Right-Angle Cables

A plug that keeps out of the way

A right-angle cable has an L-shaped plug, bent at 90 degrees, so the cable runs along the side of the phone instead of sticking straight out of the bottom. Hold the phone sideways to play a game or watch a film while it charges, and the cable runs out of the way of your hand instead of pressing into your palm. They also suit car holders, where a straight plug can press against the bottom of the holder, and tight spaces beside a bed or against a wall.

What is here

The right-angle cables here today are for USB-C phones, and every one has a braided or woven jacket. They include a braided 90-degree USB-C cable listed for 100W, sold with either a USB-A or a USB-C plug at the charger end, in lengths from 1m to 2m; a woven USB-A to USB-C cable with the elbow at the phone end, listed at up to 3A, in several colours; and a braided right-angle cable listed for 100W, again with a choice of USB-C or USB-A at the charger end, in lengths up to 3m. For an older iPhone, a cable with an angled Lightning plug is in Lightning cables.

Choosing one

• The plug at the charger end. USB-C for a newer charger and the fastest charging over USB Power Delivery; USB-A for an older charger, a car's USB socket or a laptop.
• The length. For gaming on the sofa, two metres or more reaches from the socket. In the car, a short cable will not loop across the gear lever.
• The case. Check that your case's opening at the bottom is big enough for the angled plug to go fully home.

Gaming while it charges

Long sessions of gaming on a fast charger warm a phone from two directions at once, and heat is what wears a battery. Phones slow their charging as they warm up, which is why a phone can charge slowly in the middle of a game. If it gets very warm, take a thick case off while it charges, and keep it out of direct sun. Controllers, triggers and coolers are in for gamers, and the guide to mobile gaming accessories goes through them.

Questions people ask about right-angle cables

Is a right-angle cable good in the car?

Yes, with a phone in a holder: the plug runs along the phone instead of pressing on the holder. Choose a short one so it does not cross the controls.

Will it fast-charge?

The phone, the charger and the cable together set the speed. On a USB-C charger with USB Power Delivery, a USB-C to USB-C right-angle cable charges as fast as a straight one with the same rating.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• For gamers
• Short cables
• Braided cables
• Lightning cables
• Car chargers
• USB-C to USB-C cables
• Guide: Which charging cable does my phone need?
• Guide: Choosing a safe phone charger in the UK