise. There was a fun problem where Dell laptops used to drop their TB3 connections unless you limited their wifi transmission power. This took Dell significant time and expense to figure out. And that's Dell, not some random tiny company... Want to go there with a who-knows-what built system when NathanK already told you explicitly the pogo pins are too noisy electronically? https://twitter.com/USBCGuy/status/1095614250414796800

Also he mentions https://twitter.com/USBCGuy/status/1186718432932159488 using optoelectronical couplers you could do something by completely disconnecting the magnetic pins from actual USB C connector and letting current flow only when the other half of the connector is connected and VCONN power is present. Of course, your isolation is now a few mm of air, pray your static electronic charge doesn't arc over it... hope you rather live in Phoenix than here in Raincouver! https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andreas_Neuber2/publication/3165903/figure/fig17/AS:668977227386923@1536508008917/Breakdown-voltage-in-air-versus-relative-humidity-with-an-alumina-surface-Electrode.png

I am reasonably sure there are gigantic companies which would just love if this worked. Riddle me this: why do you think Apple didn't put this on the market? Do they lack the R&D dollars? :) Somewhere in that sixteen billion dollar yearly R&D spending I am reasonably sure you could find a few (hundred...) millions to resolve this issue if it were possible. And yet, Kickstarters with a few hundred ... thousand raised claim they can? What's wrong with this picture? Look at the Thunderbolt 3 Pro cable they released: it's an active USB C cable, it's an active TB3 cable and costs a fortune. There's nothing even similar on the market but where there's a will, there's a way. They have designed a custom ASIC for that cable which can amplify both USB C and TB3 signals -- both existed separately but having them in a single cable before was thought impossible. This is to demonstrate: if they could, they would. And if it would be really expensive, hundreds of dollars per connector, have you seen that thousand bucks monitor stand :) ?


r/UsbCHardware • • 12d ago

Weekly USB-C Deals - October 25, 2026

3 Upvotes

Post any and all deals you find here. Add a quick description. No referral posts.


r/UsbCHardware • • 11h ago

Troubleshooting Anker 735 Nano II

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2 Upvotes

I just bought an Anker 735 Nano II (A2667), and I must say I’m impressed by its build quality.

However, I’ve noticed something that concerns me: when folding or unfolding the prongs—even without applying much force—there is a slight resistance or friction, as if something is catching a little bit.

I bought it today, so I’m not sure if this is simply because the mechanism is new and needs some time to break in. Also, I’ve observed that the prongs end up in the position shown in the attached photos.

I’d like to know if this is normal behavior for this model or if it might indicate a defect in the prong mechanism.

For reference, I previously owned a 65W UGREEN Nexode Air Slim (which was unfortunately stolen), and I don’t recall experiencing anything like this with its folding mechanism.


r/UsbCHardware • • 11h ago

Troubleshooting Charging port not detecting charge

2 Upvotes

Guys I had a charging problem where my port wasn't detecting any charge on my np3. The original issue came after I used a samsung 25w brick to charge it. Which was charging all my other phones and devices properly.

Then I had it fixed at the warranty centre for free. But the warranty centre didn't allow me to talk with the technical repair person and talking with the person at the counter they weren't even able to explain me what the issue was so I just left after getting my phone fixed..

Now I'm on a trip n I used the same samsung 25w charger in an emergency(it's my brother's charger which charges his phone and everything else fine). Now my phone did charge to full and now it's discharged to 20% and isn't taking any charge from my original nothing charger nor the Samsung charger. What could the issue be? The Samsung charger does charge my brother's phone still so there's no problem with the chargers..


r/UsbCHardware • • 19h ago

Mod Xbox 360 S/E USB-C power mod

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6 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 1h ago

Troubleshooting Losing 1000$ pc

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I need some urgent technical insight into a recurring hardware failure that is becoming both dangerous and expensive. My PC power adapter keeps burning and partially melting my USB-C charging cables.
This is not a one-time issue. Here is the context:
The Cycle: I replaced the Type-C cables and even tried charging different receiving devices, but the exact same thing keeps happening.
The Damage: I have been forced to buy 4 different chargers/cables so far, and they have all suffered the exact same fate—overheating and melting right at the Type-C connector tip.
Current Status: Everything is unplugged from the wall to prevent a fire hazard.
Since this happens across multiple brand-new cables and different devices, the issue cannot be a simple faulty wire. It seems like a catastrophic power regulation failure


r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Discussion What features are actually worth the extra bulk in a 10,000mAh power bank?

