MEGATech Reviews: WinnerGear MicFlip Reversible Micro USB Cable
Pros
  • It really works
  • High quality materials
  • Snug and secure connection
Cons
  • Expensive for a cable
  • Fabric-feeling cable covering isn't for everyone
  • Full size USB is not reversible
8.5Overall Score

When Apple first introduced the Lightning connector back in 2012, we were all amazed both by how small it was and by the fact that it was reversible. You didn’t have to know which way was up, because you should shove that sucker into your iPhone 5 in either direction. The problem is that the Lightning connector is proprietary.

But now we have USB Type-C, except it’s only available on a limited number of devices and just about everything else is still using micro USB. And micro USB does indeed have a “right way up” about it. That is, unless you consider the MicFlip fully reversible micro USB cable by WinnerGear. This is a real game changer.

Any Way You Want It

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We first heard about the WinnerGear MicFlip a few months ago when they launched an crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. That campaign was a resounding success, smashing the original $6,000 goal by bringing in over $130,000 in pledges. As you can imagine, the folks at WinnerGear were pretty happy about that and I’m sure our little blog post helped them along too.

Now, the reversible micro USB cable is not only a reality for the backers of the project, but us regular folk can pick it up through regular retail means too. Of course, the biggest appeal here is that you don’t have to care which way you plug the cable into your smartphone, tablet or wearable.

The retail packaging is kept quite simple, as the cable is just held in place to a piece of cardboard with a couple of zip ties. The initial impression is that of practicality with a healthy dose of fun… however fun a data and charge cable can be.

The Unique MicFlip Reversible Connector

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The way that WinnerGear is able to achieve the reversible nature of the micro USB connector on the MicFlip is that it is shaped like a flattened hexagon. When you look at a regular micro USB connector, it’s flat on one side and angled on the other side. The reversible connector on the MicFlip is shaped such that it has the angles on both sides. The actual connectors inside need to be reversible too.

This cable is not meant to be cheap and WinnerGear didn’t skimp on the materials. The connectors themselves are gold coated for corrosion resistance, they’re wrapped in a durable aluminum housing, and there’s some added rubber protection to keep the whole thing together. This is not the kind of cable you normally find bundled with your gadgetry.

In connecting this cable to my smartphones–I tried a few, including a Nexus 5, ZTE Axon, and Galaxy S5–I found the fit to be a little tighter than normally. It really feels like it’s almost “clicking” into place and it’s not as easy to remove the cable from your phone one-handed. This is both a blessing and a curse, because it means you won’t accidentally disconnect anything, but you also won’t disconnect it (on purpose) as easily either.

And while the micro USB end of the MicFlip cable is fully reversible, the regular USB connector on the other end is not. It would have been a great feature if this was included as well, making for a fully reversible solution for charging our devices. That way, I wouldn’t have to look to see which way I plug this cable into a USB hub or wall adapter.

The Flexible Braided Cable

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While the reversible micro USB connector is going to be the only reason why you’d even consider this cable in the first place, WinnerGear has taken care to respect the other aspects of this cable too. The cable itself is a nylon braided cable. This means that it is inherently tangle-free, which is a major plus when you’re tossing this into your bag or pocket.

I found the cable to have a fair bit of stiffness to it, inclined almost to hold its shape when I bent it. That’s similar to what you might find with a pipe cleaner, for instance, but with much more stiffness. I wasn’t as much of a fan of the feel of the cable, though, as it felt more like a fabric and it’s possible it could pick up lint and other debris over time.

MEGATechie Gear for Winners or MEGATechie Unnecessary Micro Solution

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In theory, you have a 50/50 chance of inserting a regular micro USB connector into your phone or tablet the right way the first time. In reality, you’re probably closer to a 0% chance of success. It goes without saying that there is a lot of inherent appeal to a product like the MicFlip and it’s a great stop-gap measure until USB Type-C becomes the mainstream standard. The biggest sticking point for a lot of people will be the price. It’s not cheap for “just a cable.”

The WinnerGear MicFlip reversible micro USB cable sells online for $19.99 each. It comes in lengths of 8 inches, 3 feet and 6 feet, strangely all for the same price. All three lengths are available in your choice of silver (as shown), gold, or red/black. Overall, it’s a great product. Whether a cable is worth twenty bucks to you–and you’ll likely want to pick up more than one for use around the home, at the office, and on the go–is up to you.

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