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Whenever I rely on USB-C cables to charge my devices or help with work, I hardly think about them. My mindset has been that they are all mostly the same with negligible differences. I usually throw them in my junk drawer and only take the cables out when needed. Plus, what exactly can you improve on a smartphone cable?
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That’s what I believed until I spent some time in the halls of Nomad Chargekey V2. This compact USB-C accessory is something I wish I had years ago. It offers fast charging speeds while maintaining a compact design that keeps it from getting tangled in your pocket or bag. You don’t have to spend five minutes solving it like normal wires.
As you can probably guess from the name, this is a second generation product. But although it looks almost exactly the same as the previous model, there are some improvements.
built to last
The ChargeKey V2 sticks to the series’ signature feature with a durable form factor. Both the cable housing and the small connecting lock are made of electroplated zinc, which protects the device from external damage and corrosion. You’ll notice that the loop of the lock has enough room for owners to insert a key ring and attach it to a key chain or backpack.
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The Nomad’s thoughtful design doesn’t stop there. The cables are covered with nylon, which further increases durability. Unlike the plastic sleeves typically found on garden-variety USB-C cables, the ChargeKey can be twisted in different directions and won’t tear.
Aesthetic changes were also made, but they are so subtle that you won’t notice them unless you look closely. For example, the housing molds are slightly larger than before, and the electroplated zinc is more polished.
quick recharge
Nomad’s ChargeKey is a 240W USB-C cable that can quickly recharge mobile devices. I wanted to see how it performed, so I did several tests.
First, I connected the Moto G Power to my Anker power bank via ChargeKey. It took about 50 minutes to go from a dead battery to 50% and just under two hours to 100%. For the next test, I connected the power bank to a laptop, and it took about two hours to recharge the computer to about 40% (eventually the bank ran out of juice).
Once everything was done, I repeated the same test, but this time using the power bank instead of the cable. I didn’t notice any timing difference between the two cables. They performed at almost the same level. On the surface, this might seem disappointing – the ChargeKey didn’t blow away the competition. Isn’t this better than any old cable you buy at Best Buy?
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No, it’s definitely better. Those common cables don’t have the durable design of the ChargeKey. This is an important factor when considering purchasing it, as it enables a longer shelf life and saves users from unnecessary replacement costs.
The Nomad ChargeKey offers an additional benefit that other cables may not have – the ability to transfer files at 10 Gbps. In another test, I transferred 150 images from my smartphone to my personal laptop. The entire process took about 40 seconds. Larger data packets will take longer to transfer. A 10GB folder took about five minutes and 30 seconds to transfer from the same phone to my laptop.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
nomad’s Chargekey V2 It costs just $30, and is often on sale during major commerce events and holidays. I especially recommend this accessory to people who want a USB-C cable as part of their everyday use but don’t want a long wire stuck in their pocket or purse.