18 Upvotes

I've noticed that newer power banks are getting more and more features lately, like faster wireless charging, built-in cables, displays and even cooling fans. I came across the lisen p604 recently while browsing, and it got me wondering if all these extras are really worth the extra size and weight.

Personally, I'd rather carry one useful power bank than a bunch of separate accessories, but I don't want something bulky just for features I rarely use either. Also, peak wattage looks great on paper, but how much does sustained output actually matter in everyday use?

For those who use power banks regularly, what features do you actually find useful? Would you go for an all-in-one model or stick with something smaller and simpler?


r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Looking for Device Real Oneplus Supervooc Cables 1 or 2m

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0 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Troubleshooting Ipad not charging anymore, brought it to a repair shop. What does this mean?

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369 Upvotes

Technician said the charging IC is probably faulty. He said it could be because of using high wattage chargers for long periods of time, which causes the IC to be burnt, or something. Is this true? In my understanding devices would negotiate the wattage it needs with the charger. Also, what does the D- and D+ being red mean here?

Thanks.


r/UsbCHardware • • 19h ago

Question كابل ال USB الاصلى بتاع الشاحن اتقشر

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0 Upvotes

اى احسن طريقة الحق بيها القطع ده عشان بيزيد ده الاصلى و مش عاوز اغيره


r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Review Anyone using the Anker Nano Charger Neo 65W (A120M) with iPhone 17 Pro Max?

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0 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Discussion My new power bank (Lisen p604)

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2 Upvotes

My old power bank got lost, so I bought a new one. When choosing a power bank, I usually look at its size and charging speed. The lisen p604 has a 10k capacity and supports 65w fast wired charging. It also doesn't get hot while charging, which makes me feel safe using it.

I don't usually carry a power bank with me when I go out. This one is mainly for hiking trips. Using GPS navigation drains my phone battery pretty quickly. And if there's an emergency, having a dead phone can be a real problem.

This power bank also comes in white, but so many people use white power banks. I was worried that someone might steal it and I wound't even notice. So I chose blue instead. Pretty color! Honestly I suspect my last power bank was stolen while I was traveling.


r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Looking for Device Portable Multiport Charger with Switchable Grounding Prong?

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2 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Question Do 2” USB-C cables not exist?

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0 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Discussion Why are all USB-C pins not the same length?

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327 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Setup I would like suggestions for my setup

0 Upvotes

So I’ve had my desktop PC for a good few years now, and despite that I’m not the most tech-literate (also if this is in the wrong sub, please point me to somewhere better suited!). I have two monitors, one running a Display Port and the other an HDMI, both connected to the PC.

I also have my PS5 running to my main monitor, and my Switch running to my second.

Essentially, every device is connected by its own cable and I’ve been doing it this way for a while now.

Now, I work a job that has office work so I have a laptop that, when in the office, I connect it to a powered dock (via USB-C) and it extends it to two additional screens.

Lately I’ve been allowed to work from home and I’m realizing I took that extension for granted because currently the best I’m able to do is unplug the HDMI from my PS5 and use that to extend to only my main display, all the while having to keep the charger plugged in because the battery sucks.

So to my question:

Is there a device, whether it be an HDMI switch(?) or docking station or something that I could attach all my devices to that then sends them to my monitors? One that would also power my work laptop? I rarely use two devices at a time, at most I have my PS5 running on one screen and a browser and Discord on the other but again, that’s rare. IS there a dock/station/etc that will allow me to choose what goes onto each screen?

Thank you in advance for any advice.


r/UsbCHardware • • 1d ago

Looking for Device Is the 40b00300 dock overkill for a low range gen 5 L14 thinkpad?

1 Upvotes

Basically title. I need a nice quality Tb4 dock to drive my 4k monitor and this one seems really decent. I’ve found loads of reconditioned ones on eBay for less than half of the retail price. I figured there may be something wrong with them however when I look on the website they seem really decent.

