Created by Ten One Design, the Blockhead is a simple plug designed to rotate the orientation of a MacBook or iPad power adapter so that it’s flush against a wall or power strip when plugged in.
Sometimes, there are products that are so simple and intuitive that you look at them and wonder why they didn’t exist already — Blockhead is one of those products. Made from blue plastic, the Blockhead replaces the snap-in plug part of Apple’s official chargers for the MacBook and iPad lineup.
Not much to say about the design of the blockhead. It’s similar to the official AC wall adapter that can be snapped onto a MacBook or iPad power adapter, but its plugs are oriented differently. Made of an attractive blue ABS plastic rather than white plastic, the blockhead is otherwise functionally identical to Apple’s own power adapter bit.
The blockhead, which is UL-approved, fits flush with the power adapter, but the fit isn’t quite as accurate as replacing the original adapter. The blockhead sticks out a bit towards the back, but it’s only noticeable when holding it and doesn’t affect the functionality of the accessory. It works in the US and Canada and fits into any socket capable of accommodating a NEMA 1-15 plug with two parallel blades.
When plugged into an outlet, a power adapter with blockhead is 1.2 inches thick, compared to 3.8 inches for a power adapter installed with standard Apple hardware. Two blockheads can be used side by side in a single two-socket outlet, one on the opposite side and one on the right.
The blockhead fits into the outlets in a more logical way, and I’ve noticed a tighter fit on outlets that have loosened over time. Even in an outlet where orientation wasn’t an issue, I was less likely to accidentally pull the power adapter out of the wall with the blockhead attached, and I was less likely to accidentally hit it.
According to Ten One, the blockhead design can protect against cord stress because it puts less tension on the plug, which makes sense because it changes the position of the cord to be closer to the ground. I’ve never damaged my cord near the power adapter due to stress, but I imagine it’s likely to come in handy for some people who have had problems.
An obvious negative of the Blockhead is the non-retractable plug. With the standard Apple adapter, the plugs can be folded inward to make it more convenient for travel, but the Blockhead doesn’t work that way. It’s a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.
Works with all MacBook chargers designed for the Blockhead Retina MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, as well as 10- and 12-watt chargers designed for the iPad. It fits well in each of the 13- and 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and iPad Pro/iPad Air chargers I tested it with.
In the month and a half I tested the Blockhead, I had no issues with heat, durability, or design, and ran into no problems that would prevent me from recommending it to anyone looking to redirect their MacBook or iPad charger. charging time.
bottom line
If you have a MacBook charger located behind furniture or in an area where a MacBook charger sticking out of the wall is inconvenient, the Blockhead is well worth the purchase price. It’s $19.99, which sounds expensive for a piece of plastic, but it certainly improves the functionality of Apple’s power adapter for those who need it.
After using Blockhead, I find myself wondering why Apple designs power adapters to stick out of the wall. I like the look of a power adapter that sits flush against the wall, even in situations where my outlet isn’t blocked by furniture. It’s a cleaner design that makes more sense than a side-facing power adapter. Of course, it’s not symmetrical with the power outlet, which is one of the reasons Apple improved the design, and it may not fit the power strip as well.
The flat positioning of a power adapter equipped with a blockhead prevented me from accidentally pulling the adapter out of the wall or accidentally knocking it out while passing by, something that came in handy even if I didn’t need to fit my power adapter in a tight spot. It was more stable at the outlets which is slightly looser due to the weight distribution.
Given that most people use their MacBooks and power adapters for several years, $19.99 is a small price to pay for the added convenience.
Benefits:
- The weight distribution makes it better on loose outlets
- Allows the power adapter to fit into tight spaces
- Prevents the power adapter from being knocked out of the outlet
- Saves space
- Better aesthetic appeal than standard adapters
Disadvantages:
- Prongs do not shrink for portability
- The fit is not as flush as the standard Apple adapter piece
How to buy
Blockhead can be purchased from the Ten One Design website for $19.95. Both Blockheads are also available for a discounted price of $34.94 Currently, Blockheads are only certified for use in the US and Canada, but Ten One is exploring a possible expansion into additional countries.
Note: Ten One Design provided MacRumors with a free blockhead for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
