My favorite USB accessory? This $6 retractable 3-in-1 charging cable

Phone chargers are a pain in the neck. It’s great that Apple has finally been forced to use USB-C on its latest devices, but for years my iPhone-using friends and I were stuck with mismatched proprietary cables. We could never help each other when our phone batteries dipped low.

My gripes with charging cables don’t end there. I hate that they tangle up if you so much as look at them wrong. I hate that they aren’t pocket portable, especially the longer lengths. And I hate that there are so many different standards—not just for the connector types, but also for charging speeds. Some cables simply can’t fast charge.

But this little charging cable changed all that for me. It’s got USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning connectors built into a single head, and it’s fully retractable so it never takes up space. I can carry it with me in my pocket, and I can share it with friends when they need to top up their phones—even if we have different device types. It also reaches up to 3.3 feet in length, which is plenty long enough for me most of the time.

Jon Martindale / Foundry

The only real downside is that it isn’t very fast, and it’s doubly unimpressive when charging two devices at once. But if you need a dirt-cheap compact charging cable that’s compatible with most recent-generation devices, I highly recommend this one. It comes in a two-pack for $12, so that’s just $6 each. Split with a friend if you don’t need both.

There are other multi-head charging cables out there, ones that look like a hydra with one cable splitting into multiple cables. Those might even be faster than the one I have. But I like that mine has all the connectors on a single triple-prong head. Those hydra-style cables are rarely retractable, and the ones that are still tend to tangle easily.

Speaking of retractable, the spring-loaded windup of this charging cable is a real treat. To extend it, you just grab both ends and pull—it’ll run out to about a yard before maxing out. When you’re done, simply give it a light tug like you would for window blinds. It’ll zip right back up, winding into itself for a clean tuck-away, neat and tidy for when you need it.

Jon Martindale / Foundry

Again, my only wish is that it charged faster. It’s not bad, mind you. It supports up to 15W through USB-C and up to 12W through Lightning, with less power through Micro USB and even less if you split the power by charging multiple devices at once. But it’s fast enough for overnight charging or a supplementary top-up during the day.

And that’s the best way to think of this retractable 3-in-1 charging cable. It’s a supplementary helper for emergencies. It’s super portable and widely versatile. Any device, any time, you can get a little boost of juice when you’re running lower than expected. I use it to charge my phone and my Logitech G915 TKL wireless keyboard that frustratingly still relies on a Micro USB connection to charge.

So, just know that if you stop by my place with a dying phone, I’ll have a charging cable you can use. No need to bring your own. It won’t be the fastest, but if you’re used to Lightning charging, you’re not exactly at the cutting edge of power delivery anyway, are you?