Whenever I want a good charger, I don’t look far from Anker. Their PD 3.1 and GaN chargers push up to 140W and work with almost anything. But switching to OnePlus and Realme's ecosystem taught me to be picky. Their phones prefer SuperVOOC, a proprietary standard that skips USB PD entirely.
So even with a powerful Anker brick, my phone caps around 18W unless I use the original parts. That’s why I guard my SuperVOOC charger like gold, considering they’re hard to replace in my region. Today, OnePlus once again proves that it's among the kings of chargers. The company has launched a 2-in-1 cable that powers two devices at once.
Supercharge your phone and watch
OnePlus’ multipurpose charging cable is designed to juice up your phone and watch simultaneously. The red and white colored cable carries a single USB-A connector on one end, which splits into a USB-C plug for your phone and a built-in magnetic charging puck for your watch.
It’s 120cm (1.2m) long and technically supports 67W SuperVOOC charging for compatible OnePlus phones and 10W for supported watches, including the OnePlus Watch 2, 2R, and both Watch 3 sizes. If you use it alone for your phone, you'll get up to 80W.
These figures still guarantee that you'll charge your device from 0 to near full in under 45 minutes, even while the watch is charging. Otherwise, it would be a major letdown, given that OnePlus and its sub-brands have built their reputation around true 40-minute-range charging.
It's been consistently tested and proven across multiple devices, including mine . So naturally, adding another device could raise concerns about power being split or speed being throttled. But as usual, there's one con that can't be escaped. The promised speed only applies if you’re using a proper SuperVOOC-compatible charging brick.
If you plug it into a standard USB-A charger, you won't get fast speeds. Meanwhile, the watch puck uses the same magnetic attachment method with pogo pins as the standalone charger, so it snaps onto the back of your watch easily.
Related: Smart 6-Port USB-C Charger Goes Green
A true two for one deal
OnePlus’ new cable doesn’t replace the full-speed 100W experience, but it’s a practical solution for those who want to have their cake and eat it too. You'll get fast speeds without carrying too many cables along wherever you go.
OnePlus has embedded an E-marker smart chip if you're the type to plug and forget your device. Your device will charge intelligently without overheating. The chip communicates with your charger and devices to detect optimal voltage and current levels to avoid damage.
The brand has also used thickened pure copper cores inside the cable to improve conductivity. Together, these enhancements make the cable technically sound and reliably built for the high demands of OnePlus’ ecosystem.
It’s now available on their official website for $30. Surprisingly, it costs exactly the same as their separate Watch charger but offers twice the functionality. That makes it a major steal.
