This $5 USB

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The other day, a friend of a friend brought over their car for me to check out.

It had a broken USB-C port on the dashboard.

There's always a tale of woe that comes with a damaged vehicle, especially when the owner feels even slightly responsible.

This story was no exception.

Apparently, a smartphone was plugged into the port when some kittens (yes, kittens!) darted into the road.

Cue sudden braking, the phone flying across the car, and the cable yanking out of the port, breaking it in the process.

But the story doesn't end there.

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The owner took the car to the dealership, where they were charged more than $100 in diagnostic fees to confirm the port was broken.

The dealership then quoted another $150 for the replacement part and installation, promising the part would arrive in a few days.

However, "a few days" turned into weeks, and weeks turned into three months.

That delay was because the port was so popular that it was on extended backorder.

The owner was desperate to fix the issue, worried that a broken port might hurt the car's resale value.

This part broke, and the dealer couldn't get a new one.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This part broke, and the dealer couldn't get a new one.

That's where I came in.

After searching online, I found a replacement port for just $30 (thanks, eBay), which arrived in three days.

The install itself took only minutes.

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Problem solved.

But I wanted to prevent this incident from happening again, which is why I recommended my favorite USB-C magnetic swiveling breakaway connectors .

USB-C magnetic swiveling breakaway connectors
This connector swivels 180 degrees and rotates 360 degrees, so it doesn't strain the connector at any angle.

Here's my solution for broken ports
As my regular readers know, I'm a huge fan of USB-C magnetic breakaway connectors.

So, I suggested that the owner use one.

And, as it happened, I had a few in my toolbag.

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This one I tested is so close (yet so far)
Now, I've tested many breakaway connectors over the years.

Straight ones , angled ones , even swivel ones .

But this particular connector adds a new skill to its repertoire -- it doesn't just swivel, it rotates too.

Swivel it, just a little bit!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This two-part connector can swivel across 180 degrees (actually a little more, but let's keep it simple) and rotate a full 360 degrees.

That capability makes it perfect for situations where the cable might get tugged or twisted.

And let me tell you, the swiveling and rotating action is silky-smooth, and stays that way.

I've had a few of these connectors in use for several weeks, and they're still as good as new.

The breakaway feature is also well-engineered.

The magnets are strong enough to keep the connector securely in place during regular use.

But if the cable is yanked too hard, the breakaway does exactly what it's supposed to do: disconnect cleanly to prevent damage.

The two parts of the connector.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The two parts of the connector.

When it comes to charging, these connectors are unbeatable and can handle 240W without overheating.

It's not just cars where these connectors excel.

They're effective anywhere ports can be broken.

They're great for handheld gaming consoles because I've lost count of how many charging ports I've fixed on things like Nintendo Switch consoles .

A breakaway connector like this would have prevented the damage in the first place.

The magnetic force is just right.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The magnetic force is just right.

The connectors are also handy for fitting to things like portable power stations because I see more and more damaged ports on those devices, often from units being moved while something is plugged in.

The magnets make it easy to realign the two parts of the connector, even if the port is in an awkward spot.

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Also, when it's time to remove the piece that fits into the port, the kit includes a handy plastic removal tool.

Lose the tool?

No problem.

You can wrap a bit of dental floss around the connector and pull it out that way (a much better option than breaking a fingernail, trust me).

There's a tiny blue LED light built into the connector.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There's a tiny blue LED light built into the connector.

The only limitation of this connector is its 480Mbps data throughput.

That rate is fine for low-speed applications, but it's not good enough for an external hard drive or docking station.

These swiveling breakaway magnetic USB-C connectors are among the cheapest I've seen -- $10 for a two-pack.

If you've already got some of the earlier breakaway connectors I've recommended, get these because you won't be disappointed.

And if you're new to these USB-C accessories, prepare to wonder why you've never used them before.

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