For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with Fuse to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Side Winder cable wrangler, designed to let you quickly and easily wind up your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro's charger cord.


The reel-style construction of the Side Winder keeps your power adapter, cord, and attached extension cable in a neat, compact package with zero tangles and no hassle. It's perfect for use at home or work and it's great for when you need to travel because it makes it so quick to pack up.

sidewindermessycable
When traveling with a traditional Power Adapter and cable setup in a bag or backpack, winding the cord and the extension cable is an exercise in futility because it constantly comes unwrapped, leading to a messy, knotted tangle of cable. That cable tangle is the problem the Side Winder solves.

sidewinderdesign
Side Winder works by enclosing the Power Adapter of your MacBook with a reel that holds the cable. When you need to wind extra cable, a simple twist of the top piece pulls it in. When more cable is needed while the MacBook is in use, you can pull out as much cable as you need to reach a power outlet.

sidewinderunwinding
Fuse says that it takes less than six seconds to fully wind a cable using the Side Winder, and the design of the device provides protection against cable damage and fraying by preventing stress at weak points.

sidewindermacbook
Side Winder is compatible with all 45W, 60W, 61W, 85W, and 87W MacBook Pro and Air chargers, with both MagSafe 1 and 2 and USB-C versions available. The MagSafe versions are available for $29.99, while the USB-C version is $33.99. The USB-C model includes a USB-C cord, but neither model includes a power adapter or extension cable.

sidewindertable
In addition to offering Side Winders to MacRumors readers in our giveaway, Fuse is also providing a 20 percent discount on all Side Winder purchases. To buy one at a discount, just use this link.

We have 20 Side Winders to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (October 26) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 2. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 2 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Top Rated Comments

Spectrum Avatar
91 months ago
And why exactly did Apple remove the super useful ears in the first place? I've been using them for over a decade without any issue. Their absence is a real pain in the new MacBook models.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spectrum Avatar
90 months ago
Why? Because it no longer has a permanently attached (captive) output cable. Those wrapping hooks were for "cable management", so there would not be a long cable dangling in a bag or carrying case. A discrete USB PD cable is much easier to manage alone, than a dangling captive cable. ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-doesnt-the-new-macbook-pro-come-with-those-two-clips-on-the-power-brick-to-wrap-the-cable.2036592/#post-24386622')

Those wrapping hooks were terrible all along. Not super useful. Thank goodness and good riddance. If you want your power brick and USB PD cable to be bosom buddies, then 'use a rubber band or something' ('https://forums.macrumors.com/goto/post?id=24386739#post-24386739').
So how do you wrap up the separate USB cable now? The new design is clearly inferior. No one was forcing anyone to use the hooks. I did because I found them to work really well.
Indeed, for me, the wrapping hooks worked excellently on every Apple notebook I've owned - I think they were even there on the Power Books too. Simple, tidy, tiny, helpful, features.
Like magsafe...
And the charging indicator light...
And the battery charge indicator light...
[And replaceable HD/SSD...
And upgradeable RAM...
And a USB-A port...
And an HDMI port...
And an SD card slot...]
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
91 months ago
Oooh, this is nice. That's one thing I miss from my older MacBook Pro, those little ears that would pop out of the adapter.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NoIdentity Avatar
90 months ago
Never used the ears and always been carefull when packing the charger. If you ‘coil’ the cables as they should be you won’t create any tears, creases, kinks or curls. But this appies to any cable. Unfortunately most people have no clue how to properly store cables. This product doesn’t necessarily mitigate the issue. It might help, but it creates a more bulkier package.
Anyways, this chargers are on their way out.

I am much happier with the new design. The replacable ibs-c cable makes the replacing of damaged connectors way cheaper. Which is where most of my old chargers had problems, the magsafe was the one bit that recieved most stress. Due to bends to reach the other side of the computer or accidental puls and intentional ones to disconnect the charger.
But yeah. Now I disconnect the usb-c coil it so it doesn’t have any stress on it and store the brick separately. And if the usb-c cable dies on me, I will just by the new one.

The ears in my view were a bad design from the start, since they promote bad habits in taking care of your cables.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7thson Avatar
91 months ago
Man o’ man, this is exactly what I need. I ordered using the discount code which negated the shipping. I’ll come back with my thoughts on it after I’ve tried it out a bit.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7thson Avatar
90 months ago
Following up to share my thoughts on this. I really appreciate what it does for organizing the brick and cord adapter. I prefer to use this configuration but have been put off by the bulk of the cord and how to keep it together with the brick without it being a mess waiting to happen. It works very well and doesn't feel cheap, however I'm not going to drop it repeatedly to see how long it takes to break either. Does it make for a very large charging solution? Yes it does. Just look at the photos. That's an iPad mini 4 it's sitting on in the second pic.

Yeah it's huge. However I don't see any way to avoid this mass if you want to keep your cord with the brick. So that's my take away, if you prefer this configuration for your usage, this is a great solution. If you rarely use the cord, then this thing will seem absurd and impractical. As an side, I ordered the model for the 85watt magsafe2 and the box seems to have adapters for every model of Apple charging bricks.

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
iOS 26

Apple Continues to Prepare iOS 26.0.1 With Multiple Bug Fixes Expected

Sunday September 28, 2025 1:30 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The account initially said iOS 26.0.1 would have a build number of 23A350, but they now expect the update to have a build number of 23A355. This suggests that the software update will include more bug fixes or changes than initially...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pro Nears Mass Production, But Four Bigger Upgrades Expected Next Year

Sunday September 28, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next MacBook Pro models will enter mass production soon, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said he continues to believe the new MacBook Pro models will be released at some point between late 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meaning they should be available to order by March at the latest. Apple often...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.0.1 With Fixes for Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Camera Issues on iPhone 17 Models

Monday September 29, 2025 10:12 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 26.0.1 and iPadOS 26.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out earlier this week. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 26.0.1 addresses a bug that could cause aberrations in...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

Regular iPhone 17's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Friday September 26, 2025 9:01 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the standard iPhone 17 model's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 27W to 28W with these Apple chargers:29W USB-C Power Adapter 30W USB-C Power Adapter 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max...
LG UltraFine 6K Display TB5

LG UltraFine 6K (32U990A) TB5 Display: Pre-Orders Open September 30

Monday September 29, 2025 6:21 am PDT by
Pre-orders for LG's new UltraFine evo 6K display (model 32U990A) with Thunderbolt 5 support will begin on September 30, according to a major U.S. retailer listing. LG first revealed the 32-inch display at CES 2025 in January, teasing its status as the first monitor to support Thunderbolt 5. At the time, LG only provided high-level specs, but left pricing, availability, and full technical...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent 1

Samsung Confirms Plan to Make Foldable Displays for Major American Company

Monday September 29, 2025 6:54 am PDT by
Samsung Display president Lee Cheong has confirmed plans to make foldable smartphone displays for a major American company, which is widely believed to be Apple. As reported in Chosun Biz, Cheong last week told journalists in Seoul that the company is accelerating preparations for mass production of OLED displays designed for foldable smartphones to be supplied to a "North American client."...
maxresdefault

Review: A Week With the iPhone 17 Pro

Friday September 26, 2025 12:51 pm PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 models have been out for a week now, so we thought we'd do a longer-term review of the flagship iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max now that we've been able to spend more time with them. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has a Silver iPhone 17 Pro and a Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, and despite a lot of concern over...