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    Home»Technology

    This $14 retractable USB-C cable is my secret to surviving long car rides with my kids

    NCIJ NETWNCIJ NETWORKBy NCIJ NETWNCIJ NETWORKAugust 28, 2026 Technology No Comments5 Mins Read
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    Maria Diaz/ZDNET

    Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.


    The Talix retractable cable is typically $22, but on sale for $14 with an Amazon coupon. This USB-C to USB-C cable supports up to 240W, PD 3.2, making it powerful enough to quickly charge laptops and phones. This USB-C-to-USB-C cable is surprisingly fast and efficient for a 4-or 5-foot cable.

    Also: These 10+ car gadgets upgrade your daily commute for cheap

    If you see me out and about, chances are I’m carrying a charging cable. I don’t typically let my kids bring their tablets everywhere, but sometimes a four-year-old needs to wait 90 minutes for their sibling’s gymnastics class to end, and a tablet does the trick when the contents of my purse aren’t enough entertainment.

    Because of this, I keep a USB-C cord on my person or in my purse in case my phone or another device nearby dies, even if I’m not carrying my laptop. But cables can be cumbersome, especially when you’re trying to fit them into a tiny pocket in a bag or your pants.

    Also: This GaN charger is a cross between a yo-yo and a tape measure

    I’ve tried several retractable cables with little luck because they are either low-quality or their retractable mechanisms break down after a few uses. Truthfully, I was expecting much of the same when I tested this Talix 4-foot-long retractable cable. Yet it pleasantly surprised me. 

    Talix Retractable 240W Cable

    Maria Diaz/ZDNET

    The enclosure is the size of a compact mirror, so it fits easily in a purse and slides right into your pocket, with magnets to keep the ends neatly tucked onto its sides. It’s also surprisingly fast for a 4-foot cable, which comes in quite handy when I need to charge my laptop on the go.

    Also: I’ve tested dozens of robot vacuums – this new $599 Roborock has all the features I need

    Making the cable easily retract into a compact position makes it a good option for cars, since you won’t have long cables lying around to get tangled. 

    The 240W support means that I can easily charge my MacBook Pro without issues, making this retractable cable a perfect accessory to keep in a laptop bag. The enclosure is made of a smooth plastic that doesn’t snag or get stuck in your pockets, unlike some other cable materials.

    Talix Retractable 240W Cable

    Maria Diaz/ZDNET

    Aside from the magnetic mechanism, the ends also feature a rubber coating to prevent the corded threads around the cable from fraying and to protect the connectors’ integrity. 

    Also: The best early Labor Day Costco deals 2026: TVs, smartwatches, Apple devices, and more

    I do wish this cable had a button or other mechanism to roll it back, but a simple tug-and-release will do the job. I also wish you could pull just one side of the cable at a time, but that depends on the type of retractable mechanism inside the enclosure. Talix uses the type of mechanism that pulls out both ends, regardless of whether you pull one or both.

    How I rated this deal 

    Something as simple as a high-quality, long cable you can take anywhere can make a big difference in everyday life, especially if you travel with a laptop bag and multiple devices, or even if you just want something easy and light to tuck into a bag or pocket.

    This Talix retractable cable is typically priced at $22, which is already a great price for a quality retractable cable, but you can get it right now for $14 with an Amazon coupon. That’s why I gave this deal a 3/5 Editors’ deal rating. 

    While many sales events feature deals for a specific period, limited-time deals are subject to expiration at any time. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best offers to help you maximize your savings so you can feel as confident in your purchases as we are in our recommendations. Our ZDNET team of experts constantly monitors the deals we feature to keep our stories up-to-date. If you missed out on this deal, don’t worry — we’re continually sourcing new savings opportunities at ZDNET.com.


    Show more

    We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech. 

    In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.

    At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts. 

    Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026


    Show more

    Cable car kids long retractable Rides secret surviving USBC
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