Review: Duracell myGrid Charging Pad

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Our world seems to become continually more mobile.  With all of these mobile gadgets comes a need to charge and charge often.  Unfortunately, devices have not adopted a standard for charger connectors so that leaves many of us with a ton of plugs throughout the house.  We have a vase on the kitchen counter near a set of wall plugs that holds all of the various charging cords while keeping them hidden.  Basically, I throw the rats next of wires in the vase so my wife does not kill me due to the mess.  Duracell has released an interesting product that will not only clean up this charger problem, but also allow for devices to be charged by simply laying on a pad.  Lets take a look at the Duracell myGrid Charging Pad.

myGrid’s drop-and-go technology makes charging your mobile devices effortless while also getting rid of cord clutter. Just put a Power Sleeve™ or Power Clip™ on each of your handheld devices and then simply place them on myGrid to charge.

Charging is achieved by simply dropping the device on the grid pad as long as it contains a Power Clip which will work with Blackberry, Motorola and Nokia phones or a power sleeve.  Power sleeves are cases with built-in technology to work with the charging pad and are made for specific devices.  I reviewed the product using the iPhone power sleeve which is compatible with the 3G and 3GS phones.

The charging pad measures 8×6 1/4 inches and contains a spot to plug in the AC adapter and 12 shiny silver strips that act as the contacts to charge.  The pad is small enough to fit most anywhere you would like it but also large enough to charge several devices at once.  I have found the footprint to be a fantastic size.  My wife has been using the system with her iPhone 3G and has it set where we usually charge devices on the kitchen counter.  Being able to just toss a device down on the pad has proven to be quite convenient.

The iPhone power sleeve is similar to many case options.  It comes in black and is made of a silicone like plastic material.  The bottom of the sleeve contains a small dock adapter that slips into the bottom of the phone.  The only thing I do not like about the sleeve is the fact that the dock connector at the bottom sticks out some.  This is not a deal breaker, but may pose a problem for some users.  The sleeve fits well and will provide the usual protection from such a case.  There is enough of a ridge around the screen to protect against drops screen down on a surface.  The back contains four small metal contacts that will combine to allow for charging on the pad.  The contacts are contained on a small raised spot, but will not add enough bulk or change to be noticeable.

The Duracell myGrid system brings great convenience to charging while going wireless as well as providing a charging solution for several devices at once.  Most cell phones as well as some iPod Touches can be charged on the pad so households with a variety of gadgets should be able to utilize the system.  My wife has loved being able to simply toss her phone on the pad to charge up when she walks into the house.

Duracell myGrid website

MSRP: $124.96 for iPhone starter kit.

What I Like: Convenient and expandable wireless charging system.

What Needs Improvement: I would like to see the iPhone sleeve designed a little nicer maybe by shrinking or eliminating the extension under the dock connector.

 

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About the Author

Travis Ehrlich
Travis is a high school teacher and coach in a small South Texas town. His love for gadgets began at a very early age, and he has been a cross between a jock and a geek for most of his life. He has two boys and a wonderful wife who lets him be a gadget freak. He is a Mac convert and has drank the whole pitcher of Kool-Aid! He is also an avid guitar player and loves the outdoors, especially hunting with both a bow and rifle.

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