I never leave home without this USB-C keychain accessory – here’s why it’s unusually good

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As often as I rely on USB-C cables to charge my devices or help with work, I hardly think about them. My mindset has been that they’re all mostly the same with negligible differences. I usually throw them into my junk drawer and only take a cable out when needed. Plus, what improvements can you really make to smartphone cables?

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That was my belief until I spent some time with Nomad’s latest ChargeKey V2–>. This compact USB-C accessory is something I wish I had years ago. It provides fast charging speeds while sporting a compact design that ensures it’ll never get tangled in your pockets or bag. You won’t have to spend five minutes unraveling it like regular wires. 

As you probably guess from its name, this is a second-generation product. But while it looks nearly identical to the previous model, there are a handful of improvements.

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Built to last

The ChargeKey V2 sticks to the series’ signature feature with a durable form factor. Both the cable housing and the little connecting lock are made of electroplated zinc, protecting the device from outside damage and corrosion. You’ll notice that the lock has enough space in its loop for owners to slide in a key ring and attach it to a keychain or backpack.

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Nomad’s thoughtful design doesn’t stop there. The cables are covered in nylon, which further enhances durability. Unlike the plastic sleeves commonly found on garden-variety USB-C cables, the ChargeKey can be twisted in various directions and won’t rip.

Aesthetic tweaks were also made, but they’re so subtle that you may not notice them unless you look closely. For example, the housing molds are slightly larger than before, and the electroplated zinc is more polished.

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Speedy recharges

Nomad’s ChargeKey is a 240W USB-C cable that can quickly recharge mobile devices. I wanted to see how it performs, so I did a series of tests. 

First, I connected a Moto G Power to my Anker power bank via the ChargeKey. It took about 50 minutes to go from a dead battery to about 50% and just under two hours to 100%. For the next test, I connected the power bank to a laptop, and it took roughly two hours to recharge the computer to about 40% (the bank eventually ran out of juice).

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Once everything was done, I repeated the same tests, but this time using the power bank instead of the cable. I noticed no time variance between either cable. They performed at about the same level. On the surface, that may sound disappointing – the ChargeKey didn’t blow the competition out of the water. Is it no better than any old cable you buy at Best Buy?

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No, it is definitely better. Those generic cables don’t have ChargeKey’s durable design. This is a crucial factor when considering purchasing it, as it enables a longer shelf life and saves users from incurring unnecessary expenses on replacements. 

The Nomad ChargeKey offers one additional benefit that other cables may not possess – the ability to transfer files at 10Gbps. In another test, I moved 150 images from my smartphone to my personal laptop. The entire process took about 40 seconds. Moving larger packets of data will take longer. A 10GB folder took approximately five minutes and 30 seconds to transfer from the same phone to my laptop.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Nomad’s ChargeKey V2 retails for $29 per unit–>, but for a limited time, the company is offering a bundle deal that gives you 10% off. I recommend this accessory to people who want a USB-C cable as part of their everyday carry but don’t want a long wire knotting up in their pockets or purses.

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