OnePlus makes Apple Watch owners jealous with novel charging cable
It's called, rather unappealingly, the OnePlus 2-in-1 SUPERVOOC Cable. It has a USB-A connector at one end, and a USB-C connector at the other. So far, so like any other boring USB charging cable.
Recommended Videos
But this 1.2m cable has a bonus feature; a built-in POGO pin connector part way along the distinctive red cord.
Why? So you can charge your OnePlus Watch at the same time as your smartphone, without the need for multiple cables or a chunky multi-charging stand.
So how does it work?
The cable can deliver charging speeds up to 80W when connected to a handset (with a supported charging block), but connect a OnePlus Watch to the cable as well and the wearable will draw 10W, with up to 67W heading to your phone.
OnePlus says it's included an 'E-marker smart chip' in the cable to help protect your devices from power surges, which is reassuring to know.
You don't get the charging block with the cable though, so you'll need to supply your own with a USB-A port in it.
The POGO pin connector supports the OnePlus Watch 2, Watch 2R and the new OnePlus Watch 3 which launched earlier this year. We expect it will also support the smaller, 43mm Watch 3 when it arrives in the US in the coming months.
What about the Apple Watch?
As OnePlus' smartwatches use a specific size and shaped charging connector, you won't be able to charge wearables from other manufacturers with this cable – and that includes the Apple Watch.
Apple and third party manufacturers already offer an array of charging stands for multiple iDevices – you can even get 3-in-1 stands that'll charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch simultaneously. But these can run over $100 in some cases.
These stands also aren't as handy for travel. With the new OnePlus cable, owners of a compatible Watch need to pack just a single cable to charge both their wearable and phone when on the move. That's something Apple Watch owners currently can't do.
The concept seems so obvious now I'm looking at it with my own two eyes, but I can't say I'd ever dream up this configuration – so props to OnePlus on this one. It will be interesting to see if rivals take inspiration from this with cables for their own phone-watch combos.
The 2-in-1 cable will set you back $29.99 and is available from the OnePlus website now.
Via Notebookcheck
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
22 minutes ago
- CNET
I Tried This $40 Smartwatch: It Was Meh, but Not a Complete Waste of Time
I wasn't expecting much when I first strapped the WITHit Giga Smartwatch onto my wrist, and at least it delivered on that. This $40 smartwatch does the basics: shows notifications, counts your steps, tracks your heart rate (sort of) and lets you take calls from your wrist. But the execution of all these features is where it all starts to fall apart, and I found myself getting exactly what I paid for. After spending a week testing it, I came away with this: If you just want a basic smartwatch that works with both Android and iPhone, tells the time, tracks your steps and surfaces notifications, this will get the job done, just don't expect accuracy. But if you can stretch your budget even a little, something like the $75 Amazfit Bip 6 offers more accurate tracking, a more refined design and more reliable performance. The $40 WITHit Giga looks like an Apple Watch Ultra knock-off. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Design and UI: big, bulky, and basic The WITHit Giga is about as no-frills as smartwatches come. It looks like an Apple Watch Ultra impersonator: metallic frame around a rectangular screen, rounded edges and even Apple Watch-like icons inside. But that's where the similarities end. If your wrist is on the smaller side like mine (I have a 6-inch wrist), brace yourself because this is going to look huge. The Giga's 48.5mm case is overpowering, and there's no smaller size option. On my wrist, it felt bulky and out of place, and the thick, textured silicone bands definitely didn't help matters. The 2.04-inch AMOLED display is decent with a 386x448 resolution, but the screen brightness isn't adaptive. You'll need to manually adjust it, which means it's almost too bright at night and borderline unreadable in direct sunlight unless you increase the brightness manually. This watch runs its own proprietary system, syncs to the WITHit app and works with both Android and iOS. You'll get notifications, basic fitness tracking, an always-on display (which in my testing drained the battery fast) and a speaker/mic combo for answering calls. The UI is straightforward but lacks polish. Swiping right opens your favorites and the side button lets you quickly launch a workout. Animations feel slow and longer text scrolls in awkwardly to fit the screen. The non-adaptive screen on the WITHit Giga is nearly unreadable outdoors unless you manually crank it to full brightness. