Accessory maker Griffin on Wednesday added four new models to its BreakSafe charging lineup with the 100-watt BreakSafe Hi-Power Magnetic USB-C Breakaway Cable, BreakSafe USB Breakaway Adapter, BreakSafe Car Charger and BreakSafe Wall Charger.
Third-party manufacturers like Griffin are quickly filling the gap left by Apple's MagSafe, a widely praised breakaway charging cable technology that appears to have reached end of life with the latest MacBook Pro models. Griffin's BreakSafe, while less elegant than Apple's integrated version, features a similar quick-release magnetic connector that protects laptops from drops due to cord yanks and other mishaps.
New for 2017 is the BreakSafe Magnetic Hi-Power USB-C Breakaway Cable, a 100-watt (20 volts at 5 amps) variant with USB-C connector that directly targets high-power applications like the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Like past BreakSafe models, the included two-piece magnetic adapter is engineered to maintain a constant electrical connection to power and serve data to a host computer. When strain is exerted on the cable, the connector breaks cleanly away.
In addition to the high-power USB-C model, Griffin introduced a standard USB-A version called the BreakSafe Magnetic USB Breakaway Adapter. Like the USB-C model, Griffin's USB Breakaway Adapter handles standard USB 2.0 power and data, making it an ideal solution for printers, disk drives and other legacy USB devices.
Finally, the BreakSafe Wall Charger and BreakSafe Car Charger introduce the breakaway concept to smartphones and other mobile equipment by integrating a female USB plug and accompanying charging system.
Griffin's USB Breakaway Adapter is set to sell for $19.99 when it goes on sale later this quarter. The Hi-Power Magnetic USB-C Breakaway Cable, BreakSafe Car Charger and BreakSafe Wall Charger all cost $39.99 and are due to ship in the second quarter of 2017.