Crossbody iPhone slings are in style, and the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable is a unique addition to the category. It’s both a strap to make carrying the iPhone easy and a USB-C charging cable.
I put the accessory to the test with my iPhone 17. I especially liked that I can easily swap it between iPhone cases.
Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable review
The new iPhone Pocket proves that crossbody straps for handsets are hot right now. Fashionistas from Tokyo to Milan carry their phones this way. They let you make your iPhone part of your outfit and show off its gorgeous case, too.
And lanyards go beyond fashion statements. An iPhone on a strap around your neck is quicker and easier to access than one in your pocket. And there’s no unsightly square bulge in your clothes, either.
Plus, if you’re holding your iPhone, a thief can grab it and run. That’s much more challenging when the handset is strapped to your body. Even better, the device becomes nigh impossible to drop.
Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable offers all these benefits and more: it’s also a charging cable. One that’s ready to juice up your iPhone whenever you need some power.
The Satechi crossbody lanyard cable is the perfect everyday companion for your iPhone. Keep your phone within easy reach, no more digging through your bag or wondering where you left it. Ditch the extra cables, charge confidently from any USB-C power source without the fear of running out of battery.
- Adjustable and comfortable to wear
- 60W of charging power
- Cable ends clutter the look when wearing
Table of contents: Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable review
- iPhone lanyard and charging cable in one
- Easily swappable
- iPhone lanyard with real charging performance
- The undeniable limitation
- Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable review: Final thoughts
- Pricing
iPhone lanyard and charging cable in one
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The product offers a soft braided cable that’s an adjustable 4.5 foot (1.4m) length so it can be worn crossbody.
I found the cable thick enough and soft enough to be comfortable wearing across my shoulder for lengthy periods. I’m 6 feet tall so I had to extend the cable to its full length, but making it shorter is simple. The material seems rugged enough to survive years of use.
Part of my testing involved using the crossbody strap and iPhone 17 while grocery shopping. I keep my grocery list on my iPhone, and digital coupons too, so I need to refer to the handset every few minutes. Having the iPhone hanging at my side, not in a pocket, made this much easier.
As it’s intended to be a fashion accessory, the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable comes in black, sand and desert rose calor options.
As for whether a crossbody strap is stylish… that’s up to you. If it fits the look you want for yourself, go for it.
Still, the design has a quirk that’s unavoidable. Typical straps form a complete circle. Because Satechi’s product is a charging cable, it needs two loose ends for the USB-C connectors. Clips form the whole cable into a circle, but those two ends hang loose, cluttering up the look.
Easily swappable
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
I avoid iPhone lanyards that require me to permanently glue clips to my handset. Satechi uses a better system for its version. A T-shaped piece slips inside the phone case, with a metal ring extending through the opening for the iPhone’s USB-C port. I can then connect the lanyard to it with a carabiner.
That means I can remove the clip from my case whenever I’m not planning on using the crossbody strap. And switch it to whatever case I have the iPhone in.
Satechi includes a black and a clear version of this insert. This important because you can see it through clear cases.
As much as I like the clip extending through the opening in the case intended to allow access to the USB-C port, it crowds the port slightly. The cable is thin, so the port isn’t blocked, but expect just a bit more hassle plugging in cables. It’s no problem if you use wireless charging, though.
Also, I’m a bit concerned that the insert that fits inside the case will wear out with use. Of course, the same is true for clips on rival products that are held on with adhesive.
iPhone lanyard with real charging performance
Photo: Satechi
What sets the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable apart from the pack is that it’s also a charging cable that’s always with you. I’ve felt the frustration of holding an iPhone that’s low on power while staring at a USB port that I can’t use because I don’t have a charging cable with me. That’ll never happen with Satechi’s crossbody strap.
Open a couple of caps to expose dual USB-C ports. And with 4.5 feet of cable, it can extend all the way behind a desk to reach a power socket.
This isn’t a wimpy cable — it’s rated to be able to handle 60 watts. I tested with a digital multimeter to be sure and, yes, 60W. It can also provide up to 480Mbps data transfer speeds. In my real-world testing, I got 315 Mbps.
Forgive me if I’m pointing out the obvious, but simply because this cable gets attached to an iPhone, don’t overlook the potential to use it to charge your MacBook and iPad.
The undeniable limitation
The Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable is a great way to ensure you always have a charging cable with you, but that’s only half the needed equipment. In many situations, you’ll also need a wall charger, and there’s not one included with this accessory.
And while there are plenty of USB charging ports in coffee shops, airport terminals, etc., in my experience, these are almost always USB-A. You’ll need an adapter to plug the USB-C connector from this lanyard/cable into those.
Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable review: Final thoughts
Anyone considering a crossbody iPhone carrying strap should consider upping the ante with one that’s also a charging cable. It’s comfortable to wear and is ready to power up your handset, MacBook, and iPad.
That said, using a cable as a strap has a big drawback. And this can’t be a complete charging solution.
★★★★☆
Pricing
Satechi set the list price for the OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable at $29.99.
The Satechi crossbody lanyard cable is the perfect everyday companion for your iPhone. Keep your phone within easy reach, no more digging through your bag or wondering where you left it. Ditch the extra cables, charge confidently from any USB-C power source without the fear of running out of battery.
- Adjustable and comfortable to wear
- 60W of charging power
- Cable ends clutter the look when wearing
Satechi provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
