Nomad Introduces Revamped 'ChargeKey' With Lightning and USB-C Options

[bgillander]

I have provided mine to people in many meetings that pointed to this thing and asked to borrow "my phone charger." They plugged it into their laptops to charge their phones. I'll go tell them they were wrong, and that you were right, and that they weren't actually charging their phones at all. Please know this is my utmost priority for the day.

If they charged it without plugging into the laptops, then it would have been a charger, but in your example, the laptop is actually the charger. If you had corrected a layperson the exact same way the people are doing here, I agree it would have been impolite, but because this is supposed to be a technical site, there is some justification for their reactions.

“The ChargeKey is a pocketable charger that attaches to a keychain” is a misrepresentation, whereas “The ChargeKey is a pocketable cable that attaches to a keychain” would actually be accurate. It is perfectly valid to hold a published article to the standard of being at least technically accurate on a technology website. There appears to be a lot of hate on this site for products that I can see at least some purpose for, and this one seems a bit pricy, but at least potentially handy. That said, it would likely have gotten less vitriol if the author had been more accurate in their representation… as soon as I read that sentence, I made some popcorn to watch the fireworks.

 

[bgillander]

When I first read this and originally thought it was a portable charger, I had to double take at the image when I saw "Mac" listed as something you could charge. A battery that small would get me maybe a 5% charge on my MacBook Pro before I had to recharge the ChargeKey.

Thanks to the comments it all makes much more sense.

If a battery that small could get 5% on a MacBook Pro, I would actually buy a few!

 

[msackey]

To me, this is a bizarre product. It's too short to be of any good use for most technical applications. And in applications where a short cable is needed, why not just put the cable in the backpack for retrievable rather than have it chained to a set of dangling keys?

 

[scm123]

Popular accessory maker Nomad today announced the reintroduction of the ChargeKey, a classic Nomad product that has been updated with a new look and with 2023 performance standards.

The ChargeKey is a pocketable charger that attaches to a keychain. It features magnetic tips that connect to one another when the ChargeKey is not in use, and then when needed, the two halves fold out into a small charging cable with a durable, braided design. When folded, the ChargeKey is 7.6cm long, and when unfolded, it is 12cm.

There's a USB-C version of the ChargeKey with two USB-C connectors for charging an iPad, Mac, or future USB-C iPhone with a USB-C power adapter, and there's also a Lightning version with a Lightning connector for the iPhone and a USB-C end that connects to a computer or power adapter. It can fast charge an iPhone up to 20W with an appropriate power adapter.

Back when Nomad launched in 2013, the ChargeKey was one of its first products. The old version was available with Lightning and microUSB, compared to the new version with USB-C connectivity. We were able to test out the ChargeKey ahead of launch, and it is an ideal portable charger for use when you need a cable on the go. It should stand up well to abuse with its braided cable.

Nomad's Lightning ChargeKey is priced at $35, and the USB-C ChargeKey is priced at $25.

Article Link: Nomad Introduces Revamped 'ChargeKey' With Lightning and USB-C Options

Good grief. Like so many others I'm trying to figure out how this thing charges only to find out it's actually just a cable. Completely deceiving and annoying. I have no idea why anyone would buy this thing.

 

[Crowbot]

Good grief. Like so many others I'm trying to figure out how this thing charges only to find out it's actually just a cable. Completely deceiving and annoying. I have no idea why anyone would buy this thing.

Because it's cute.

 

[UltimaKilo]

You haven't been outside and seen doors and cars with locks?

Only industrial. Most people now have keyless entry into their homes, businesses and vehicles.

 

[shyam09]

so... its a cable on a keychain.

Phil Schiller enters: "can't innovate my ass"

It's a *magnetic* cable on a keychain.

*Mindblowwnnnnnnn*

 

[Howard2k]

.

Only industrial. Most people now have keyless entry into their homes, businesses and vehicles.

Sorry, but outside of your commune, reality has a different view. Key locks are quite obviously far more common than keyless locks. This is the Internet - it’s available almost worldwide.

 

[Chazak]

Another item to put on your key ring (if you still carry one!)?

IMO, almost useless and overpriced.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Who the heck still uses a keychain? I haven’t had physical keys in almost 7 years.

Those who have keys other than the one that unlock their house. Everyone don’t have a digital key to unlock their cars. Also I have a master lock to protect my belongings in my work locker, so I need a key for that as well, as my mailbox key for home.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Happy to answer a real question! When I carried it, I had it on the other side of my Orbitkey fob so I just left my keys on. It was usually to top off my phone (geez, that must‘ve been iPhone 6?) in long meetings, or when travelling, plugged in to my laptop. I also would occasionally use it in a pinch in a rental car situation but I’d unthread it from the fob then. Not terribly difficult, but yeah kind of a pain. The value of it for me was just the piece of mind that I always had a cable on me, and USB-A ports were getting pretty ubiquitous, so I usually had a way to charge in a pinch.

I haven’t carried it in a while for a few reasons: laptop doesn’t have usb-a; magsafe battery pack lives in backpack for peace of mine/backup charges; I don’t work in the office full time anymore. I would consider throwing a USB-C/USB-C one of these on my keys though, assuming the rumors about a USB coming to iPhone pan out.

I’m going to look into OrbitKey. I have 4 keys on my ring excluding my car key fob, and I don’t need a keychain. I then would have a reason to attach one of the 6 AppleTags I have left.