This is a first for me; we’ve covered plenty of external battery packs on Gear Diary, but never one that was able to serve as both “an emergency vehicle jump-starter and portable power bank”, which is exactly what the Viatek’s new Pocket Jump does. You can back on Kickstarter for as low as $40 or get two for $70.
Here’s a product that seems so brilliantly obvious that I wish I’d thought of it: the new Quirky Pickup Power is a three AC outlet power strip with a built-in external 4000mAh or 6000mAh battery charger that’s always ready to go. Starting at $99.99, you can keep your portable battery charged and ready, then pop it out when needed.
Leaving aside Samsung’s cute commercial bashing iOS Device battery life, external portable battery packs are a reality of modern-day mobile living. Our devices are simply too power-hungry, and recharging on the go is a must. The TYLT ENERGI 2K Travel Charger is a stylish and convenient way to do just that. Best of all it costs under $40.
Do you need a way to keep your phone or tablet powered when you are out and about? Then you should look no further than the Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank External Battery. Able to charge your mobile phone or tablet repeatedly without being plugged in again, the Harmonica Style Power Bank is slim, powerful, and at $21, it’s amazingly CHEAP. For just a smidgen over $20, you might expect some cheaply made hulk of plastic that weighs a ton and is, well, ugly. But the Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank is actually a very well made and classy looking tool. The battery’s packaging is…
The HooToo TripMate Elite 4-in-1 device is a personal cloud, travel router, external battery pack, and dual USB AC charger all in one. The versatile TripMate Elite can be used on an airplane, in your hotel room, in the airport, or even in the car or train. It’s the perfect travel companion. The TripMate Elite’s price is $89.99.
The little things can make all the difference. The Magnector Magnetic Charging Adapter for Micro USB Cable is one example of this. Designed to turn a microUSB cable into a charging system for the Sony Xperia line of devices, I have one and absolutely love it. You may balk at the price, but it is worth every penny.
I’m just back from a trip to Las Vegas Nevada where the daytime temperature was 102 degrees by 9:30am (No, it’s not a dry heat. It’s a HOT heat). I attended a conference and was in sessions virtually all day. Once sessions ended it was dinner and group events until close to midnight.
Cables to charge and sync devices are a boring, uninspiring but important part of a modern mobile life. Every smartphone and tablet ships with one, so aftermarket cables may seem like a waste of money. But they are cheap, and many of us need cables in various locations. That’s where the TYLT Syncable Charge and Sync Cable comes in.
I love it when an external battery pack includes everything needed to charge and be charged in one package, and that is where the $17 5200mAh Lumsing Mini Portable Power Bank really shines. Not only does it have a built in microUSB for charging your phone, it also has a built in USB charger for charging the battery itself. Measuring approximately 3″ long x 2″ wide x 0.8″ thick, the power bank is composed of shiny white plastic that is bisected by a rubber USB to microUSB cable that plugs into matching ports on the battery, ready to be unplugged when needed. But as usual, I…
I love iPhone battery cases. They’re convenient because they provide an extra boost when your phone’s battery inevitably wears down, but most battery cases are bulky and heavy. Introducing the Incipio offGRID, a thin battery case for the iPhone 5 and 5s that provides an extra 180% battery capacity with minimal bulk. The Incipio offGRID retails for $79.99.
It seems that I can almost always categorize my iPhone’s status as either “charging” or “needing to charge”. Being a mobile user is rough on my battery life! I recently got the chance to review the Duracell GoPower Wireless Charging Kit. Not only is it a battery case, but also includes wireless charging. The kit only costs $119.95 from Apple.
The Amzdeal Moving Life 8,000 mAh Power Bank is another one of the newest high-capacity mobile chargers on the market. It’s thin and light, and it can recharge your smartphone up to 6 times before running out of juice. It’s also nicely designed in white and gray and comes with a carrying case; it retails for $69.90.
Power banks are all the rage these days, but I think I’ve found my favorite. The Dark Energy Reservoir is an 8,000 mAh mobile charger that is very small, but it packs a heck of a lot of juice. Not only is it small, it can also charge two devices simultaneously; you can purchase the Reservoir for $129.
cheero, USA has just announced its new Power Plus version of the DANBOARD mobile charging device, packing 10,400 mAh of battery power into a small, and mighty cute package. Also available is the DANBOARD Mini, which is no slouch, packing 6,000 mAh of batter power. Cheero’s DANBOARD mobile battery packs are now available on Amazon.
It is rare that we recommend a device or accessory and then, at a later date, retract that recommendation. When that does occur you can be sure that it is for a good reason; that’s the case with the Bracketron Xolar3000. We reviewed it last week and are now withdrawing our recommendation. The reason? Read on and we will explain.
Think back to the last time your iPhone 5’s battery let you down, and how depressing it was to see that red band across the bottom half of your battery icon. Everyone who owns an iPhone has at least one ‘insufficient battery’ situation, and those are exactly the times when the Incipio offGRID Pro shines.
If you are in the market for an external battery that offers decent capacity, doesn’t require an extra cable for charging, includes flash storage for your “must always have” files, and can be personalized — look no further than the PowerStick PowerTrip. This $99 external battery even charges via the sun. It truly is the Swiss Army Knife of External Batteries.
I noticed the Towlhub, a 3-in-one paper towel holder while browsing SkyMall on the flight back from the happiest place on earth. It features a 4-port USB power , paper towel dispenser, and a hidden wine stopper (which also holds the paper towels); this MacGyver-ish device will set you back $49 – add Bluetooth speakers for a total of $79.
Perhaps one day, mobile phones will be invented that have batteries that recharge themselves as the person carrying them walks around. Until then, we’ll have to continue relying upon charging cords, AC/DC adapters, and extended batteries. If you’re still shopping for a mini power plant, Mobile Edge‘s UrgentPower DX 5200 is small enough to carry around for unforeseen charging emergencies.
If you’re in the market for a new external battery, the Bracketron Xolar3000 may be just the thing. The battery packs a 3000mAh battery into a nicely designed, plastic, metal and glass body. Why glass? That’s what really makes this battery stand out. Read on to see what a solar-powered external battery looks like, and why you’ll want one.
You take your laptop on the go and even though battery life has improved the need for carrying a charger is still a constant if you plan to be out for more than a few hours. Thankfully a new Kickstarter project that will have you covered. The Dart Laptop Adaptor is being advertised as, “the world’s smallest laptop charger.”