From a geek’s perspective, having a device that can do two things instead of one is always preferable. So the Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch is a clever way to trim down a travel bag or cut the clutter from your desk. The only problem is that this 2-in-1 cable is far more expensive than simply having two charging cables.
Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch
This particular charging cable can charger you Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time.
- Metal housing for Apple Watch charger
- Functional design
- Great for travel
- Much higher cost than buying two individual cables
- One side might not fit in every port because of surroundings
- Cable wrap is not removable
Price and Availability
The Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch is available for purchase now at Nomad. It retails for $100. If you want other Nomad USB-C cables without the Apple Watch charging puck, those come in 0.3m, 1.5m, and 3m lengths and range from $20 to $35.
Specifications
- Charger Type
-
USB-C / Apple Watch fast-charger
- Cable Length
-
1.5m
- Compatible With
-
All USB-C ports / all Apple Watches
The Beauty of Combining Two Chargers Into One
I love a good hack, so I was into Nomad’s Universal Cable for Apple Watch as soon as I saw it. Integrating an Apple Watch charger into a USB-C cable is clever. It worked like I thought it would too.
Beyond what you can see, the Universal Cable for Apple Watch can do up to 100W of power in total. It fast-charges an Apple Watch, but that doesn’t take much power, so you’re left with plenty for an iPhone, iPad, laptop, or whatever else you need to charge with USB-C.
My first concern was that the metal housing of the watch charger would obstruct powering another device in some way, but that hasn’t been my experience. Whether the watch portion is next to the device or next to the charger, it’s workable as a standard USB-C cable. It even fits in the front port of the new Mac mini M4.
There may be some instances where a narrow power adapter won’t accommodate the fat end, but in that case, flipping it around should do the trick.
I tried letting my watch dangle in different scenarios to see if it would stay attached and charging. In most cases, it worked fine. This cable is more versatile than it may appear. I also liked the metal housing, which made the watch portion feel strong and secure. I’m not too concerned with banging it around a bit.
For other areas of strength, Kevlar is used throughout for reinforcement and the USB-C end connectors are also metal. In early use, in and out of my house, I feel pretty confident that this cable should hold up to daily wear. And frankly, it needs to last a long time because of its steep price.
The Price Will Shock You
This is a fairly simple product for consumers. There’s not much to it or much to dislike. I took the cable on a trip and liked what it offered when using it in the real world.
The most divisive thing about the product itself is its integrated rubber cable tie that isn’t removable. The material feels good to handle and can be useful, but it’s also gotten in my way at times. That’s debatable. What isn’t uncertain is that the $100 price is all out of whack.
For well under $25 you can buy two cables to do the same 100W USB-C charging and Apple Watch fast charging. Even Nomad’s own 1.5m 240W USB-C cable with Kevlar retails for $25—a $75 difference for the integrated Apple Watch charger.
Presumably, the cost disparity is because of the manufacturing process. There might be a justifiable reason for the cost. We haven’t seen this kind of hybrid cable before. Nomad is great at making drool-worthy products with prices comparable to competitors. But for whatever reason, the price of this one is astronomical and keeps it from being a slam dunk.
Should You Buy the Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch?
The Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch is a great product that’s extremely hard to recommend. It’s clever in how it can reduce clutter on your desk, nightstand, or travel bag, but it’s also not solving a major problem for most people. What’s one cable instead of two?
If the product was under $50, it would also be far easier to recommend to the ultra-minimalists who just love fewer things.
I love new gadgets and can usually find any excuse to justify their costs. Here, I’m having a hard time. If you just want it, the Universal Cable for Apple Watch is a solid product—go for it. But I’m not sure that anyone needs this product at its full price.
Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch
This particular charging cable can charger you Apple Watch and iPhone at the same time.
