Charging my Apple Watch 6 is as much a part of my routine as making my bed each morning. This is because the smartwatch only lasts about 18 hours (24 hours depending on usage) before it needs to be recharged.

As long as I'm at home or sleeping in the same bed every night, keeping the Apple Watch powered on is a simple matter of charging it a bit before I pass out so I can use the Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature. If necessary, charge it in the morning before your workout.

But what if I don't have a charger on hand? I usually keep an iPhone cable for my iPhone 12 Pro Max in my backpack, but spare cords for my Apple Watch are sparse. And if I forget mine when I visit a friend or relative's house, it is unlikely that friend or relative will have one on hand.

Nevertheless, USB ports are everywhere. That's why I shelled out $10 for this Newdery portable Apple Watch charger when I stumbled across it on Amazon. Some shoppers were impressed by the convenience of this keychain gadget, while others complained that it didn't meet their expectations.

So I set my expectations low. Because this little charger impressed me. Because it helped me keep my cherished movement alive when it was in jeopardy because of a dead battery.

Like many other Apple Watch users, I am adamant about closing the activity ring every day. I'll even take a walk at odd hours if it helps me achieve my goals. At the dinner table, I'll get up and wave my arms around if it will save me an hour's worth of time. I've heard enough from my family without them telling me it's extra.

In fact, when I was staying at my parents' house, my accessories were put to great use. Somehow, my Apple Watch charger was not in my overnight bag. I didn't notice until later that day when my smartwatch displayed the dreaded "10% battery remaining" message.

After rummaging through the odd drawer in my old bedroom and finding nothing, and still walking into the evening after moving and closing the exercise ring, I began to panic. Until I remembered that I had a backup on my keychain.

Not knowing the battery status of the charger itself, I connected the USB-A port to a compatible wall adapter. Then I placed the Apple Watch on the base, and sure enough, it provided enough power to get me through the day.

It doesn't charge the Apple Watch as fast as the charger in the box or the Apple-approved cord. But it's enough in a pinch. My Apple Watch went from about 10% to 40% in about an hour.

In situations without a wall adapter, this accessory can also charge the Apple Watch on its own. This is ideal for topping off a day trip, especially if you leave the house with less battery power than usual.

Again, it does not charge as quickly as a standard charger. But if you're often looking for an extra Apple Watch cord or can't stand the thought of ending an activity with a dead battery, consider adding this $10 pack to your keychain. Alternatively, you could wait for the Apple Watch 7's battery life to extend.