The earliest Macintosh models used an iconic design — one that many longtime Mac users like me feel nostalgic about. The Shargeek Retro 67 is a salute to those early Macs that’s useful, not just decorative.
It’s a palm-size wall charger that pumps up to 67 watts through a trio of USB-C ports. With it, you can make a Macintosh juice up your iPhone and MacBook.
As someone who still has a Mac from the 1980s, it was a delight to test the Retro 67.
Shargeek Retro 67 review
A 1980s-era Macintosh is too large to put on a desk as a memento. There are some delightful toy versions out there, but the Shargeek Retro 67 is better than those because it’s useful as well as decorative.
It’s modeled after the earliest compact Macs down to some tiny details, but also includes three USB-C ports. Use the built-in power prongs to plug it into a socket and the fun little accessory can juice up your iPhone, iPad and MacBook.
OMG it’s adorable
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Imagine a 1984 Apple Macintosh that’s been shrunk down until it’s 2.25 inches tall and you have the Shargeek Retro 67. It has the beige-ish color, and the oh-so-familiar design.
I give Shargeek credit for paying attention to little details. Molded into the back are the power switch and the plug from the Macintosh. They’re tiny and nonfunctional of course, but they are there. The groves on the sides are there, too.
Obviously, the Apple logo isn’t on the charger. But there is a square tricolor where the rainbow logo should be, and that’s good enough if you don’t look too closely.
One of my first jobs was doing desktop publishing in Aldus PageMaker on a couple of Macintosh SE units that looked just like this, but bigger. Wow, the Retro 67 really takes me back to those days.
Modern additions include three USB-C ports on the top, which diverge the design from the Mac — there’s no handle. If you’re looking for an exact replica of a Macintosh in miniature, this is likely to be a sticking point. The flip-out power prongs on the bottom are hidden.
For a bit of extra cash, you can purchase the charger with USB-C and Lightning cables that are also the beige-ish color Apple used for early Macs.
And useful, too
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The ports and prongs make the accessory much more than a little statue. It’s ready to charge up your Apple gear.
Amazingly, the screen on the Shargeek Retro 67 actually works. It doesn’t run System 1.0, of course. Instead, it lights up to show you how much power is flowing. The screen has a Matrix vibe which doesn’t really fit with the 1980s theme of the Macintosh, but that’s no biggie.
I plugged in my iPad and the tablet was quickly getting the 30 Watts or so that is its maximum. My iPhone 14 Plus took in about 26W. I tested an external battery and the Retro 67 was able to send it 55W.
With three devices connected, the charger lived up to its name and output the full 67W.
The tiny screen displays the total wattage, not how much is flowing through each port. Still, it’s a handy way to confirm devices are getting power.
Shargeek Retro 67 final thoughts
As a long-time Mac user, I love the computers Apple puts out these days. But the early compact Macintoshes will always have a place in my heart, despite their 9-inch monochrome screens and many other limitations.
The Shargeek Retro 67 gives us a way to remember those early Macs. And it’s better than a statue because the multiport charger is ready to be useful when you need it.
Apple doesn’t ship new iPhones with chargers anymore so you’ll need a good one to keep your handset powered up. Add a bit of fun to the process with the Retro 67.
★★★★★
Pricing
Shargeek Retro 67 can be ordered today on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo. The preorder price is $39, which is less than half the regular cost. The product is scheduled to launch in March 2023.
Buy from: Indiegogo
Shargeek provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
