More retractable cables, please


The switch to USB-C has vastly simplified my life, and I am very grateful for it, but I still struggle with cable clutter. Dealing with gadgets and gizmos for a family of four means the outlets on my kitchen counter resemble an unappealing bowl of silicon spaghetti, which is why this new $44 Counterpart Charger caught my eye.
This compact charger includes a built-in 4-foot USB-C cable that — here’s the handy part — retracts with the press of a button, leaving you cable-free. It delivers 35 Watts of GaN charging, which is enough for most phones, tablets, Switches, and the occasional pair of headphones that invariably collect on my counter in search of power. It would even do for my MacBook Air in a pinch.
I’ve been using retractable cables, like this one from Baseus, in my car for a while now and love the idea of bringing that neat and tidy concept into the house. And while MagSafe is my preferred method for charging my iPhone, there are plenty of times when you need to use your phone while it’s charging; for that, it’s cables all the way.
Counterparts’ other selling point is that it doesn’t look like a charger. Instead of another white or black box sticking out of my kitchen wall, its soft silicon design and the option of five colors are closer to wall art than wall wart. Counterpart is the brainchild of Portland-based artist and designer Chloe Fields, and it shows.
I’ve been testing gadgets in my home for over a decade, and there are just too many black boxes and white cables out there. Most gadgets still look like they’ve been designed in a Best Buy; I want to see more that, at a minimum, look like they belong in a West Elm.
The Counterpart Charger is closer to wall art than wall wart
I do have some concerns about the non-removable cable here; I don’t like the idea that if the cable wears out, I’ll have to throw away the charger, too. However, Counterpart offers a two year warranty, and as a bonus, it’s constructed from recycled plastic.
It would also be nice if there were two cables — outlets are at a premium in my house, and it is hard to choose form here over the function, say, of this Anker wall charger that charges three devices at once — albeit with a lot more cable clutter.
My other concern is that the product pictures make it look like it will be hard to fit a second plug in the other outlet, but Counterpart spokesperson Leonie Duarte assures me you can still access the other outlet. I plan to test it and see how practical it is, but it certainly has more style than any other wall charger I’ve seen.
The Counterpart Charger is currently available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled for December 9th.
The switch to USB-C has vastly simplified my life, and I am very grateful for it, but I still struggle with cable clutter. Dealing with gadgets and gizmos for a family of four means the outlets on my kitchen counter resemble an unappealing bowl of silicon spaghetti, which is why…
Recent Posts
- HMD’s new earbuds can top off your phone’s battery
- Mustard Made Lowdown Locker Review: Stylish Storage
- Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 3 (game #1134)
- The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a Leica-powered photo showcase
- Leaked iPhone 17 schematics show the Apple phones could be getting a speaker redesign
Archives
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010