ZNAPS -The $9 Magnetic Connection Adapter

ZNAPS is a specially designed magnetic connection adapter for your mobile devices. If you thought the Macbook MagSafe Charger was awesome, you can soon replicate it on your mobile device.

ZNAPS is a simple yet perfect solution to prevent frayed charging cables, tripping over cable resulting in smashed phones, pointless fiddling to plug in cable in the dark, water damage through charging outlet, and more! This innovative magnetic charging adapter will make your life just a bit more convenient.

ZNAPS supports charging process as well as data synchronization and it’s designed for both Lightning cable (iPhone) and Micro-USB cable (Android). You simply plug it into your port and a small protrusion will show, but it’s so small it shouldn’t really affect you. Znaps claims you can even continue to use your cases without an issue.

Is it worth US$9?

If you are the type that values every single bit of extra convenience, then this might be useful. Especially when you need to fiddle in the dark to fit a micro USB cable the right side up. However, USB-C will solve some of the connection challenges with the reversible plug, and there’s also wireless charging. However, point to note is that wireless charging still have its limitations and doesn’t offer the same charging speeds and data transfers are impossible with it. Sadly, we do still need them cables, so we should at least have better ones. However, I tend to charge my phone in many places, in the car, at work, at a friend’s, using a portable charger, and the list goes on. Which means ZNAPS usage gets very expensive in order for me to have the magnetic convenience at all my usage points. Yes, there’s a keychain concept which allows you to bring along the ZNAPS adapter, but that defeats the convenience isn’t it?

Btw, just an interesting observation, it seems like the Chinese might have came up with a similar idea first. This Wsken Micro USB charger cable sees a similar concept to the ZNAPS and it is already available for shipping.

Verdict

ZNAPS looks like a fun gadget to have, but becomes expensive if you tend to charge your mobile device from multiple locations. But I might be wrong, there’s already 9000+ backers and the project is over funded at close to 300% now. And there’s still 26 days to go! If you are interested, they are expected to ship November 2015, and worldwide, with an additional $3 shipping charge for Singapore folks.