Dear nomad products. I’m sorry. I was wrong to mock and laugh at the Universal Apple Watch Cable when you announced it early last year.
When I first saw photos, I sent them to friends and even family, laughing at the idea of an Apple Watch charging puck built into a USB-C charging cable.
I would consider myself a frequent traveler, as if I were not hopping on a plane for a quick work trip, but driving a few hours away to attend a baseball tournament. One of the last things I pack for every night hike is a charging setup for everyone accompanying me.
Typically that means a wall adapter, usually with two ports, along with a USB-C cable for an iPhone and an Apple Watch charger. I have a gallon-sized plastic bag that I use to hold everything, so it’s easy to access when it’s time to hit the road. Multiply that default setting by five people and I’m sure you can imagine the giant pile of spaghetti living inside said bag. It’s simply a disaster.
Over the years, I’ve tried, tested, and even reviewed several travel chargers, each designed to make charging faster on the go. Solutions like Mophie’s 3-in-1 portable travel charger, which folds up nicely to fit in a backpack, or Anker’s latest Prime wireless charging station. They both do what they advertise, but they are bulky. In Anker’s defense, that charging station isn’t advertised as a travel charger, but its size and overall design begs to be taken on a trip.
A couple of months ago Nomad sent me the Universal Cable for Apple Watch along with its 65W Slim Adapter to try. A few days later, I took an overnight trip and took both devices with me.
My initial thoughts after unpacking the cable were that it definitely looks strange and the end with the Apple Watch charging puck is heavier than I expected. The braided cable is the same as all other Nomad cables, meaning it’s built to last. I have one of Nomad’s 10-foot USB-C to USB-C cables that our robot vacuum has run over and chewed on more times than I can count, and it still doesn’t have a single mark on it.
Depending on your setup, you can plug the Apple Watch charger end into your wall adapter, leaving the standard USB-C end to connect to whatever device you’re charging, which makes sense if the charger is placed horizontally on a table or desk. This arrangement allows you to charge your watch while using and charging your phone, for example.
However, hotel exits are almost always located in inconvenient places, so I’ve been using it the other way around (with the Apple Watch puck near my iPhone) and it works perfectly for me. I usually don’t put my Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the charger until I’m getting ready in the morning or going to bed, at which point my phone is on the nightstand or desk anyway.
The cable can charge up to 100W with the right wall adapter, while the Apple Watch charger can quickly charge compatible models. These include the Apple Watch Ultra 1, 2, and 3, Series 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and the Apple Watch SE 3.
Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that you can also place AirPods Pro 2 or newer on the Apple Watch charger to complete the charging case. Premium!
What I like most about the Universal Cable for Apple Watch is that it speeds up what I have to pack. I no longer need to have multiple cables, which inevitably get tangled and look like a spider web when I take them out of my plastic bag.
It’s a single cable that can do multiple things, and for that reason, it’s now a staple in my travel kit, oddly enough.
Right now, Nomad Goods has it in stock in the 1.5 meter length (there are 0.5 meter and 3 meter sizes, but both are out of stock) for $85 / £69 / AU$129, in your choice of carbide or white. Indeed, it is expensive for a charging cable, but it is not just a cable. You’re paying for the added functionality of charging your Apple Watch, along with the durability that Nomad cables offer.
Cable-Cable
Universal cable for Apple Watch | 1.5m | Carbide
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