Accessory maker Shargeek has launched an Indiegogo to fund a 35W USB-C charger in the shape of a small Apple Macintosh computer. The Retro 35 crowdfunding campaign page is very careful not to mention the name of Apple’s classic computer, but it has obviously been inspired, from the beige color scheme to the placement of the disk drive. Finally, the device retails for $ 49, with a price of Indiegogo “early bird” starting at $ 25.
As a growing number of phone manufacturers have stopped sending load bricks with their devices, aftermarket chargers are becoming more popular. These bricks often offer additional ports or higher loading speeds compared to their first-party equivalents, but it’s fun to see Shargeek going in a different direction and focusing on looks rather than specifications.
The Retro 35 along with a number of devices it can charge. Image: Shargeek Retro vibes. Image: Shargeek
That said, all of the Retro 35’s Shargeek images show that it’s connected to power strips placed on desktops to make sure it’s the right way. But I would bet that most chargers spend the time connected to a power outlet, which would force you to place the charger aside. It would still look very nice like this, but less … aesthetic than Shargeek’s promotional images.
In terms of specifications, this is a 35W USB-C charger, which means it offers enough juice for smartphones, tablets or low-power laptops like the MacBook Air M1. It supports a variety of charging protocols, including PPS, PD3.0, and QC3.0, and its display is designed to illuminate in different colors depending on how fast you charge your device. Yellow means “normal charge”, blue is “fast charge” and green is “super charge”, although no mention is made of what specific speeds these colors correspond to.
The Retro 35 comes with US plug tips by default, but there are adapters to make it work with plugs from the UK, Australia and the EU.
The original Apple Macintosh was a design icon and continues to inspire accessories to this day. A couple of years ago we saw that Elago was offering Apple Watch charging support in the form of a Macintosh, which was charging Apple’s smartwatch while reusing its screen as a “screen” for a miniature version of the Apple Watch. computer of the 80’s.
This is obviously a crowdfunding campaign, so all the usual warnings apply. But this isn’t Shargeek’s first crack when it comes to selling charging accessories, having previously released the Storm 2 and Storm 2 Slim power banks. This means that supporting the new project is not a complete plan in the dark. Otherwise, Shargeek expects to ship the new Retro 35 charger in July after the crowdfunding campaign closes.