USB-C breakaway connector
pros and cons
- Excellent range of swiveling and rotating.
- Smooth action with just the right amount of magnetic force holding the connector together.
- Can carry 240W of power.
- Limited to 480Mbps data.
on Google.
The other day, a friend of a friend brought over their car for me to check out. It had a broken USB-C port on the dashboard. There’s always a tale of woe that comes with a damaged vehicle, especially when the owner feels even slightly responsible. This story was no exception.
Apparently, a smartphone was plugged into the port when some kittens (yes, kittens!) darted into the road. Cue sudden braking, the phone flying across the car, and the cable yanking out of the port, breaking it in the process.
But the story doesn’t end there.
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The owner took the car to the dealership, where they were charged more than $100 in diagnostic fees to confirm the port was broken. The dealership then quoted another $150 for the replacement part and installation, promising the part would arrive in a few days.
However, “a few days” turned into weeks, and weeks turned into three months. That delay was because the port was so popular that it was on extended backorder. The owner was desperate to fix the issue, worried that a broken port might hurt the car’s resale value.
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As my regular readers know, I’m a huge fan of USB-C magnetic breakaway connectors. So, I suggested that the owner use one. And, as it happened, I had a few in my toolbag.
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Now, I’ve tested many breakaway connectors over the years. Straight ones, even swivel ones
The two parts of the connector.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
When it comes to charging, these connectors are unbeatable and can handle 240W without overheating.
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It’s not just cars where these connectors excel. They’re effective anywhere ports can be broken. They’re great for handheld gaming consoles because I’ve lost count of how many charging ports I’ve fixed on things like Nintendo Switch consoles
There’s a tiny blue LED light built into the connector.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The only limitation of this connector is its 480Mbps data throughput. That rate is fine for low-speed applications, but it’s not good enough for an external hard drive or docking station.