Gadgets
fromThe Verge
1 day agoYou don't have to spend more than $50 on a great USB-C dock for your Switch 2
Nintendo's Switch 2 redesign complicates third-party accessory development, necessitating new solutions for compatibility.
The Supertiny is as small as your Airpods case, fitting in your palm or even your pocket. It comes in three global plug formats and packs a single USB-C port to supercharge your laptop.
Apple introduced MagSafe wireless charging in 2020 with the iPhone 12 series. In contrast to regular wireless charging, it uses magnets rather than relying on manual alignment between the charging coils or on gravity to keep the phone and charger together. It is a simple, cheap and effective solution. So why is it that smartphone makers have been so reluctant to adopt it, even years after the Qi standard officially added a Magnetic Charging Profile?
The USB cable tester is a small box measuring 2.9 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches and features an array of ports. There are USB-C and USB-A output ports and corresponding USB-C, Lightning, miniUSB, and microUSB 2.0 and microUSB 3.0 input ports to testing cables. This means the tester can accommodate any cable with the respective output and input port. The unit is powered by a single AAA battery, or alternatively you can use USB-C input.
Charging phones and portable devices has become one of the most routine actions of modern life. From the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep, our devices depend on reliable power. We charge at home, in offices, cafés, airports, hotels, libraries, and public transportation spaces. Despite how frequently charging occurs, the physical environments designed to support it often feel like an afterthought.
The Anker iPhone 17 USB-C Car Charger is a compact three-port car charger that charges your phone, tablet, and laptop from a single 12V outlet. This charger features an ultra-compact metal case that fits neatly in the socket without obstructing other controls. Two USB-C ports and one USB-A port share a combined high-output port, so you can charge multiple devices at once.
The system pairs a plug-and-play wireless HDMI link with a genuinely useful hub, all in a single piece of kit. Plug the USB-C transmitter into your device and the HDMI receiver into any display. You get wireless 1080p 60Hz video in 0.02 seconds, plus immediate access to SD/TF cards, three high-speed USB ports, and 100W power delivery. No apps, no network dependency, no compromise. Just the screen and the tools you actually need, working together the way they should.
The charging station delivers up to 15W of power to compatible MagSafe iPhones while pulling double duty as an adjustable phone stand, making it easy to check notifications at a glance. For Apple Watch owners, it supports fast charging on newer models like the Apple Watch Series 11. In between, there's a Qi charging pad that outputs up to 5W for AirPods or other earbuds that support wireless charging.
There are a few things that I look for in a decent portable power bank. First, it has to do what it says on the box. If the battery capacity and power outputs aren't to spec, I don't want it. On top of that, wireless charging is a nice touch, as is a built-in cable. This is exactly what the Cuktech 10,000mAh power bank offers.
At 16mm thick, it's built around portability rather than maximum runtime. The semi-solid-state battery delivers approximately 40 minutes of continuous output at full 70W load, or several hours for lower-draw devices like LED lights or camera batteries. That's not camping-weekend capacity, it's designed for day trips, flights, and situations where outlets exist but aren't convenient. The unit stays flight-safe under 100Wh limits, recharges in 90 minutes, and includes both USB-C PD output and pass-through charging.
Right now, one of the best cheap and practical Presidents' Day deals I've found is Anker's Nano USB-C wall charger for just $10. It's a 50% savings in the white color, and the lowest price I've seen this adapter sell for. Price comparison site CamelCamelCamel also points out that this limited-time deal is the lowest the charger has been recorded as selling for.
The Snap-n-Charge is small as power banks go, and only 3,200 mAh/16 Wh. This is good enough for a quick top-up of a smartphone or headphones. And a top-up is what you get -- the capacity is enough for about a 50% top-up for a smartphone or portable speaker, or about three or four recharges of earbuds or headphones. The power bank is housed in a polymer shell that shrugs off impacts and damage from being rattled around pockets and bags with things like keys.
But there's more: Unlike the USB-C breakaway connectors I've had previously, this one comes with three connectors: USB-C, Lightning, and microUSB. That essentially covers everything you're likely to come across these days. Also: This 3-in-1 USB-C cable replaced every other cable in my travel bag - here's why On the other end of the cable, there's yet another cool feature: A connector that transforms from an 18W-capable USB-A connector into a 100W-compatible USB-C connector.