DeWalt 3 in. Type C Port to USB Adapter Cable (2 Pack)

Why I picked it up

My shop, truck, and travel bag are still full of USB‑A ports—on wall chargers, power strips, and older laptops—while most of my everyday cables and devices have moved to USB‑C. I grabbed this short DeWalt adapter to bridge that gap: it’s a 3‑inch USB‑C (female) to USB‑A (male) pigtail sold as a two‑pack. The promise is simple: keep using your newer USB‑C cables and peripherals with legacy USB‑A ports for basic charging and data. That’s exactly the hole in my kit I needed to fill.

Design and build

DeWalt went with a braided, Kevlar‑reinforced jacket and molded strain reliefs on both ends. The cable feels more like a mini tool than a dainty dongle—firm in the hand, slightly stiff, and confidence‑inspiring around rough edges in a toolbox. The 3‑inch length is thoughtfully chosen. It’s long enough to remove torque from the USB‑A port (a big issue with rigid “stub” adapters) but short enough to avoid adding clutter.

The colorway is classic black with a yellow accent, so it’s easy to spot in a bag. Both connectors are properly keyed and labeled. The USB‑C receptacle has a positive click with my cables and small peripherals. The USB‑A plug is full‑sized, with a matte finish that’s easy to grip even with gloves. At 3 inches, this is purpose-built for close-in connections: topping up a phone from an old charger, adding a USB‑C thumb drive to an older laptop, or reviving a perfectly good USB‑A car charger without replacing it.

One practical note on construction: the Kevlar reinforcement and outer braid contribute to durability, but they also make the cable less floppy than silicone leads. Around delicate or worn USB‑A receptacles, that springiness can nudge the connection if there’s not much support.

Charging performance

This adapter is rated for up to 2 A over a 5 V USB‑A source—so 10 W max. That’s squarely in the “standard charge” tier and it tracks with my testing. With a USB power meter inline, my iPhone 15 drew between 1.7 A and 1.9 A from a couple of 12 W USB‑A wall bricks. A Pixel and a USB‑C battery pack showed similar behavior. Nothing here negotiates USB‑C Power Delivery, and there’s no support for higher-voltage fast charge modes. If you’re expecting 20–30 W “fast charge” speeds, you’ll be disappointed; this is for steady, basic charging.

As a quick fix to keep a USB‑C phone, earbuds, or a headlamp topped up from a glovebox charger or an old power strip at the job site, it’s totally fine. For laptops or power-hungry tablets, stick with a proper USB‑C PD charger.

Data transfer tests

DeWalt specifies up to 480 Mbps, which is USB 2.0 speed. That’s a realistic claim and what I observed. Plugging a USB‑C flash drive into the adapter and then into a USB‑A laptop port, I saw sustained transfers in the 30–35 MB/s range on large files. That’s within the practical ceiling for USB 2.0 (and often the drive itself is the limiting factor). I also connected a USB‑C card reader; the system recognized it instantly and performed like any other USB 2.0 reader.

This adapter is strictly for USB 2.0 data. It does not pass USB 3.x signaling and it does not carry any video alt modes. If you’re hoping to hook up a USB‑C monitor or run a USB‑C to HDMI dongle through it, it won’t work. Treat it as a bridge for basic peripherals: flash drives, card readers, keyboards, mice, barcode scanners, and simple microcontrollers.

Compatibility notes and limits

• Works best for: charging phones/headsets at up to 10 W; connecting USB‑C storage and basic peripherals to USB‑A hosts; using a USB‑C cable with a USB‑A charger.
• Won’t do: Power Delivery or fast charging above 2 A; video output; USB‑C hubs that rely on PD passthrough or DisplayPort Alt Mode.
• Host power matters: If you plug a USB‑C hub into this adapter and then into a USB‑A laptop, it’ll enumerate as a USB 2.0 hub, but it won’t conjure extra power or video. Bus‑powered, high‑draw accessories may not behave.
• iPhone 15: Charges fine from USB‑A bricks at the expected 10 W. Data sync to a USB‑A computer runs at USB 2.0 speeds.

Day-to-day use

I kept one adapter on an older dual‑port wall charger in the shop and another in the truck. The short pigtail kept the weight of a USB‑C cable from prying on the USB‑A port, which is the main reason I prefer this form factor over rigid adapters. On the desk, I used it to mount a USB‑C thumb drive to an older ThinkPad—no drama, just the expected USB 2.0 speeds.

In the truck, the stiffer braid was a mixed bag. It feels tough and resists kinking, but that spring tension can tug against a shallow USB‑A car charger. Orienting the adapter so the cable hangs straight down helped, and it stayed put on bumpy roads.

Over a couple of weeks, both units traveled through a backpack and a tool bag. The connectors didn’t loosen up, the braid didn’t fray, and the molded strain reliefs still look fresh.

Shortcomings I noticed

• Only 10 W charging: That’s not a flaw so much as a design reality, but it’s worth emphasizing: this is a convenience adapter, not a fast‑charge solution.
• USB 2.0 data only: File transfers are fine for documents and photos, but not ideal for large media libraries or backups.
• Connector fit can vary: On most USB‑A ports, the plug felt secure. On one older wall charger, the fit was looser than I’d like; a light bump paused charging. The cable’s stiffness can amplify that on worn receptacles.
• Stiffness in tight spaces: The Kevlar‑reinforced braid is durable, but it’s not the most flexible. If you need extreme limpness (behind a monitor or in a cramped console), a silicone‑jacketed adapter may behave better.

Practical tips if you buy it:
- If a particular USB‑A port feels loose, try the second adapter or a different charger—USB‑A receptacles vary a lot in tolerance.
- Let the cable hang straight to minimize side load on the port.
- Use it for what it is: basic charge/sync and legacy compatibility, not high‑power or high‑bandwidth tasks.

Alternatives and when this one makes sense

Rigid “A‑to‑C” stubs are cheaper and more compact, but they put all the leverage directly on the USB‑A port. I prefer this short pigtail for longevity, especially on wall chargers and power strips. If you mainly need fast charging or laptop power, skip adapters like this and go straight to a USB‑C PD charger. And if you need USB 3.x data rates, look for a certified USB‑A to USB‑C adapter that explicitly supports SuperSpeed—just be aware those are rarer and still won’t add video or PD.

Who it’s for

• Folks with solid USB‑A chargers they’d like to keep using with newer USB‑C phones and earbuds.
• Techs who occasionally need to connect USB‑C storage to legacy laptops on site.
• Anyone who prefers a short, strain‑relieving pigtail over a rigid dongle.

Not a match for:
- Users expecting fast‑charge speeds on modern phones or tablets.
- People looking to connect displays or run high‑speed USB‑C peripherals.
- Laptop charging of any kind.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt adapter for bridging everyday gaps between old USB‑A ports and new USB‑C gear, as long as you understand its limits. It’s durable, easy to spot in a bag, and the short pigtail design is kinder to ports than rigid stubs. Charging tops out at 10 W and data is USB 2.0 only, so it won’t replace a USB‑C PD charger or a SuperSpeed cable. In my use, it handled basic charge/sync reliably, with one caveat: on a worn USB‑A receptacle the fit was a bit loose. If your ports are in good shape—or you’re willing to swap to a different charger when needed—the two‑pack makes practical sense for a shop, truck, or travel kit.