Home > Consumer Reviews > iPod / iPhone USB Data Sync & Charger Retractable Cable

This cable works both for syncing (USB 1.1 and 2.0) and for charging your iPod. It can be used to connect the iPod directly to a computer or to any iPod peripherals (such as iPod power adapters/chargers) that use a USB connector. I have only used mine with a 5G (video) iPod, but I imagine it would work just as well with any iPod with a dock connector. Basically, this will work anywhere Apple's own $20.00 non-retractable dock connector cable would.

The cable extends to a full length of approx. 3 feet. It "locks" at its full extension to prevent the retraction mechanism from constantly tugging on your iPod, putting strain on the connectors, pulling it off the table, etc. It has 4 additional "lock" points at shorter lengths (genius idea!) so you can take advantage of that lock mechanism without having the full 3 feet of cord drooping from the iPod.

The build quality is pretty solid. The central housing and retraction mechanism are robust, the cords are flexible but hold their shape over time, and (importantly) the connectors are nicely built -- they fit well and connect smoothly, no forcing or wiggling required to insert them. I've had no problems with data integrity or transfer speeds using this cable, and I've had no trouble using it to charge the iPod either from a PC or from an iPod power adapter (I've read reviews of similar products where people have had trouble either syncing or charging -- not with this product).

I have used mine daily for the last 6 months (extending/retracting it several times a day) and it's seen a fair amount of travel -- and it's still like new. The housing is sound; the cords are completely intact (no cracking or twisting of the plastic covering, no weakness where they join the connectors); the spring hasn't lost any tension (the cords still retract fully); the connectors still connect smoothly.

This cable performs just as well as Apple's own dock connector cable (usually about $20.00) and just as well as any other retractable cables on the market (usually $25.00+ in stores). I'm not one to skimp on quality -- I wouldn't buy an ultra-cheap iPod charger for fear that cheap components might overload and fry the iPod. This is a solid, reliable product, just at an incredibly reasonable price! It's very convenient and cuts down the tangle for travel (or even at your desk). Even if you are worried about somehow breaking it from overuse, go ahead and buy a second -- after all, you can buy 12 or more of these for the price of any similar cable you would see in stores!

Being that this product was a mere $.33 when I bought it, I wasn't expecting much. The reviews said mostly positive things about it, but there are times when I speculate the validity of others ill advised opinions. That being said, this product broke my expectations.

The retract feature works much better than I ever thought it would. I have had retractable ethernet cables before that were very cheaply made, resulting in a broken cable and increased latency. This product, on the other hand, is very simply made but with quality components. The retract feature works seemingly flawless.

In addition, I had no problems charging or using data transfer. It connected and transferred flawlessly.

The only thing that bothered me was the high shipping cost. I purchased 3 to have on hand at work/home/laptop bag and paid ~$1 for the product, but a wopping $9 for shipping. Nearly 10x the cost of the product for shipping? That just seems unreasonable.

It's not bad at all, just don't expect much for how much it is. Everything's good about it except sometimes its very slow syncing with my iPhone (mostly slows down itunes)... but no biggy if you're patient and realize how much you bought it for

this product is dirt cheap and it does a good job at charging, but thats about it. when it comes to retracting the mechanism does not lock and it breaks easily. i got one and upon leaving bad review they sent me a new one, not 5 seconds after opening it the darn thing broke, so now im stuck with a cable which does the job but i guess one cant be picky if its only one cent, if u want a retractable cable this is not the cable for u

I figured for $0.02 for the cable and $2.97 for shipping, I could afford to take a chance on something that probably wasn't going to be good, but which might be good enough. Boy, was I surprised! The cable is exactly what I needed and saved me at least $20 over the cheapest local alternative. Everyone wants to sell you chargers and docking stations, when all you usually need is a USB-to-iPod cable. Here is the answer to all that over-selling.