Worried about sketchy accessories damaging your MacBook Pro? Here’s a nifty solution
Just like the 12 inch MacBook Retina, the latest line of Apple MacBook Pro laptops feature an array of USB Type-C ports, in place of the traditional set of different legacy ports common to most regular laptop brands. Controversy aside, the big advantage of replacing all legacy ports with USB Type-C, is tri-fold.
First, USB Type-C is capable of powering up a MacBook Pro, regardless of the port that is connected to the wall outlet, as all ports can handle voltage as high as 100W of electricity, in both directions.
Second, USB Type-C can handle all types of data transfer, including 5K video and beyond.
Lastly, USB Type-C is bi-directional, so it doesn’t matter which way it’s plugged in.
With that said, with great voltage, comes great responsibility from the side of accessories manufacturers, to ensure that quality standards are met, which is, sadly, not always the case.
With USB Type-C devices exempt from having to employ alternative power sources while connected, all the power they need comes from the same cable used to communicate with the laptop they are connected to.
When concerning portable external SSDs, or digital headphones, this not that big a deal, but when the devices in question include external displays, or bigger storage backups, the quality of the cables and interfaces used, can deal some serious damage to their host device.
Fortunately, hardware maker Satechi has created a USB Type-C accessory called Power Meter. As the name suggests, this is a device that sits right between your MacBook Pro’s (or any other laptop) USB Type-C port, and the device the laptop needs to be connected to, in order to detect any voltage abnormality, by displaying the direction of the current, as well as how much power is being used by a certain device.
Sadly, Power Meter has no “kill-switch” that automatically cuts the power when voltage is too high or too low, however the information provided on Power Meter’s screen is very useful in determining whether a device is safe or not, which is also a boon if it ever comes to warranty disputes, and liabilities.
The device is relatively cheap for its capability, retailing at around $30, and its design is decisively Apple-inspired, with an anodized aluminum case similar to the MacBook Pro’s.
Ready to shop?
If you are looking for the perfect MacBook, PortableOne has you covered with a great selection of Apple MacBooks, as well as the newly unveiled 13 inch and 15 inch MacBook Pro with TouchBar.