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET Battery life: Not bad but there's a catch Battery life is one of the few things that holds up well here. I got about three days of use with the raise-to-wake option, and roughly a day and a half with the always on display enabled. That's not bad for the price, and it's actually better than even some flagship smartwatches. But the manual comes with a big red flag: "Avoid fast chargers" and don't overcharge. That's not something you want to see in 2025, especially because at this point in my smartwatch charger collection I don't know which one is fast, and which one is not, and the vague warning makes me think it's going to explode if I make the wrong choice. Charging from an empty battery to full takes about two hours with the included magnetic charger. But once I left it charging overnight and I approached it with terror the next morning thinking I'd broken the "don't overcharge" rule. Luckily, I came out unscathed. Health and fitness tracking: lower your expectations Workout tracking and wellness is where the cracks really show. Yes, the Giga technically tracks heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), sleep, stress and menstrual cycles. But the accuracy is questionable at best. During workouts, heart rate measurements were consistently off when compared to a chest strap and even other wrist-based trackers. The post workout HR average was close enough, but the metrics during the workout were noticeably off. For example, as I was sitting on my Pilates reformer (completely sedentary) starting a workout on the watch, the screen already read "100bpm", while the chest strap and Apple Watch had me at 65 bpm. This made me skeptical of even the resting heart rate readings. Sleep tracking only works between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., meaning night shift workers or anyone with an irregular schedule (like this late-night writer) is out of luck. Sleep stats are also confusing; instead of clear sleep stages or hours of sleep, you get odd comparisons like "fewer than 26% of people in your age group go to sleep this late." Not exactly sure what I should do with this information. Menstrual tracking is purely manual, based on averages, with no biological marker detection like temperature tracking. You can't even log a period directly from the watch and have to do it from the app. Other smartwatch features Calls: As long as your phone is within range, you can answer and make phone calls from the watch with its speaker and mic, but clarity is an issue. Texting: You can see texts from messaging apps, but you can't reply or even send a prewritten response (when paired to an iPhone). Voice Assistant: Technically available, but is basically just a shortcut to activate your own phone's assistant. You tap, and Siri or Google Assistant opens on your phone, not the watch. Not helpful. Quick settings: Save your recently used apps in quick settings, which actually made flipping between features like workouts and music controls more convenient — this is a win. Should you buy it? The WITHit Giga does the bare minimum you'd expect from a smartwatch, but at the expense of accuracy and attention to detail. For $40, it's a functional notification mirror with step tracking, call support and a splash of health features (if you're looking for a general overview at best). But if you can stretch your budget, something like the $80 Amazfit Bip 6 offers far better value, accurate health tracking, cleaner UI and better battery life. Bottom line: If you keep your expectations low, and you're just dipping your toes in the smartwatch waters for the first time, this might suffice. Otherwise, it's worth paying more for something that feels less like a toy and more like a tool.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Score the Garmin Vivoactive 5 for less than ever and level up your fitness tracking
With the weather heating up, it's the perfect time to take your workouts outside, whether that means hitting the pavement or exploring a trail. And if you're looking to keep tabs on your stats while you're at it, a reliable fitness smartwatch can make all the difference. Enter the Garmin Vivoactive 5, now going for just $190 (down from $300). That's a rare 37% off and the lowest it's ever been. The deal covers the black model, but if you're into a pop of color, the Orchid version is also sitting pretty at $190.99. Why the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is worth your money The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a standout fitness wearable that gives big-name smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch a run for their money. While it leans more toward fitness tracker than full-on smartwatch, it's packed with built-in activity profiles for everything from hiking and weightlifting to golf, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and rock climbing. Furthermore, the built-in GPS has your distance and pace covered, so you can leave your phone behind and still stay on track. It's loaded with over 30 built-in sports apps for everything from running and cycling to HIIT and more, making it an excellent choice for athletes. There's even a wheelchair mode that tracks pushes instead of steps, which is a thoughtful touch. On top of that, sleep tracking and the Body Battery feature give you smart recovery tips, so you know when to power through and when to take it easy. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 steps up its sleep tracking with built-in coaching to help you get better rest. When we tested it, what really stood out was how light and comfy it felt on the wrist, not to mention the sharp AMOLED screen and a battery that keeps going for up to 11 days. Design-wise, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 sports a bright, roomy AMOLED touchscreen that's easy on the eyes. Garmin also doubled the storage from 4GB to 8GB, handy for apps and offline music. And when it comes to GPS, it's more accurate than before, now tapping into Beidou and QZSS satellite systems for better tracking wherever you go.
