Product Review Series Description
As a quadriplegic, I have become generally accepting of new technologies, especially if they help me and improve my quality of life. Since my injury in 2017, I have trialed many different forms of adaptive tech (often at my own expense), so I have become very intentional about what tools earn a place in my daily routine. Now I am certainly no “techie”—rather, I’m just a guy that is constantly searching for some added independence and autonomy. This review kicks off a new series where I look at products through the lens of life as a quadriplegic. The focus is on what works, what doesn’t, and what actually makes my daily life easier. These reviews are my own thoughts, opinions and experiences, and do not reflect the brands themselves in any way. I am not a collaborator, just a dude living life as a quadriplegic.
Do you remember when putting a magnet on a computer was a death sentence for the machine? Well technology has certainly come a long way since then, with most modern devices having the capability to charge magnetically. I personally use Apple’s ecosystem, where my iPhone attaches to a MagSafe charger and my MacBook Pro uses a MagSafe 3 charging port. Speaking solely from an accessibility standpoint, these have been incredible additions. No more fumbling with chords or asking my wife to plug in my devices due to my lack of hand dexterity. But still, many of my devices need frequent charging, and tech like my iPad Pro, Apple Trackpad, Apple Magic Keyboard, Kindle Oasis, Meta glasses charger, Xbox Adaptive Controller, Wacom Intuos Pro drawing tablet, etc. were yet to catch up. Enter magnetic charging cables.
I first trialed magnetic charging cables in 2018. It seems like an obvious solution, just get a long cord that I can yank on without worry. The concept is fairly simple as well. The male-end piece (magnetic charging tip) is pushed into the charging port and remains in the device. The magnetic cable then connect to the magnetic charging tip, forming the circuit.
It was the perfect fix for me because my devices charge by very different means. My iPad, Xbox controller, and Intuos Pro use a USB-C port, my Trackpad and keyboard use the old Apple Lightning port, and my Kindle Oasis uses a micro-USB port. I simply bought a multi pack of charging tips and placed them in their respective device, using the same cable to alternate charging.
This method worked for a while, but then I hit my first barrier. I realized that my iPad was using more power than it was receiving. It would actually slowly die while I was charging it. Back when these cables were in their infancy, they couldn’t handle high wattage. At the time, the magnetic cable that I had was a USB plugged into a 20W wall plug. This was enough to power smaller devices, but my iPad Pro demanded more. I found a solution for a few years by hot gluing a USB-C cable to my desk, pushing my iPad into the plug instead of vice versa. This was a frustrating fix because it took up a lot of desk space, but it worked.
A few years passed, and I decided to see if magnetic charging cables had adjusted to meet the demands of higher power devices. I was glad to see they did. A modern iPad Pro with an M5 chip requires 40 to 60 W to charge, my MacBook Pro needs around 140 W, and the rest of my devices are okay around 20 W. I decided to splurge and found a magnetic charging cable that works up to 240 W, more than any of my devices would ever need. Modern Apple software does not allow a device to overcharge, because that risks expanding the battery dangerously, which meant that using a 240 W cable would not harm any of my devices. This was perfect. Now I have a single charging cable that I rotate through my devices, ensuring that they are consistently topped off, all while keeping my desk neat and minimalistic.
Pros
- Zero Fine-Motor Precision: The self-aligning magnetic snap removes the need for precise finger dexterity or a tight pinch grip to plug in a device.
- Port Protection & Drop Prevention: Keeping the adapter tip seated protects delicate ports from wear, while the breakaway feature prevents snagged cords from pulling mounted devices to the floor.
- Gross-Motor Friendly: Connecting and disconnecting can be achieved effortlessly using broader palm, wrist, or lap movements rather than intricate finger control.
- Universal Standardizing: Using magnetic tips across all your electronics standardizes every device to a single charging system.
Cons
- Difficult Tip Removal: The tiny, flush-fitting magnetic tips are hard to pull out of a port without strong pinch strength or assistance.
- Accidental Disconnections: The weak lateral hold means minor bumps or repositioning can break the connection and stop the charge.
- Debris & Short-Circuit Risk: Exposed magnetic surfaces attract metallic dust and lint, which can block the pins or create short-circuit risks.
- Inconsistent Power Delivery: Many models do not support high-wattage fast charging or data transfer, requiring careful searching for fully compatible cables.
This new charging option has been incredible. I recently bought two more cables so I can charge multiple devices at once and easily alternate what devices are charging based off of my needs. As long as the charging tips stay permanently inside the device’s charging port and I have access to the charging cable, I am good to go! It has been very nice to not have to ask for help and it is certainly a product/tech set up I recommend to anyone with limited hand dexterity and arm function.