The switch to USB-C has greatly simplified my life and I'm 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 look like an unappealing plate of silicone spaghetti, which is why this new $44 product Counter charger It caught my attention.
This compact charger includes a built-in 4-foot USB-C cable that (here's the useful part) retracts with the push of a button, leaving you cable-free. It offers 35 watts of GaN charging, which is enough for most phones, tablets, switches, and the occasional pair of headphones that invariably pile up on my counter looking for power. It would even work for my MacBook Air in a pinch.
I have been using retractable cables, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseus-Retractable-Charging-4-Stage-Charger/dp/B0C858GPF9?tag=theverge02-20″>like this one from Baseusin my car for a while now and I love the idea of bringing that clean and tidy concept into the house. And while MagSafe is my preferred method for charging my iPhone, there are many times when you need to use your phone while it's charging; For that, they are cables all the way to the end.
The other selling point of its counterparts is that it doesn't look like a charger. Instead of another black or white box sticking out of my kitchen wall, its soft silicone design and five-color option look more like wall art than a wall wart. Counterpart is the brainchild of a Portland-based artist and designer. Chloe Fieldsand it shows.
I've been testing devices in my house for over a decade and there are too many black boxes and white wires lying around. Most of the devices still look like they were designed at Best Buy; I want to see more that, at the very least, look like they belong in a West Elm.
The Counterpart Charger is closer to wall art than wall wart
I 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 an added bonus, it's made from recycled plastic.
It would also be nice if there were two cables – plugs are at a premium in my house and it's hard to choose form here over function, for example, of this Anker wall charger that charges three devices at once, although by far more cable clutter.
My other concern is that the product images make it look like it will be difficult to fit a second plug into the other outlet, but Counterpart spokesperson Leonie Duarte assures me that you can still access the other outlet. I plan to try it out and see how practical it is, but it's certainly more stylish than any other wall charger I've seen.
He Counter charger It's currently available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled for December 9.
