Werewolf’s VFLEX dongle allows older devices with DC barrel-jack power inputs to run from USB-C chargers or portable batteries, without modifying the devices themselves. The Verge’s hands-on review finds it particularly useful for making ageing monitors, game consoles and recording equipment portable, though users must configure the correct voltage before connecting valuable hardware.

The $8 programmable VFLEX is set up via a phone and paired with roughly $4 interchangeable barrel-jack tips; it requests the required USB-C power directly rather than converting voltage. In testing, a battery powered a Super Famicom, a 27-inch monitor and an HDMI adapter drawing about 27W combined, while a Game Boy measured only 0.33W. Compatibility still depends on the charger supporting the necessary voltage: even Apple’s 140W USB-C adapter could not supply the monitor’s required 19V.