The Uno Cable sets out to solve a problem familiar to every gadget fan: all the different cables we need to carry with us to connect them to our MacBook. Uno can potentially mean carrying just one cable.
The Volta we have running in a promo does the job for those with older MacBooks with USB-A ports, while the Uno is designed for current models with USB-C ones …
I typically carry devices which span Lightning, USB-C and MicroUSB cables – meaning I need to carry at least three cables (plus an Apple Watch puck) even if I only need to connect one at a time.
The Uno Cable is a single USB cable with a MagSafe type magnetic attachment for three different tips:
- Lightning
- USB-C
- MicroUSB
You can also add a USB-C to USB-A adapter for even more flexibility (not included).
Personally, I typically want to charge everything overnight, so I’m used to carrying a bag of cables in my carry-on. But the time when it would be really handy to have an all-in-one cable is if I’m just out for the day with my MacBook Pro, and never know for sure what I might need to connect.
For example, a long unplanned phone call might drain my iPhone battery, or an idiot driver might mean I want to transfer video from my cycle-mounted GoPro. I don’t really want to carry a bunch of cables on the off-chance I might need one of them, so being able to cover all the bases with a single cable is appealing.
The Uno Cable hands-on
The Uno Cable appears to be a decent-quality one. It’s braided with fray-resistant necks to maximize longevity and is backed by a 10-year warranty. It’s thick enough to handle Apple Fast Charge and Qualcomm Quick Charge (versions 2 to 4). And it has a blue LED to show when it’s powered.
My test of a USB cable is charging my Sony a6300 from my MacBook. That draws a fair amount of power, and not all cables cope; this one does.
Each of the tips attaches quickly and easily – and they are equally easy to detach. The one issue with any magnetic tip system is what happens if the cable disconnects but the tip remains plugged into the device? I was able to pull out the tip alone from all the devices I tried, but the company does supply a plastic tip-removal tool just in case.
Any downsides? One. Yes, you can carry a single cable, but you still have three tips. These are small and easily lost. I was able to leave the USB-C tip connected, plugged into a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and then the two other tips attached magnetically to that. It’s a reasonably good setup, but I do worry about the tips coming detached in my bag and potentially going AWOL. We’ll see.
The Kickstarter price is decent, at $25 (or $21 if you’re quick). Multi-packs are also available.
It’s a Kickstarter project, so the usual risks apply. However, this is the company’s fifth Kickstarter project; it has worked with the same supply-chain partners for three years; working prototypes exist; and it’s fully-funded. All-in-all, I’d be pretty confident the cables will materialize.
The Uno Cable is available for pre-order on Kickstarter, with an official price of $25 and a few $21 rewards left at the time of writing. Delivery is set for July. The retail price will be $39.
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