Rolling Square inCharge XL Review

So for full disclosure after reading my review of the inCharge 6, Rolling Square sent me the latest version of their cables, the inCharge X and the inCharge XL. so that I could see what improvements have been made. Everything in this review is my independant view and is my own opinion. 

I love the box and packaging the inCharge XL arrives in, it’s completely made of cardboard with no unnecessary plastic so it’s much better for the environment. It definitely feels well made, the cable itself is reinforced by Nylon fibre so it won’t get easily damaged by your keys or in your bag, although the polished metal finish looks like it could be scratched easily. It’s easy and simplistic to use, similar to the inCharge 6 I reviewed recently.

However this time the addition of a cover for the connectors has been included. It’s a simple change and one I would not have thought of but really appreciated as it stops lint or dust getting inside the connectors. They have also made the adapters removeable, meaning when you’re charging using USB-C they don’t get in the way and make it more practical to use.  

I love the looks on inCharge XL cables, they look rugged but have nice colour designs as well. This generation comes in three colours, Urban Black, Glacier White and Summit Yellow. I will admit I prefer the Sapphire Blue option on the smaller X but these still do look great.

This new generation has kept a lot of the design elements I loved, the adapter ends are still well-polished and do look prone to scratching. But again this would be purely aesthetic and shouldnt affect performance.

Naturally the smaller the cable the more packable it is. The 30 cm inCharge XL is the perfect size for a tech pouch and connecting devices to and from a laptop or battery pack. To help make the larger 2m and 3m sizes more packable, Rolling Square supply a silicon organiser to keep the cable stored inside when not in use.

The case does add a bit of bulk to the cables but stops them tangling around your bag’s contents. But carrying the inCharge XL means that you only need one cable instead of the multiple you would usually need.

So I’ve been testing these cables out for the last few weeks. Using the various different lengths in the XL range for different purposes. The inCharge XL comes in a 30cm, 2m, and a 3m length. All three have exactly the same features with length being the only difference.

I think the choices in length are perfect as you can tailor a cable to your needs. The 30 cm is perfect for my tech pouch as it hardly takes up any place at all and I can use it for all my devices, and its for this reason its become my firm favourite. The 2m and 3m are much more suited for back in the hotel or at home when it won’t be in anyone’s way stretching across the room.

One point of frustration I have found with the inCharge XL is that now the adapters are removable, I often find if I don’t remove them myself they do get knocked off. I have on a few occasions had to search to see where it has dropped or heard the patter of it fall onto the floor if one end has gotten knocked. 

This time the charge speeds have really ramped up. The inCharge XL allows Ultra-Fast Charging up to 100W and Apple’s Fast Charging up to 27w. With the capability of 100w charging that means you can use it on devices that require higher levels of power such as laptops.

Topping out at 480 Mbps / 60 Mbps, the inCharge XL is no slouch when it comes to transfer speeds. On paper Of course my SSD’s are capable of nearly double that, but between device, cable and SSD there’s always going to be one device that’s a bit slower than the others.

It’s always going to come down to personal use with technology. For myself the primary use of my cables is always going to be charging, but when I do back up my photos I am more than happy with 480 Mbps. At this speed it only usually takes a couple of minutes max, and I usually do it at the end of the day in a coffee shop so I’m nice and relaxed.

I think Rolling Square has made some amazing improvements since the inCharge 6. They have taken what made the inCharge so great, whilst also listening to their community when they make improvements. No tech pouch would be complete without this cable and the 30cm version is a firm favourite for mine.

My inCharge XL gets regular use and it’s perfect for digital nomads and everyday tech enthusiasts alike. It’s hard to find fault with this new generation, so I’m excited to see what they come up with next. I’m not the only one who loves it though, check out this review of the XL from PackHacker.