Upgrading to USB-C - ZAGG helps with this transition

Website:ZAGG
Year:2024
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So you finally took the plunge and purchased an iPhone 15. After all, the kids have iPhone 14s so it’s time to upgrade yourself. You take your new purchase home only to discover the cords for all your older items are Lightning connectors and the new phone needs a USB-C connector Why the change? And why is everything new going to be USB-C?

The answer is that the European Commission decided years ago to switch everything over to USB-C, supposedly for convenience. They said it was for convenience but for the public it is not convenient, at least until all the other hardware in our homes are upgraded to the new system.

USB-C is the latest version of the Universal Serial Bus connector and most companies have already transitioned to USB-C. The holdout has been Apple. Last year they transitioned their iPads to USB-C and this year the iPhone 15 is the final product to convert to the new connectors. USB-C is the newest technology in connectors, so from now on it will be the standard, until a newer type of USB is produced, everything you buy new will be USB-C based. As always, everything in the technology world is changing and with those changes the cost to consumers adds up.

But hold on. There is one way to get around the frustration of this new monkey wrench in the technology world for those who simply want our gadgets to work and not think about all the upgrades buying all new hardware to utilize USB-C. You will have to purchase some new adapters and cords, however it is much cheaper than purchasing new computers, keyboards, Apple TV remotes, keypads, etc.

Zagg to the rescue

Zagg is a company I have trusted for years. Their products are first rate and they offer plenty of ways to help consumers adjust to the new USB-C system.

First you must make a list of all your products that are still using standard USB, Micro-USB (very old products), and Lightning connectors. Don’t forget the plug in your car. All those connectors need to be changed, or as they say in the technology world, upgraded.

Starting with the car charger, ZAGG has several options. There is a single USB-C outlet, a dual USB-C outlet, and a dual combination USB and USB-C outlet. Just select which one best fits with your uses, keeping in mind all the products you plug into your car charger. For most people it is simply their phone, however many like the additional outlet for a tablet or a secondary phone for passengers.

Now think of the wall chargers. With GaN technology charging is faster and the unit stays cooler. GaN stands for Gallium Nitride. The old chargers utilized silicon-based chargers. GaN chargers are usually smaller than the older chargers. With faster charging and cooler units, this is definitely a giant leap in the world of chargers. Who doesn’t want a faster charge? Even though they might be a tad more expensive, they are worth the price.
Once again ZAGG offers a variety of fast wall chargers utilizing the GaN technology. Besides combinations of input/output plugs (USB-C and USB), there are single ports and double ports, just like the car chargers. And they also offer a variety of wattage with their line of speedport chargers. 67W is a good choice if you want fast charging. They also have 45W, 42W, 30W, and 20W. The price varies on the different chargers depending on how many outlets (ports) and the wattage. The speedport 120 incorporates 4 ports (wow, think of charging 4 items at once) and the speedport 120 travel kit includes a travel case as well as two cables (USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning (they thoughtfully recognize users still need lightning for older devices). Keep in mind, the speedport 120w does not put out 120 watts per port. Rather it is shared between the various devices plugged into the charger. But even if you have several devices plugged in at the same time, it is still faster than old chargers, and cooler too.

The ZAGG chargers utilize “smart circuitry” so your device, whether it is a phone, tablet, or something else will dictate how much power it needs to charge. This takes the worry out of charging when using a higher watt charger. It won’t blow up or damage your device, like the public was cautioned about years ago.

Now you have your car charger and your wall chargers, the next step is to get cables. Make a list of what devices you have using the different ports. Then select how many USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning, USB to USB-C cords you want and their length. For cars most users prefer the shorter cords. In homes the outlet might be farther away so a longer cord is in order. The ZAGG cables are sturdy, well made, won’t crack or tear after a few uses, and keep their shape so there won’t be any kinks.

Now you have the accessories for your new USB-C enabled device. The first purchase along with the phone should have been a screen protector. There is a variety of strong protectors. My personal favorites are the one with “VisionGuard” meaning there is a Blue Light Filter on the protector. Eyes are important and if you watch your screen a lot, they often get tired and/or blurry. The VisionGuard protectors cut down on that.

And for added protection to your new phone, the Crystal Palace Snap Ultra Slim case is easy to hold and being clear, it won’t change the beautiful new color of your phone that Apple took much care in producing. There is the option to have the case with a “kickstand” so you can pop it out and it will keep your phone standing up. This definitely comes in handy and when you don’t need to stand up the phone, it just clicks back and doesn’t take up any additional space. The cases protects phones for up to a 13 foot drop. And after you’ve already paid big bucks for the new phone, this additional purchase is a must-have for peace of mind.

The next item is a wireless charger. These definitely come in handy however many people prefer simply to plug in their devices. That’s up to you. Whether you want to charge one phone or a phone, watch, earbuds at once, there is a wireless charging pad with all these options.

And finally, well not finally because there are plenty more items from ZAGG to make your life easier, there is a combination UV sanitizer with wireless charging. How often do you clean and sanitize your phone? This is something that is often overlooked. Sure, you might wipe it down with a cloth to get the dirt or smudge off, but that is different than sanitizing. In this day and age where viruses run rampant, it behooves users to sanitize their phones often. After all, they are next to your face. Keeping germs at bay is a must in today’s world. Viruses and bacteria get zapped with the UV sanitizer, and this unit does double duty because it is also a wireless charger.

So those of us in the United States have Europe to thank for all this craziness about USB-C “upgrades.” As with most upgrades, once users get used to them they are fine. Unfortunately, most users will not be purchasing all new hardware (computers, keyboards, track pads, etc) at the same time just so everything uses USB-C. This will be a gradual thing. So, in the meantime count on ZAGG to help make the transition a bit easier. As you slowly change out your older hardware to the new USB-C standard, you’ll find most of your needs will be USB and USB-C. Lightning is a thing of the past. Unfortunately Apple relied on lightning but is now embracing the world standard USB-C.

For a complete look at the options from ZAGG (a company I highly endorse, as you can tell), visit their website.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County and is a regular contributor on Good Day Orange County.