ChargeCard

• Pros

  Discreet and lightweight. Easily fits into most wallets. Charges and syncs devices. Flexible design.

• Cons Requires a power source. Rubbery surface grips to wallet pockets. Relatively expensive.
• Bottom Line

  The ChargeCard is a USB charging cable that comfortably fits into wallet pockets, making it easy to carry a spare cable with you at all times.

By Eugene Kim

Whether it's 30-pin, Lightning, or micro USB, a charging cable is an essential item for any mobile gadget lover. I try to keep a spare cable in my bag, but I don't always have my bag with me, and I can't tell you how many times I've been stuck with a drained device and multiple people vying for a single charging cable. That's what makes the ChargeCard ($25 direct) an ingenious little accessory?it's a USB charging cable packed into a wallet-friendly card. Currently, only the 30-pin option is shipping, but you can pre-order micro USB and Lightning versions for delivery in mid-April and mid-May respectively.

The ChargeCard measures 3.25 by 2 by 0.13 inches (HWD), which is shorter and narrower than your standard credit card, but more than twice as thick. On one end, a plastic 30-pin connector juts out, while a pliable rubber strip runs down the middle and terminates in a USB connector. The USB strip bends out in either direction, and easily pops back into place when not in use. ?There's a grippy rubber material lining the edges, which helps make sure the card doesn't slip out of your wallet, but also makes it harder to remove, especially if your wallet is already packed with other items. The ChargeCard uses standard USB 2.0, meaning you can use it for simultaneous charging and data transfer. It also outputs at up to 3.1 amps, so it will work with high-amp output USB chargers.

I tested with a number of bi-fold, tri-fold, and low-profile wallets. The ChargeCard easily fit into every wallet I tried, adding minimal bulk in the process. In a slimmer wallet, where I can normally fit two credit cards into one slot, I found that I could only fit the ChargeCard and something thinner like a MetroCard or business card. When using the ChargeCard, the pop-out USB strip is only about 2 inches long, so you'll be on a much shorter leash, but this is all about convenience. Also keep in mind, the ChargeCard still requires a USB port on a computer or wall adapter to work. I tested the ChargeCard with an iPad 2?and iPhone 4S, both of which charged and synced perfectly, though the short cable length can make it tricky to position tablets. I plugged the ChargeCard into a number of USB ports, including a laptop port, USB wall charger, and Playstation 3 USB port, all of which worked fine.?

At $25, the ChargeCard is a bit pricey considering it's just a charging cable?Apple sells its own 30-pin-to-USB cable for $19, while third-party cables go for as little as $2 online. But try stuffing your spare cable into your wallet and you'll recognize just how useful this little accessory is.?

By Eugene Kim Junior Analyst, Consumer Electronics

Before joining the consumer electronics team at PCMag, Eugene worked at local news station NY1 doing everything from camera work to writing scripts. He grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from the University...

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