Andrew O'Hara
Accessory maker Ampere is out with a new magnetic charging puck for your Apple Watch that is both durable and fast, making it a great companion for travel.
Fast charging is supported on the Apple Watch Series 7, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra. While fast charging is a big draw for newer Apple Watch models, this style of charger can still power up any Apple Watch you own though, all the back to the original Series 0 — as it's now referred.
Ampere Charging Cable
High quality materials
Everything about the Ampere Apple Watch charging puck feels purposeful. It's a simple device, but the company has tried to make the most of its limited features.
For example, the cable isn't just a wire, as it is braided to provide additional durability and prevents tangles. Ampere uses this opportunity to make the braid from recycled ocean plastics.
The casing of the charger could be plastic, but Ampere opted for anodized aluminum. Aluminum cools faster to maintain the highest charging speeds, and it also provides a better feel.
If we had to posit one way Ampere could make this charger better, we woud've loved to see a silicone foot on the bottom. Native Union put a silicone grip on the bottom of its charger, and it made a big difference.
As soon as we'd take our watch off the charger, it would slide around. That silicone would add some much-needed grip and prevent it from moving on us.
The cable is two meters long, enough to reach behind your desk or nightstand. It uses a USB-C connector, so it supports all your current Apple products.
Rapid, reliable charging
Ampere is one of the rare companies that has released an MFi-certified Apple Watch charging puck and has secured the fast charging module.
Several accessory companies have told AppleInsider that Apple's fast charging module has been near-impossible to source for large-scale manufacturing, leaving many products to use the older, slower module instead.
Fast charging is a newer feature, arriving with Apple Watch Series 7. It will deliver an 80 percent charge in only 40 minutes.
We've transitioned most of our chargers to fast-charging ones, so back peddling to slower ones is difficult. We sleep track with our Apple Watch, so a fast charger is essential to ensure it's topped off throughout the day and the night.
Should you buy the Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable?
Apple's first-party charger is nice. Besides the fact it doesn't cost you anything extra to buy, it's well-made and uses USB-C too.
But many folks like having a second charger around or are looking for one with a longer cable than the one that came in the box. Ampere's is a wonderful alternative to Apple's charging cable.
It supports fast charging, is as eco-friendly as a cable can be, is durable, has a two-year warranty, and is made of premium materials. For us, it checks all the boxes.
Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable Pros
- Eco-friendly with ocean plastics for braid & plastic-free packaging
- Fast charge support on Apple Watch Series 7
- Long two-meter length
- Premium anodized aluminum body
- USB-C connector
- Apple-certified
Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable Cons
- Could use a non-slip bottom
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy
The 2m Ampere Apple Watch Charging Cable sells for $39 directly from Ampere.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
14 Comments
Website shows $49.
Apple's USB-C charging cable is only $29. If you want a fast charging cable, and want to save money, but the Apple cable.
The longer cable is very helpful if you have a standing desk, need to route the cable through a wire management harness, or want more placement flexibility when using a charging dock that uses the Apple Watch cable/puck. These are the reasons why I use a 2m USB-A Apple Watch charging cable with my 5th Gen Apple Watch. The charger itself is plugged into my UPS/Surge Protector that sits on the floor under my standing desk and the cable runs through a grommet on the desktop.
My biggest complaints with the charging cable/puck that Apple sells or puts in the box are the slippery back coupled with the too-stiff cable. For some reason the puck always wants to flip, slip, and slide around on whatever surface I place it on, especially on bedside tables in hotels. It lives up to its puck name. Once the watch is sitting on the puck everything calms down a bit, but due to the stiffness and torsion on the cable you’re usually left with an awkward loop of protruding cable to snag your fingers on whenever you’re checking the time in the middle of the night.
Does the Ampere charger still exhibit the cable stiffness and torsion behaviors with the additional jacket of braided material?