Summary
- USB is versatile, ubiquitous, and commonplace within the consumer tech space.
- We’re all used to seeing USB ports on our consumer electronics, but they’re also sometimes found in less common places.
- Here are five quirky locations where you’ll find a USB port or two hanging around.
USB is a miraculous technology that has played a role in the standardization and commodification of consumer electronics. These days, everything from smartphones, to PCs, to peripherals and accessories sport at least one USB port, and oftentimes they even offer multiple higher-powered Type-C variants.
While there are a ton of quirky USB-powered gizmos and gadgets available on the market, the ubiquitous port can also be found integrated within some more outlandish products. Here are five strange and unexpected locations where you’ll find a USB port or two hanging around, ready for action at a moment’s notice.
1
A handheld fan
Keep yourself cool while topping up on battery life
Fans are a summertime staple across much of the world, and their handheld cousins are the ideal option for on-the-go usage. Most portable fans make use of either standard batteries or rechargeable ones to stay powered on, but the Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan has another trick up its sleeve. In addition to being a battery-powered electric fan, it also serves as a portable power bank and flashlight combo. The rear of the unit features both USB-A and USB-C ports for convenience, making it an excellent choice for topping up on battery life while also staying cool under the sun.
2
A bookshelf
Storage shelves with a side of USB Power Delivery
For the most part, bookshelves aren’t the most technologically advanced pieces of equipment out there. They serve the purpose of storing books and other belongings with grace, but that’s often where their utility ends. In the case of Generic’s 2-Door BookShelf, which is available in a classic natural colorway, integrated USB ports are on deck for some much-appreciated added convenience. With this piece of furniture on deck, you can top up your phone’s juice while browsing through your library of books, magazines, and other physical media.
3
A lamp
Lamps and USB ports are a surprisingly natural fit
Desk lamps are a surprisingly excellent fit for USB inclusion, and Ikea has certainly got the memo. The company’s Hektar work lamp, for example, sports a dedicated USB-A port on its base, which makes recharging gadgets a streamlined and intuitive experience. If you have an extra USB cable lying around, you might as well make use of it by plugging it into the lamp already sitting on your desk, right?
4
An air purifier
Keep your living space pure, and your phone all juiced up
Air purifiers are oftentimes large and stationary pieces of equipment, but a new breed of portable models has recently hit the scene. Take, for example, the Mooka H13 Air Purifier. Aside from offering a compact shell and impressive air purification technologies within its housing, the unit includes a USB-C port on its rear. This port can not only power the device via a USB-C cable, but it also works with external power banks, car chargers, and even the USB port on your laptop computer. USB Type-C is certainly the future, and I hope to see everything from toaster ovens to coffee machines make the switch in the same vein as this Mooka HEPA Filter product.
5
A treadmill
Charge up your devices while working up a sweat
Treadmills are large pieces of equipment, and they require a sizable amount of electricity to power them. With this being the case, it only makes sense to include a USB port within the setup, in order to power up gadgets while working up a sweat. Horizon Fitness’ T101 Treadmill embraces the USB life, with a dedicated USB port located near its 55-inch deck. This treadmill is high-tech in a number of other areas, too, with its Bluetooth stereo speakers, its mobile gadget holder, and its auto-recalibrating motor system.
