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Your cell phone is often as much of a tool as your impact driver if you use it for keeping notes, playing music, or looking up specs, but if you’re like me, you tend to go through charging cables and Bluetooth devices at a rapid pace. The new line of DeWalt cell phone accessories has a tougher design and construction to stand up to some abuse while also being convenient for use around tools. Here are a few of their products and how they stand up to a day in the shop.
Chargers
DeWalt has a few chargers that are designed to adapt a DeWalt battery for use as a phone charger. The most practical kit they offer is the battery/USB charging kit that comes with an adapter that fits all 20 volt MAX and FlexVolt DeWalt Batteries and can charge the battery from a standard outlet as well as allow the battery to be used as a charger for cellphones and other devices. Because the adapter works with any device that can be charged using a USB cable and also allows the battery to be charged using the adapter, it’s a good deal at $65.87.
DeWalt also offers a wall charger for $32.99 that can accommodate two devices at once, including a USB-C and a USB-A port. The wall charger allows you to charge two devices at once and has a rubber coating that makes it a little tougher than your average charger, making it great for use in a shop or garage.
Headphones
DeWalt makes two types of earbud-style headphones that are designed to withstand some worksite abuse. I’ve found that I tend to break headphones at an accelerated rate when I’m working in the shop not just because of the added wear and tear, but also because of exposure to sawdust and because I drop them so frequently. The neckband style wireless headphones ($49.99) are a good solution to this because the earbuds are attached to a stiff band that stays at your neckline, allowing you to remove your earbuds without dropping them. They can pair with your phone via Bluetooth, and work well as a hands-free unit for taking calls as well. The control on this system is simpler to use than on the behind-the-neck headphones ($37.99), and the neckband version is less prone to getting snagged or tangled because the neckband is stiff. Overall, the neckband style DeWalt headphones are a more durable option because there is less exposed cable to get damaged—and they’re also waterproof.
Speakers
One of the new DeWalt phone accessories is their wearable speaker ($54.49) that can be clipped to your clothing or tool bag and will pair with a device via Bluetooth. This speaker can also be used as a hands-free device for calls. If you’re working on your own or in an environment where you can agree on what to listen to, a speaker can be a safer option than headphones because it allows you to keep your ears open for input. The clip-on system can be great for when you’re moving around a lot or working on a larger project because the speaker will go with you without needing to be hauled around. DeWalt also offers a larger Bluetooth speaker ($54.99) that is small enough to be hung from a tool bag and has resistance to both water and dust, making it a good choice for shop and garage use, but it doesn’t work for hands-free calling.
Cables
DeWalt makes charging cables that are a little tougher than most and have braided coating with a reinforced core to resist damage from kinks and tension. Their six foot USB-C charging cable is durable and will survive being tossed into a tool bag, tugged on, and even run over with rubber casters. There’s also a 3-in-1 multi-device retractable adapter that has the benefit of being as short or long (up to three feet) as you want it, and has the capacity to charge devices that use USB-C, micro USB, and lightning cables. The reel that it comes on keeps the cable out of the way when you’re not using it and protects the cable from damage from being dragged, run over, or stepped on.
