Review: Magnetic USB-C Connectors Are Not Compliant, Yet I'm Still Using Them!
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2024
- I've been testing these magnetic USB-C connectors and while they are not recommended I continue using them on a couple devices.
Mentioned Links
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Magnetic USB-C Connectors - amzn.to/3vADaHS
Reddit Thread - / magnetic_usbc_cables_a...
Video Description
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Around the house we have a couple Amazon Fire tablets that are used for very specific things. We have one here on our desk in the office that we use to view a security camera pointed at our porch and driveway. I have another of these cheap tablets next to my side table in the bedroom because it's difficult for me to fall asleep unless there's some background audio.
The one here on the desk is so far out of the way that it can take some effort to plug in the USB cable when it needs to be charged.
And the one next to my bed can be difficult to plug in at night when it's dark and I'm half asleep.
So when I came across these magnetic USB-C connectors, it piqued my interest.
I bought a set to test out for a review here on the channel and then shortly after that I bought more connectors so that me and my girlfriend could use them on all of our devices.
And I have to say I really enjoyed using these things.
Then I began doing a bit of educational research about these connectors so that I would know more about them before doing this very review. And that's when I learned of their potential issues.
So this is the first thread I saw, where the folks over in the USB C Hardware subreddit have an announcement thread from 3 years ago about how these are just not recommended.
This post made me curious about the risks so I began reading through the thread and most of the comments are from people who have first-hand experience with these connectors and most, if not all, of them claim to have never had any device damaged by these connectors.
He's saying the risk of using these devices comes when you detach the cable from the device. Saying that depending on how they are made, the magnet might grab the connector at a wrong angle while the 20v pin is still connected.
And while he does not have proof that these connectors are made poorly, he has doubt that they are investing enough into research and development to actually be protecting the device properly.
But again, Benson is not convinced that is enough testing and he believes that you should be using a cable or a connector that is 100% compliant with the USB standard. Sadly, the standard does not include magnetic connectors but Benson believes that may happen in the future.
Due to the risks, I will not be using these connectors on devices that I need or are expensive to replace.
So I stopped using them on my daily driver, I stopped using them with my Steam Deck, and I recommended my girlfriend do the same.
However, I still have a couple of devices that I will continue to use them on.
The tablet here on the desk that we use to monitor our security camera is still going to be using one because it's just out of arm's reach so being able to hold the cable and have magnets make the connection to charge it up is incredibly convenient.
The same with the tablet next to my bed. I don't want to wake myself up trying to find the USB plug so that the tablet doesn't die. So I'll continue to use the connector there as well.
But I'm only doing that because they are cheap Amazon Fire tablets that can be replaced incredibly easily.
If I end up noticing the magnetic USB connector frying tablet after tablet, then of course I will stop using them there as well.
But the actual instances of damaged hardware with these seem to be low enough that this is unlikely to be an issue with me.
So, the question remains, would I recommend that you all go out and buy these magnetic USB-C connectors? It's difficult for me to recommend something could potentially cause damage to one of your devices.
However, if you have found yourself having difficulty plugging in a USB-C connector. Whether that is due to placement, your environment, or anything else that is personal to you. . .then yes, these magnetic USB-C connectors can be incredibly convenient.
I really like that they serve as a dust blocker for the USB port. And even more, using them can prevent the area around your USB port from being scratched up by the USB cable when you go to plug it in.
The Gear I Use
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5W "Slow" Charger - amzn.to/2OaUMV8
Fast Charger - amzn.to/3rtBsC6
MicroUSB Cable - amzn.to/38dkpeM
USB-C Cable - amzn.to/2OqlTvi
TPU Cases - amzn.to/38g9b9w
USB-C to 3.5mm Dongle - amzn.to/3rVt7c3
USB-C to 3.5mm DAC - amzn.to/3CyksSJ
NVIDIA Shield TV - bit.ly/3KA17RV
Telescopic Controller - amzn.to/3uDrvY9 - Jak na to + styl
I had a S9+ that became damaged when I used these quick mag connectors but I was using them at work in the machine / maintenance shop (I am a heavy equipment mechanic), the magnetic connector I believe picked up metallic grinder dust on it and when I connected it to my phone it shorted out / killed my usb charging circuit. I believe the metallic dust shorted some pins, I ended up using wireless charging for over a year till the next phone up-grade, I still have these but use them on wireless charger stands & cheap toys for the kids that use USB charging & inexpensive amazon products. Never in the garage / work shop or any other environment when the magnetic can pick up any sort of conductive dust. Or any expensive, critical daily driven device or phone.
I appreciate the feedback about these things. having those pins so exposed can lead to some issues (sadly). I'm in the same boat as you. they still get used but just not on important devices
I've lost two tablets that were working fine, but the usb ports went bad from all the plugging g and unplugging the usb for charging. I bought the magnetic connector, and my current tablet has already lasted longer than my two previous tablets combined and is still going strong.
No issues using these for years.
I've had a couple of brands of cables in kit form with multiple tips for various connectors including Kuulaa and then latterly I've been using the USB-C magnetic adaptors so that I can still make the most of quality usb-c cables and power chargers with usb-c connectors.
There are a few iterations of a connective interface and many of the various 'brands' on offer are essentially rebadges or white labels of broadly the most common two or three types.
I steer clear of the ones using pins and instead stick to the one that uses the double sided connector board in the centre of the adapter interface which as far as I see it is only replicating the connectors in the core of the standard usb C connector anyway.
I use the Kuulaa cables on pretty much all the LED video lights and wireless microphone packs I use in my video kit, as well as on a couple of rechargeable guitar wireless adapters, Bose earbuds, and iPad Pro...
The newer style 40 Gbps/140w adapters get used on data cables for my laptop and the charger on my Pico 4 VR as well as my in-car AndroidAuto to an S23Ultra...
Am now planning on sourcing some more of the adapters and a bunch of connectors from AliEx so I can enable a whole bunch of devices to be able to make use of a couple of permanent connections in each room of the house and in the car - as well as travel kit for holidays.
Wife uses them too.
Just give them a blow out every now and then...
I can't find any increased hazard in using them that isn't equally present with every cable... And at least with the magnetic adapters I can use any cable I want.
interesting read here, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
do you have examples of the ones that have a double sided connected board?
Ive been using these types of magnetic cables for a few years and haven't had any issues.
Thanks for the video, I broke my usb port dropping my tablet,I was looking to this product but I will ask tablet repair man about it
Damn. I just bought a couple after seeing a bunch of people using them. I'm not risking my S23+. No clue what to use them for now.
I was let-down as well. but at least we learned about the dangers before they broke expensive hardware
had the same thoughts to be fair as the connection is just pins hitting a flat board with no separators between the pins they are safe in the fact once connected they will be fine when new, but the problems come over the continued use of the device. The pins in the head of the device are just bent pints like you would get on the graphics card slot except much smaller which leads to the pins becoming lose which then leads to issues like cross pins or even pins that break after really looking at these you can see the ones the mac uses for its magnetic device and that uses blocks to complete the connection with a good space between each connection to safeguard cross connections, in my opinion, these are not safe in any way and would only use them on cheap items where the risk is minimal
Yeah, don't. I had a 24 pin one blow up the USB controller in my Legion 7. Thankfully they did replace it under warranty even though it wasn't their fault at all. The disconnect is a lot more dangerous, since the connect requires a tiny bit of time for PD to negotiate up the wattage.
I've used magnetic connected charger on my Samsung s23 ultra from new for about 4 months and nothing wrong happened .....
that's great to hear!
welcome, back andre. we've missed your comments here on the channel