Rolling Square inCharge Pocket XL Review

I’ve reviewed a lot of Rolling Square products now, to date it’s almost their entire range of cables. The inCharge XL Pocket isn’t their latest cable, that would be the XS Model. I wanted to review the entire range, especially as the naming structure can be confusing; it’s hard to know what’s the latest.

As always in the interest of disclosure, Rolling Square did gift me this cable to test, however, this does not influence my opinion. If you would like to purchase from Rolling Square, you can use the code “BRADSBACKPACK20” on their website.

Pros

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Cons

Dimensions

80 x 15.5 x 15mm

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Weight

34g

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Max Charging Speeds

100w or 27w for Apple

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Data Transfer Speeds

480 Mbps / 60 MBps

From the outside almost nothing has changed, it looks almost identical to the previous inCharge X. The only difference I can see is this version has a brighter neon colour compared to the more subtle muted designs before. That’s fine with me though, the design never needed changing, it’s the tech inside that counts. 

I love the compact form of the smaller inCharge cables, even if they can make charging annoying as they can’t move from the device. The magnets keep it small together, further minimising its footprint. The lid is great at helping it stay locked in place and protects it from dust or lint too.

I’m not a fan of the brighter neon colours of this generation. It reminds me a bit too much of Monster Energy Drink. I really liked the more toned down styles of the others, my favourite being the clay coloured inCharge XS. Although I will admit it, the neon makes it a lot easier to find when it’s fallen to the depths of my black bag.

Rolling Square focuses on sustainable packaging, so like their other products, this cable comes in a simple cardboard box. There’s a little bit of print on the box, but it’s very minimalistic. I like the lack of plastic, there are cardboard inserts inside the box to provide a bit of protection. They do advertise on the packaging that it is low-impact. I wish instead of a logo, companies would put a QR code taking users or potential buyers to a page that explains more about it. 

This small size is only really suitable for charging from a power bank. Something mobile you can move around with your device. You can’t really charge from a plug socket using it, as it doesn’t have enough reach. And if you do, then the device won’t really be usable.

When you are charging though, it’s an impressive 100w. More than capable of ultra fast charging on almost any device. So it’s reassuring to know you won’t be stuck for long.

Being so small, this cable is incredibly portable. It can fit in the pocket of your jeans and still wouldn’t stand out. Combine that with its lightweight, there are zero reasons why you couldn’t bring one everywhere.

I actually have several now, all in easy-to-access places so that I have access at all times. One remains in my camera bag, perfect for photoshoot days. I can back up to my SSDs from my tablet with it. Another remains in my tech bag, ready for travel. And a third is in the tray under my monitor at home. They take up no space at all, so its easy to keep them in a few places. Now these are all slightly different models from my testing. But it would be really handy if Rolling Square did a multipack.

The transfer speeds max out at 480mbps. It’s not the fastest nowadays, and with speeds increasing all the time on SSDs, it’s important that the cables can match. It’ll be fine if you’re not transferring huge amounts of data. But compared to what my devices and SSDs are capable of, this could do with some serious improvement. I love that Rolling Square is continuously pushing what its cables are capable of in terms of charge speeds, but I think it’s time they start to focus on their transfer speeds now.

At its core, the cable is made of aramid fibre wrapped in braided copper wire. The outer layer is nylon braided for reinforcement, helping if it comes into contact with your keys in your pocket. It’s tough and durable, unlike other cables. It is going to take a lot of effort to break this. After months of being knocked around and squished in various bags, as well as rubbing against my keys in my pocket. 

Its durability is helped by having covers for the connectors. So when you aren’t using the cable, the covers not only help keep them together and protected but also prevent lint or dust from getting in.

The inCharge range has been rapidly growing under Rolling Square’s guidance. with the inCharge Pocket XL is a smaller version of the original XL. (Sorry, this is where it may get a bit confusing) but the Pocket XL combines the faster charger of the XL in the small form of the X. There is an even newer version, which is the inCharge XS. Which removes the Micro-USB and further amps up the charging speeds.

Which one is right for you depends entirely on your needs. If you need more length, you would be happier with the XL range. If you want this compact size and don’t need a Micro-USB, then it’s the inCharge XS, but if you do, then the XL pocket is for you.

I’ve tested this pocket sized multi charging cable over the last few months. And it has come with me everywhere. It lives in my tech bag so it’s been great in a pinch. It is really handy when transferring to my SSD’s as a longer cable will just get tangled and often caught on something. Causing my SSD to get yanked out and fly across the room. So here the smaller size is perfect.

When charging, the length can be limiting. I’m often using a device as it charges, so I don’t have a lot of room to play with at all. If I try and use it with a power bank, I find the clips get in the way, and it isn’t that comfortable. They are removable, but then I run the risk of losing them. I still reach for longer cables because I often don’t want to stop working on what I am doing. So for this, I have found the other sizes in the XL range to be more suitable. At minimum, the 30cm gives a much better experience when charging with a power bank in public.

I have found that this size is better for charging up a power bank itself, but not so much for charging a device from a power bank. Unless it’s for something you can put down and leave for a bit, like an action camera.

The inCharge Pocket XL is a great gift gadget. In all honesty, there are others in the range that I would buy first though. If you want something ultra-compact, then the inCharge XS is the same size but sacrifices the micro-USB for faster charging and transfer. If you want something bigger, the inCharge XL has near-identical stats and is a lot more practical.