Stuff I use

Chargers & cables

Chargers, cables and miscellany

Updated Oct 2020 · RSS

The move to USB-C devices has been a long journey and unfortunately I'm still in an awkward middle ground where I have a few remaining Micro-USB devices, some USB-A cables and some USB-C chargers. I've been trying to move to USB-C chargers where possible, so I have also had to begin investing in USB-C cables.

And you can never have enough battery life when traveling so I always have one of my Anker battery packs in my bag.

Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, 10000mAh Portable Charger USB-C Power Delivery (18W) Power Bank for iPhone 11/11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / 8 / X/XS Samsung S10, Pixel 3/3XL, iPad Pro 2018, and More

Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux

I've been using Anker battery packs for years but it was only recently that they introduced models like this one that let you both charge the battery and other devices over the same USB-C port. This was the last link that means I can travel without USB-A cables entirely.

Anker 521 Magnetic Battery (PowerCore Magnetic 5K), 5000 mAh Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger with USB-C Cable, for iPhone 13 / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max / 13 Mini / 12 / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max / 12 Mini

Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K

I got this 5000mAh wireless, MagSafe-compatible battery when the iPhone 12 mini was my primary phone. The battery life on the phone was horrendous so I used this quite often to get by. It served its purpose; it's very small and light.

Apple Watch Magnetic Charger to USB-C Cable (0.3M)

USB-C Apple Watch Charger

I made sure to get USB-C Apple Watch charger for traveling. I opted for a very short one to make packing easier too.

Adjustable Cell Phone Stand, OMOTON C2 Aluminum Desktop Phone Holder Dock mobile phone stand

Omoton C2 phone stand

Sturdy and high quality adjustable angle phone stand. Handy for testing designs and prototypes while designing at my desk.

nonda USB Type C to USB 3.0 Adapter, Thunderbolt 3 to USB Adapter for MacBook Pro 2019/2018, MacBook Air 2018, Pixel 3, Dell XPS, and More Type-C Devices, Aluminum with Indicator LED(Space Gray)

USB-C to A adapter

Great build quality and much more compact than the Apple adapters, but you can't fit two next to each other on a MacBook Pro.

Satechi Type-A to Type-C Adapter Converter - USB-A Male to USB-C Female - Compatible with iMac, MacBook Pro/MacBook, Laptops, PC, Computers and More (Space Gray)

USB-A to C adapter

A less common adapter but I find it handy to plug in USB-C accessories directly into the USB hub in my desktop PC monitor.

USB-C to USB-C cable

I have 6-ft and 3-ft versions of this Anker cable

USB-C to Lightning cable

While I have a few Apple ones, I also got some of these cheaper Anker ones to have around the house and while traveling.

AmazonBasics USB Type-C to Micro-B 2.0 Charger Cable - 6 Feet (1.8 Meters) - White

USB-C to Micro-USB

Because not everything is USB-C yet (Kindle!) but my chargers are.

USB C Charger, Anker 18W PIQ 3.0 Fast Charger Adapter, PowerPort III Nano USB C Wall Charger for iPhone 11/11 Pro / 11 Pro Max/XR/XS/X, Galaxy S10 / S9, Pixel 3/2, iPad Pro and More

Anker PowerPort III Nano

Ridiculously small 18W USB-C charger. If you remember the old 5W Apple USB-A chargers, it's the same size but a whole lot more powerful. It can charge iPhones and iPads no problem. Perfect for travel.

USB C Charger, Anker Nano II 30W Fast Charger Adapter, GaN II Compact Charger (Not Foldable) for MacBook Air/iPhone 13/13 Mini/ 13 Pro/ 13 Pro Max/ 12, Galaxy S21, Note 20, iPad Pro, Pixel, and More

Anker Nano II

Slightly larger than the Nano above, this newer model is a 30W fast charger.

USB C Charger [GaN Technology], Anker 30W Ultra Compact Type-C Wall Charger with Power Delivery, PowerPort Atom PD 1 for iPhone Xs/Max/XR, iPad Pro, MacBook 12'', Pixel, Galaxy S10/S9+/S9/S8 and More

Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1

Small 30W dual USB-C PD charger using GaN tech. This charger is a maybe double the size as the 18W unit above but still much smaller than other 30W chargers not using GaN technology. It's enough power to charge a new MacBook Air.

Anker 60W [PowerIQ 3.0 & GaN] Power Delivery USB C Charger, PowerPort Atom III 60W Ultra Compact Type C Charger for USB-C Laptops, MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, iPhone XR/XS/Max/8, Galaxy, Pixel

Anker PowerPort Atom III

Tiny 60W USB-C PD charger using GaN tech

Anker 60W 2-Port USB C Charger, PowerPort Atom PD 2 [GaN Tech] Ultra Compact Foldable Type C Wall Charger, Power Delivery for MacBook Pro/Air, iPad Pro, iPhone XR/XS/Max/X/8, Pixel, Galaxy, and More

Anker PowerPort Atom PD 2

Tiny 60W dual USB-C PD charger using GaN tech. This one is a bit larger than the PowerPort Atom PD 2 above that has just one 60W USB-C PD port.

USB C Power Strip with Power Delivery, Anker PowerStrip Pad, 2 Outlets and 42W 3 USB (2 USB-A, 1 USB-C) with 5-Foot Extension Cord, Compact Travel Size

Anker PowerStrip Pad

A nice powerstrip with built-in USB-C and USB-A ports that I keep next to my couch to have easy access to laptop, iPad and phone charging.

Aukey Omnia 100W USB-C PD charger

Aukey Omnia 100W

Another USB-C PD charger packing GaN technology, but this one packs a whopping 100W. That's enough to power my 16" MacBook Pro that had a large 96W charger.

BAGSMART Electronic Organizer Small Travel Cable Organizer Bag for Hard Drives, Cables, Phone, USB, SD Card, Black

Bagsmart electronic organizer

Affordable small pouch for keeping track of cables and chargers while traveling.

tomtoc Electronics Organizer Travel Cable Organizer Accessories Case Pouch Bag for Cable, Charger, Power Bank, Hard Drive, USB Hub, USB Flash Drive, SD Card, Phone, Black

tomtoc electronics pouch

While the same general size as the bag above, this one from tomtoc has slightly better build quality and is a bit thicker with more pockets. I use both depending on how much stuff I need to bring with me.

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Paul Stamatiou is a designer who codes. He's the Co-Founder of Rewind AI, previously designed at Twitter for 9 years, and has been writing here for 18 years.