The Verge
an hour ago
- The Verge
I asked Alexa Plus to tackle my to-do list — it mostly failed
One of the best features of Amazon's new Alexa Plus is that I don't have to 'speak Alexa' anymore. I've been testing the voice assistant for about a week now, and it understands what I say, regardless of how I say it — there's no more need for precise phrasing to get Alexa to do what I want. This big shift underpins another headline feature of the revamped generative AI-powered assistant that I've been testing: agentic AI. But this one needs work. The idea is I can talk to Alexa Plus as I would to a real personal assistant and ask it to do tasks, such as reserving a restaurant for my friend's birthday, finding an electrician to fix my broken sprinkler pump, or booking tickets to a Chris Isaak concert. The assistant can then act as an 'AI agent' and navigate online services on my behalf to book everything for me. Combined with better calendar management and the ability to remember things you tell it, Alexa's agentic AI has the potential to make the assistant much more useful. Alexa's AI agent features are neither broad enough nor seamless enough to replace my real-life personal assistant: me At least in theory. In reality, it's too limited. Alexa Plus relies on partnerships with specific services; it can't just roam the web and do my bidding. As of now, that includes Ticketmaster, OpenTable, Uber, and Thumbtack. While impressively, Alexa did manage to complete several steps, overall, the AI agent's current features are neither broad enough nor seamless enough to replace my real-life personal assistant: me. Alexa Plus is still in an Early Access beta phase, and Amazon says more integrations are coming soon. These include ordering groceries by voice (via 'several grocery providers in the US'), delivery through Grubhub, and booking spa visits through Vagaro. These may be more useful to me, especially grocery ordering. I already use Alexa for my shopping list, but I then have to put everything into my Harris Teeter shopping app for pickup or delivery. If Alexa could take that list and add it to a service like Instacart, it would cut out a chunk of work for me. Of the three agentic experiences I tested, the best was booking a ticket to an event through Ticketmaster. After a dodgy start — when I asked about sports events and was told about a youth basketball training session — I tried again. 'What events are there in Charleston next month that you can buy me tickets for?' Alexa produced a list of about 10 local sports events and concerts on the Echo Show 15 I was using (Alexa Plus is much more useful on a screened device). It told me, 'You've got music shows like Blackberry Smoke and Mike Campbell on August 5th and Collective Soul on August 6th. There's also a Cure tribute band on August 2nd. Anything catch your interest?' I spotted a Chris Isaak concert in the list (I love a good Wicked Game) and told it to book me tickets. It found balcony seats for $98.15 each and asked how many I wanted, while also showing me more expensive options. I selected the cheap seats, and it walked me through each step as it added them to my cart, ending with a checkout button where my credit card details were pre-populated. (I'd linked my Ticketmaster account in the Alexa app when I first set up Alexa Plus.) I canceled before purchasing, because I don't love a Wicked Game $200 much, and Alexa confirmed that the tickets were released. However, alarmingly, later that day, a pop-up in the Alexa app told me that anyone with access to my Alexa devices can order tickets. Amazon: I'll take a PIN option here, please. Next, I asked Alexa to 'book a dinner for two in downtown Charleston for tomorrow night at 7PM.' It returned three options, which is just sad — Charleston has a hopping foodie scene. I picked a French spot I'd been to before and changed it up, asking Alexa to 'make it for two weeks on Friday.' Unfazed, Alexa understood, pivoted and confirmed availability for Friday, July 31st, at 7PM, then asked if I wanted to book. After I confirmed, it said it would also add the reservation to my linked Gmail calendar. Handy! Alexa had messed up the date Or so I thought. I then received a text message from OpenTable, confirming my reservation for Thursday, July 31st. Alexa had messed up the date. I told Alexa to switch the reservation to Friday, August 1st, and it did, also updating my calendar. While it eventually booked the table, Alexa took longer to do it and was less accurate than if I'd just opened the OpenTable app on my phone (or more realistically, the Resy app that most restaurants in Charleston use) and done it myself. Finally, I had Alexa tackle a chore I've been putting off for two years: finding an electrician. I've been meaning to get the circuit for my sprinkler pump fixed for ages. It's on the same one as my internet router, so when the pump kicks in, it trips the circuit — and down goes my Wi-Fi. The big difference is that I did all of this hands-free I told Alexa I needed an electrician to fix the sprinkler system, and asked if it could book one. It pulled a list of several 'highly rated electricians' in my area via Thumbtack, highlighting the top three. I picked one and asked it to schedule a visit for a week from now. Alexa asked several follow-up questions about my house and the specific issue — it felt a bit like filling out a webform with my voice. Alexa, then said it was working on sending the request through the Thumbtack website, and that I'd get updates soon. A few hours later, still no word from Alexa. But I received an email from Thumbtack (the first of many…) and a text message from the electrician asking me to call or text to schedule an appointment. Not exactly the seamless set-it-and-forget-it experience I'd hoped for. Still, the big difference is that I did all of this hands-free. I could be setting up dinner dates and finding electricians while cooking dinner or folding laundry. As a working mother of two, anything that helps with multitasking so I can complete my to-do list faster is welcome. But while the tech is impressive, the lack of depth and the failures I experienced in two out of my three tests mean I don't plan to rely on Alexa to do these tasks for me just yet. Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
