A China-based startup called mobfree recently launched a USB-C fast-charging cable that’s app-controlled called PixelCable. This is their first campaign in the still-evolving fast-charging market. The product is named as such because the cable has a tiny OLED screen on one end that displays pixels of graphics animatedly.
Display graphics
The PixelCable comes in two modes: USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning. The cable can be controlled with QCharger for iOS and Smart Charger for Android. However, mobfree states that the USB-C to USB-C cable cannot be controlled on iPhones.
The display graphics are customizable and have the purpose of giving the user an interactive experience with the cable. Once you charge your device with PixelCable, the cable will greet you with a graphic.
The graphic can later be changed from the app as its OLED screen and the app communicate via Bluetooth. The changes will be displayed on PixelCable’s screen when the Bluetooth is turned on. The graphics can vary from birds, a car, or a simple message, and it will be displayed on the screen. The app can even change the speed of the graphic’s animation.
The company believes in providing mobility and freedom with mobile devices. With PixelCable, they have shown that its design aesthetics are focused on the simplicity and compactness of the product. The cable works on an MCU chip for “intelligent power control.” The screen also informs the user whether the device is fast-charging or not and the battery percentage. The cable also updates the firmware automatically.
Box details and add-ons
The standard box contains one PixelCable and it is 1.8m long. The cable has a nylon braid so it can survive more than 30,000 bends. The add-ons in the box include EU, UK, and AU adaptors, a customizable travel case, and a pledge-based cable organizer.
PixelCable has been successfully backed on Kickstarter by 858 people. If you want to check it out and try it for yourself, the product is also available for pre-order starting at HK$229 on Indigogo.
YouTube: PixelCable: World’s First App-Controlled USB Fast Charging Cable
Photo credits: The gif and images used are owned by mobfree and have been provided for press usage.
