Griffin preps MagSafe-like USB-C power adapter, Acer & Lenovo unveil USB-C monitors

On Monday, a trio of companies announced new gear suited to the USB-C port on the 12-inch Retina MacBook. Griffin revealed a MagSafe-like power adapter, while Acer and Lenovo teased compatible monitors.

Griffin's BreakSafe is designed to mimic the ability of MagSafe cables to quickly break away if a person trips or otherwise tugs on them. A magnetic connector plugs into the USB-C port, while an included 6-foot cable links to Apple's official USB-C charger.

The BreakSafe should ship in April for $39.99.

Acer's H7 series of monitors will come in 25- and 27-inch sizes, supporting resolutions up to 2560x1440. Relying on USB-C will allow MacBooks to not only upscale graphics but charge at the same time. The monitors are also equipped with built-in speakers, and extra ports for HDMI and conventional USB devices.

Acer is promising 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color gamut. Models should begin shipping in February, starting at $499.99.

Lenovo's planned entries are the ThinkVision X1 and X24 Pro. The latter is a 1080p monitor, but with built-in speakers, an Intel RealSense 3D camera, and Mini DisplayPort connections. It should ship in May for $399.

The X1 is a 27-inch display with resolutions up to 3840x2160. It's a 10-bit panel with 99 percent coverage of sRGB, and on top of USB-C offers HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 connections. It should also arrive in May, but for $799.

12 Comments

ppietra 288 comments · 14 Years

About 8 years ago

I think Apple should have invented something like this, it makes a lot of sense and is coherent with the MacBook legacy

cropr 1142 comments · 11 Years

Just wondering how far Apple will go to embrace the new USB-C products that are being launched. I can imagine Apple will quickly move to USB-C on all Macs, but what about iPads/iPhones. Would it be nice to connect an external USB-C monitor to an iPad, or is it just me alone thinking about that?

crowley 10431 comments · 15 Years

I thought the generally accepted reason that we weren't seeing generic magnetic ports and connectors was because Apple owned patents on the implementation? If Griffin can do this, then why couldn't magnetisation be part of the USB-C spec?

right_said_fred 805 comments · 17 Years

cropr said:

Just wondering how far Apple will go to embrace the new USB-C products that are being launched. I can imagine Apple will quickly move to USB-C on all Macs, but what about iPads/iPhones. Would it be nice to connect an external USB-C monitor to an iPad, or is it just me alone thinking about that?

Apple still don't provide any kind of adapter so you can use the macbook (usb-c) with their own (thunderbolt / mini display port) monitors. I can buy for cheap a USB-C to mini display port adapter, it works fine except you cant charge macbook.
if they decide to embrace USB-C on more products, they might want to offer suitable adapters, even if they a third party.

right_said_fred said:

Apple still don't provide any kind of adapter so you can use the macbook (usb-c) with their own (thunderbolt / mini display port) monitors. I can buy for cheap a USB-C to mini display port adapter, it works fine except you cant charge macbook.
if they decide to embrace USB-C on more products, they might want to offer suitable adapters, even if they a third party.

I don't think Apple would be able to do a USB-C to Thunderbolt adaptor, so they probably wouldn't want to do a USB-C to mDP adaptor either, to save confusion.