Products help tame the tangle of charging cables on desk
When we moved into our latest swankienda in 2018, space constraints meant that my workspace moved into the dining area. Because where I toiled was also where we ate — and sometimes entertained guests — I promised to keep my desktop clean and uncluttered.
And I’ve done so for the most part, with one big exception: My desk was always covered with charging cables. For those of us with multiple mobile devices managed with a desktop or notebook computer, this is an all-toocommon dilemma.
Although I try to use wireless peripherals and charging systems when I can, I still need a variety of cables at the ready. (And let’s face it: “wireless” charging is not really wire-free, because stands or pads must connect to a power adapter via a cable.)
Part of the issue stems from being a user of products made mostly by Apple, which is in the middle of a transition. No, I’m not referring to its two-year shift from Intel chips to its own M1 processors. Rather, Apple’s mobile devices come with either its proprietary Lightning connector for power and data transfers, or USB-C, which is now a standard across most of the consumer electronics industry.
Apple’s iPads Pro all use USB-C, along with its higher-end consumer tablet, the newest iPad Air. Its 2016 to 2020 MacBook Pros, along with the MacBook Air, have only USB-C ports. The 2021 MacBook Pro lineup restored ports stripped away in the previous redesign, but USB-C remains the primary port.
Apple’s consumer-grade iPads use the Lightning connector, as do all iPhones. Its AirPods wireless audio products and the remotes for its Apple TV streaming box are Lightning-equipped, as well.
To add to the charging cable confusion: The Apple Watch uses a magnetic charger that’s based on the Qi wireless charging standard. Then there’s the MagSafe for the iPhone 12/13 lines that use magnets to position the phone properly. The original MagSafe connection has been resurrected for the MacBook Pro.
Got all that? Yeah, it’s confusing. And you should have seen my desk as a result, before I took action.
I use an iMac with a wireless keyboard and trackpad — which must be charged periodically using a Lightning cable. I’ve got a second monitor mounted on an arm, freeing up desk space since I don’t need a stand. Connected to the iMac are a USB-C Solid State Drive for Time Machine backups; a USB-C hub with an HDMI port to power the second monitor’s display; a set of computer speakers via a speaker jack; and a USB-A to Lightning cable for backing up my iPhone (which I do weekly in addition to daily iCloud backups).
But wait, there’s more!
In one corner of my desk is an Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS, with 10 outlets. Plugged into it are the charger for my MacBook Pro, and its MagSafe cable; the power plugs for the iMac, the second monitor and the speakers; a 65-watt adapter with two USB-A and two USB-C ports; an Apple power adapter that connected to a MagSafe for iPhone charger inserted into a stand. Oh, and since I sometimes review Android smartphones with wireless charging, I had a separate charging stand for that scenario.
At any given time, there were three or four cables snaking across my desk, drawing the occasional eyeroll from my lovely wife. But last month I decided to end the madness, and two products helped me do it. Anker 637 MagGo Charging Station $99 at Amazon.com At first glance, this charger looks like a white softball with two angled slices lopped out of it (also available in black and aqua colors). One slice, on the front of the device, is a magnetic wireless charger designed to work with iPhone 12 and 13 models. It is not officially a MagSafe charger, but takes advantage of the magnets in an iPhone to hold it in place. It also is not as fast as a MagSafe charger, with a 7.5-watt charge vs. 15 watts.
But it’s on the back of the MagGo Charging Station where things get interesting. It has three AC outlets, two of them upside down to provide room for oversized plugs or adapters. There are also two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, the latter capable of charging at 65 watts, which can handle a 13-14-inch notebook. It handily charges my 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro.
With this design, the USB cables and AC power cords are aimed away from the front of the device. The charger’s five-foot cord has a flat plug that angles the cord away from other plugs on an outlet. It also has surge protection and an electrical ground indicator light.
There are a few drawbacks to the Anker product, though. The magnetic wireless charger will only work with an iPhone. And if you want to get the full 65 watts out of one of the USB-C ports to charge a notebook, none of the other ports can be in use. Speeds drop significantly when multiple devices are juiced.
I used this to do away with several chargers plugged into my UPS, as well as the MagSafe-on-astand setup. But I still had the issue of controlling the cables attached to the Anker charger. To solve that, I used … Twelve South SurfaceSnap
$29.95 at TwelveSouth.com
There are plenty of cable management systems out there, ranging from plastic clips to zip ties to a putty-like substance called Sugru. But few are as elegant as Twelve South’s twolayer leather straps with an adhesive back. Unsnap the strap to open it, place a charging cable inside and snap it shut again. It holds the cable in place when you’re not using it, but it’s easy to pull forward when you need it and push back into place when you don’t.
The SurfaceSnap comes in a three-pack — two single-snap straps and a third “double-wide” with two snaps (they aren’t sold individually, unfortunately) in black or white. On my desk, I’ve got two Lightning cables corralled by the double strap, and a single holding down my iPad Air’s USB-C charging cable. (I also use that cable for charging any review Android phones I might have.) I don’t yet have a use for the third strap, but I’m sure I’ll find one.
Yes, this solution is pricey, but the straps look great and they can be moved without the adhesive weakening or leaving residue. As my desk evolves, I can move them around as needed.
My desk looks a lot better, and most importantly, I feel like I’ve finally kept that promise to my wife. Far fewer eyerolls, for now!