InCharge 6 Review: Six Cables in One Keyring Emergency Charger

Introduction

Finding yourself with a dead phone and no cable is one of those small modern disasters that is surprisingly easy to avoid. The InCharge 6 takes a simple idea, six cables compressed into one keyring-sized gadget, and executes it neatly enough that it earns a permanent spot in an everyday carry setup.

This one came recommended by readers as the perfect addition to a key ring, so we put it through its paces to see whether it lives up to that promise.

Design and Build Quality

The gadget splits into two halves held together by a very strong magnet, separated by a short cable. The magnet is slightly raised and fits into a matching recess, so when the halves are joined they do not slide around. That small detail shows the design has been thought through.

The connecting cable is a potential weak point on anything this compact, but here it is a TPE cable, short for thermoplastic elastomer, which copes well with repeated pulling and bending. It also has a nylon reinforcement and is wrapped in fabric. The body is made from zinc aluminium alloy, and the whole thing weighs just 27 grams, a little under an ounce.

Six Cable Combinations in One

The core appeal is the connector count. At one end you get USB-A, and pulling that end reveals a USB-C plug, giving you USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning and micro USB options. At the other end you have USB-C, which pulls clear to expose a Lightning connector, and built into the end of that Lightning plug is a micro USB plug as well.

In total that gives you USB-A to USB-C, USB-A to Lightning, and USB-A to micro USB, plus the USB-C equivalents. In practice this covers every combination most people would need, and it is hard to think of a pairing that is missing.

Real-World Charging Test

Testing against a power bank with both USB-A and USB-C outputs, the InCharge 6 charged a micro USB flashlight, a pair of AirPods via Lightning, and a small USB-C flashlight without issues. Charging indicator lights confirmed each connection was working as expected.

One caveat stands out: the micro USB plug, being built into the Lightning connector, does not hold firmly in place. It charges, but the fit is loose with no real friction, so it can easily disconnect. That makes it fine for emergencies but not a substitute for a dedicated micro USB cable. Also worth knowing: the InCharge 6 is for charging only, with no data syncing capability, and it supports a maximum of 18 watts. The company also offers the InCharge X, which adds data syncing and up to 100 watts of USB-C charging for laptop-class devices.

Everyday Carry Alternatives Compared

Against a modular USB-A to Lightning adapter setup weighing around 13 grams, the InCharge 6 is about 13 grams heavier but far less fiddly, and it adds native USB-C charging that the modular setup lacks.

Compared with carrying three separate short cables, the totals are telling: those three cables also weigh 27 grams, the same as the InCharge 6, but take up far more space. The compact form factor is a huge win, and it adds USB-C charging on top. That is enough to justify swapping the three-cable option out of a travel kit.

Buying Advice

The InCharge 6 costs £23 in the UK including tax and $19 in the US. It is not a replacement for dedicated cables: the length is limited, it can only charge one device at a time, and the micro USB connection is loose. But as an emergency backup it does its job very well, and it is far better than having nothing at all when your phone dies away from home.

Even if you always carry a power bank, there is a real case for this gadget, because USB sockets are commonly found in workplaces, internet cafes, planes, and trains. If you keep your key ring lightweight, it also slots neatly into a pack or travel kit instead.

Conclusion

The InCharge 6 delivers exactly what it promises: six practical cable combinations in a 27-gram keyring form factor with thoughtful build quality. The loose micro USB fit and charge-only limitation are worth knowing about, but for an emergency charging backup it is a genuinely clever, well-made solution that is easy to recommend.