Nomad introduced ChargeKey in 2013, and at long last the popular little keychain charging cable got an update. Now it sports a fresh design and USB-C and Lightning versions to help you power up today’s devices on the go.
Nomad ChargeKey
Chargekey was one of the accessory maker’s first products. It’s a tiny charging cable you can attach to a keychain and carry with your all the time.
It’s ultra-portable because its braided cable’s tips are magnetic. You can stick them together when you don’t need to charge anything. That gives Chargekey a tiny footprint. You can easily stick it in your pants pocket.
The original Chargkey came with Lightning and microUSB connectors. The new one comes with either USB-C, which connects to a power adapter or computer to charge your device, or Lightning for charging iPhone, including fast-charging capability with a power adapter of 20 watts or higher power.
Of course, when iPhone switches from Lighting to USB-C — probably with iPhone 15 this year — the USB-C version of ChargeKey will serve it.
Features:
- Braided nylon cable
- Electroplated zinc cable housings
- Cable tips secure magnetically.
- Choose from USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to Lightning versions.
Price: $35 (Lightning) or $25 (USB-C)
Where to buy: Nomad
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
