This 4-in-1 keychain charger is my new essential travel accessory

Finding yourself carrying a bunch of cables with you when you go traveling? Or you never have the right cable with you when you need it? You could roll up a cable and shove it into a pocket, or you could get a cable specifically designed to attach on your keychain. 

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One of the best keychain cables on the market is made by Rolling Square, and the new InCharge XS is a great 4-in-1 portable cable, especially if you’re looking for a fast-charging device. It allows data transfer and ultra fast charging up to 240W along with Apple’s fast charging up to 27W.

Rolling Square InCharge XS features

• Cable: USB-C to USB-C with Lightning adapter on one end, USB-A on the other
• Max charge: 240W
• Data transfer speed: 480Mbps / 60MBps
• Size closed: 80 x 15.5 x 15mm / 3.1 x 0.61 x 0.59in
• Size open: 155 x 15.5 x 15mm / 6.1 x 0.61 x 0.59in
• Weight: 34g / 1.2oz
• Materials:
  Metal housing
  200 braided copper wires
  N52 magnets
  TPU reinforced cable
  Nylon reinforcement
  Aramid fiber 

The InCharge XS is a compact 4-in-1 cable that is designed for a keychain. It is a 240W USB-C to USB-C cable with a Lightning adapter on one end, and USB-A on the other, allowing it to take on four configurations:

• USB-C to USB-C
• USB-C to Lightning
• USB-A to Lightning
• USB-A to USB-C

The ends of the cable are made from metal, and the cable itself is a flat ribbon that’s reinforced with nylon and aramid fiber. There’s also strong N52 magnets keeping the ends together, and a TPU end cap to protect the ends from wear and tear. 

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I’ve been testing these cables for a few weeks and I have to say that they live up to the hype. They carry 240W with no problems, they convert between the different configurations quickly and easily, and they clamp onto a keychain securely. In a few weeks of use, I’ve not managed to lose it, so that says a lot about how well it attaches.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you need a cable that’s unobtrusive enough to carry about with you on a keychain, or a cable that can handle USB devices and Apple’s Lightining port, the Rolling Square InCharge XS is a solid option. The only downside I can see is that the 155 mm/6 inches might be a little short for some larger devices. For example, it’s a bit short for charging a laptop. 

But other than that particular use case, I find this cable to be as close to perfect as a cable can be, and has earned a place in my kit.