ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Scosche’s WatchIt plug-in travel charger is on sale now for $34.99.
- It’s an ultra-compact wireless puck for the Apple Watch and AirPods, allowing you to recharge your Apple Watch from your iPhone.
- It’s not a power bank in itself – it must be connected to an iPhone to work.
more buying choices
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My Apple Watch Ultra 3 has become a cornerstone of my daily carry. Last year I used it to log hundreds of miles of walks and hikes, many hours of exercise, and it’s the perfect way to deal with notifications and messages in a timely way without getting sucked into my iPhone. Along with my AirPods Pro and iPhone, it’s part of my daily trifecta of tech.
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But it needs charging. This isn’t an issue when I’m at home, but when I’m traveling, camping, or hiking, it’s a bit trickier. Yes, I could always pack the charger that comes with the Apple Watch for both the smartwatch and AirPods, but I’ve never found that all that convenient. For traveling, I’d like something that I’ve always got on me. Maybe on my keychain or clipped to my backpack.
I may have found something that fits that bill: the Scosche WatchIt Apple Watch charger.
The WatchIt is a keychain-sized magnetic fast charger that is designed and built around an Apple Watch charging puck. But rather than relying on a cable, the puck has an innovative flip-out USB-C connector that swivels around to plug into a USB-C charger or the USB-C port on your iPhone or iPad.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, you can charge your Apple Watch or AirPods from the USB-C port on any iPhone from the 15 onwards.
The USB-C connector is long eough to fit into the deepest ports.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The USB-C connector is long enough to work even when the port on your iPhone is hidden by a thick case, and the swiveling feature lets you tuck away the USB-C connector when it’s not in use to prevent it getting damaged or filing with muck and pocket grime.
The white keychain charger is made from tough polymers that resist scratches and breakage, and seems up to the job of being on a keychain with keys and all sort of other metallic bits and bobs.
Also: I thought replacing my AirTag battery with a rechargeable one was a good idea – it wasn’t
The charging puck is rated to deliver 4W of power, which is about what Apple’s own fast-charging cable can deliver, and perfect for those quick recharges when on the move.
The tech specs are rather hidden.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
On top of the charger is a strong spring keyring attached to the puck with a flexible piece of nylon webbing — perfect for attaching your keychain carry to the charging puck, or attaching it to the webbing of a backpack. I love the convenience that this offers.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Scosche WatchIt is available for $35, which for me is a fair price when you consider that Apple’s charging cable is $25. It’s a very neat, compact solution, and the swivel USB-C is a neat solution to keep the connector away from damage. It’s a handy way to use my iPhone as a power bank to charge my Apple Watch and AirPods, especially when traveling or enjoying the outdoors.
As well as black, the WatchIt comes in Aquatic Awe and Sunset Coral for those who like a dash of color.
