My favorite USB-C accessory just got even better with a built-in power meter – and it’s only $20

I’ve been a big fan of USB-C magnetic breakaway connectors for many years now. I first found them after Apple replaced its own MagSafe ports with USB-C on MacBooks, and found them handy to prevent port damage in the event of a cable being yanked. That was several years ago, and I’ve been using them ever since. 

Also: Why your USB-C device won’t charge – and what you can do instead

The initial ones were rather basic, but since then, these handy little devices have seen various improvements, from different angles to ones that swivel.

But the other day I found some new USB-C magnetic breakaway connectors<!–> with something quite cool indeed: a USB power meter. I appreciate products with their own meters, so I had to give these a try. 

The connector is a straight-through version – also called a 180-degree version – with 24-pins, capable of carrying up to 240W of power, and data up to 40Gbps. Additionally, it can handle carrying video up to 8K at 60Hz.

That’s quite standard fare for these breakaway connectors.

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But this one has a cool power meter built into the body of the connector that displays amperage, voltage, and wattage. The meter automatically switches between the three every few seconds. 

Also: Finally, a premium multitool that doesn’t feel like I’m getting scammed

The display is bright and easy to read yet unobtrusive. I’ve tested it against other meters and it’s accurate enough to work out basic power draw and things like battery capacity. Sure, there are better meters out there<!–>, but nothing beats the convenience of these little connectors.