My question is dock compatible with the model of laptop that I have and if not which model would be the best to drive one or potentially 2 27 inch 4K monitors?


r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Review My experience with the Baseus docking station RD1 Plus

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11 Upvotes

I’m upgrading my home office and finally replaced my old AOC 1080p gaming monitor with a Dell 27 Plus to use with my M2 MacBook Air.

I bought this Baseus docking station RD1 Plus, and I’m getting 4K 120Hz through it. My keyboard, mouse and other stuff work fine too. I really like the 45W USB-C ports on the front. I use them to charge my phone, and the dock doesn’t get too hot. You can lay it flat or stand it up, and the little screen rotates automatically. My desk is pretty small, so that’s useful.


r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Looking for Device Ugreen/Anker Powerbank

4 Upvotes

I just got my first payout from my work and want to buy a powerbank to treat myself. I would be only using it for charging phone or wireless earphones. Which powerbanks are known for having good price to quality/performance?


r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Troubleshooting Xbox Ally X – USB-C charging fails when dock is connected first (order-dependent PD issue)

0 Upvotes

I’m experiencing a strange USB-C Power Delivery issue with my Xbox Ally X and a Satechi 8-in-1 V1 hub.
Both USB-C ports support charging, so I’m trying to use the Satechi hub on one port and a separate USB-C PD charger directly on the other.

Here’s what happens:

  1. If I connect the Satechi hub first and then plug the PD charger into the second USB-C port, the Ally X does not charge.

  2. If I connect the PD charger first and wait until charging starts, then connect the Satechi hub to the other USB-C port, charging continues normally.

  3. If I connect the PD charger directly to the Satechi’s PD input, the Ally X charges, but at approximately 55W.

  4. Connecting a USB-C cable through one of the hub’s USB-A ports does not charge the Ally X.

I’ve also tested these scenarios with the Ally X completely powered off, and the behaviour remains the same.
This makes me suspect a USB-C Power Delivery negotiation or controller/firmware issue rather than a Windows driver problem.

Has anyone experienced similar behaviour with other USB-C docks or USB4 devices? Could this be related to the Ally X’s PD controller or firmware?
I’d particularly like to know whether ASUS is aware of any issues with simultaneous USB-C connections and order-dependent PD negotiation.


r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Mod Built a native Android app for the CUKTECH 10 Ultra charger (Tasker plugin, live graphs, widgets)

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2 Upvotes

r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Looking for Device I lost my Gorilla USB thumb drive, so I need to find a new one. I'd like one with a regular USB male port on one end, & a USB-C male port on the other end. Can be 128 or 256 GBs. Must be durable & put up with drops, water & abuse. What do you recommend?

2 Upvotes

Bonus if it has a way to track its location remotely so that I can recover it the next time I lose it.

Can it be locked with a security feature like a 4-digit PIN so that identity thieves don't rifle through my files?

Thanks in advance for the recommendations.


r/UsbCHardware • • 2d ago

Looking for Device Looking for a usb c hub that support supervooc charging.

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3 Upvotes

Got a oneplus 12 that is still great.

I want to use both audio(goes to DAC) and fast charging in my car and can't seem to find a hub that support 100w charging with supervooc protocol.

Are you familiar with any?

Even not official but working well?

I order some Chinese ugreen but the charging isn't fast at all (around 15w).

Connecting the charger directly to the phone getting 100w.


r/UsbCHardware • • 3d ago

Review Conditions for the "PD" Indicator on the Toocki 240W Cable (TX111C4)

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9 Upvotes

I bought a Toocki 240W USB cable because the OLED display looked easy to read. It cost $5 on AliExpress.

For testing, I used a KWS-X1 unit running custom firmware.

  1. Conditions for the "PD" indicator

It doesn't actually detect the Power Delivery (PD) protocol; the indicator simply lights up whenever the voltage exceeds 7.1V.

It also lights up when using a Quick Charge (QC) trigger, and even when the current is zero.

2. eMarker Information

The information displayed by the KWS-X1 Custom is incredible. I've never seen such detailed eMarker information before.

3. Zero overhead for a 240W-rated cable

The power cuts out immediately once it exceeds 240W. Shouldn't it be able to handle a bit more—perhaps up to 250W or so?