Dear nomadic products. I’m sorry. I was wrong to mock and laugh at the universal Apple Watch cable when you announced it early last year.
When I first saw photos, I sent them to friends and even family, laughing at the idea of an Apple Watch charging puck built into a USB-C charging cable.
I consider myself a frequent traveler, as if I’m not getting on a plane for a quick work trip, I’m driving a few hours away for a baseball tournament. One of the last things I pack for every overnight hike is a charging setup for everyone with me.
That usually means a wall adapter, usually with two ports, as well as a USB-C cable for an iPhone and an Apple Watch charger. I have a gallon plastic bag that I use to store everything, so it’s easy to access when it’s time to hit the road. Multiply this default setup for five people, and I’m sure you can imagine the giant pile of spaghetti living inside said bag. Simply, it’s a mess.
Over the years, I’ve tried, tested, and even reviewed several travel chargers, each designed to streamline charging on the go. Solutions like the Mophie 3-in-1 portable travel charger, which folds nicely to fit in a backpack, or Anker’s latest Prime wireless charging station. Both do what they advertise, but they are bulky. In Anker’s defense, this charging station isn’t billed as a travel charger, but its overall footprint and design beg to be taken on the road.
A few months ago, Nomad sent me the universal Apple Watch cable and its 65W Slim adapter to test. A few days later, I went on an overnight trip and took both gadgets with me.
My first thoughts after unwrapping the cable were that it looked really weird and the end with the Apple Watch charging puck was heavier than expected. The braided cable is the same as the rest of Nomad cables, meaning it’s built to last. I have one of Nomad’s 10-foot USB-C to USB-C cables that has been crushed and chewed up by our robot vacuum more times than I can count, and it still doesn’t have a single mark on it.
Depending on your setup, you can plug the end with the Apple Watch charger into your wall adapter, letting the standard USB-C end plug into the device you’re charging, which makes sense if the charger is placed horizontally on a table or desk. This arrangement allows you to charge your watch while using and charging your phone, for example.
However, hotel outlets are almost always poorly placed, so I use it the other way around – with the Apple Watch puck near my iPhone – and it works perfectly for me. I generally don’t place my Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the charger before getting ready in the morning or going to bed, in which case my phone is on the nightstand or desk anyway.
The cable can charge up to 100W with the appropriate wall adapter, while the Apple Watch charger can quickly charge compatible models. These included the Apple Watch Ultra 1, 2 and 3, Series 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3.
Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that you can also place AirPods Pro 2 or newer on the Apple Watch charger to complete the charging case. Prime!
What I like most about the Universal Apple Watch Cable is that it streamlines what I need to carry for myself. I no longer need to have multiple cables, which inevitably get tangled and look like a spider web when I take them out of my plastic bag.
It’s a single cable that can do multiple things, and for that reason, it’s now a staple of my travel gear, even if it looks weird.
Right now, Nomad Goods has it in stock in a 1.5 meter length – there are 0.5 meter and 3 meter sizes, but both are sold out – for $85 / £69 / AU$129, in your choice of carbide or white. Indeed, it’s expensive for a charging cable, but it’s not just a cable. You’re paying for the added functionality of charging your Apple Watch, as well as the durability that Nomad cables provide.
Cable – Cable
Universal Cable for Apple Watch | 1.5m | Carbide
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