My Favorite USB-C Accessory Just Got A Major Functionality Upgrade - And It's Still Affordable

A hill I'm always willing to fight on -- and maybe even die on -- is that the magnetic breakaway USB-C connector is one of the best USB accessories out there. Sure, it's not as flashy as a hardware-encrypted storage device or as geeky as a USB power meter, but it does one thing incredibly well: protecting your USB-C ports from damage.

I've lost track of how many USB-C ports I've seen destroyed because someone yanked a cable out too hard. This has happened to laptops, desktop PCs, game consoles, TVs, you name it. And don't even get me started on the number of laptops I've seen crash to the floor because someone tripped over the charging cable. So, a few years ago, when I stumbled across my first magnetic breakaway USB-C connector, I knew I had to try it out.

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Fast forward a bit, and I had a whole collection of them. These things were a total game changer. If you've been following my writing, you've probably seen me rave about them before.

But the other day, I found one that is the ultimate breakaway connector. This one has a 180-degree swivel feature, and let me tell you, it's a game changer on top of a game changer.

This little bit of movement helps prevent the connector from breaking away when you don't want it to while still allowing it to disconnect easily when needed. It's the best of both worlds.

And don't worry -- when you do need it to break away, it absolutely will! 

That said, there's one thing to keep in mind. This particular USB-C connector is a 16-pin version, not the "full" 24-pin version. Without diving too deep into the USB-C spec sheet, here's what that means: this is primarily a power connector, not a high-speed data transfer connector.

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It does support USB 2.0 data transfer rates (480 Mbps), but it doesn't handle the blazing 40 Gbps speeds of the non-swivel 24-pin versions. 

So, if you need to transfer data at high speeds or use the connector for a display, you'll want to stick with one of the non-swivel 24-pin options -- straight, 90-degree elbow, or right-angle. 

This limitation doesn't bother me at all because I only use these breakaway connectors on power cables. They're not ideal for data transfer or powering displays since, well, the cable could break away at the worst possible moment, causing data loss or making your screens go black.

Not exactly fun, right? 

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The connector also has a small purple LED showing its carrying power, which is a nice touch.

The kit also includes a handy tool for removing the magnetic connector from USB-C ports. But if you're anything like me, that tool will quickly disappear into the void of lost things. 

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But don't worry. You can easily remove the connector by wrapping a bit of fishing line or dental floss around it. Or, if you're feeling brave (and don't mind sacrificing a few fingernails), you can just pry it out with your fingertips like I do. 

ZDNET's buying advice

I absolutely love magnetic breakaway connectors, and these 240W swivel USB-C magnetic connectors are a fantastic addition to my ever-growing toolbox of tech goodies. They work beautifully and are the perfect complement to their non-swivel counterparts. You can also buy them attached to cables if you prefer.  

Right now, Amazon has them on sale for around $13 (with the clip-on coupon) for a pack of two, making them an affordable set of charging accessories.