I travel a lot and am always looking for the ideal battery pack, and the Mophie Powerstation Plus XL Wireless ($99.95) comes close. The company sent me a review unit to try. There are a few features that set this charging battery apart from the rest. First, it charges via Lightning. This means iPhone owners can carry one less cable. In fact, the second differentiator is that it has a Lightning cable built-in, so you can charge your iPad (not Pro) or iPhone. But you would still need a separate standalone Lightning cable and wall plug to recharge the Powerstation.
Batteries & Power Banks
I am always on the lookout for ways to my iPhone's boost battery life. The folks at Eggtronic sent me their Wireless Power Popper - Ring ($39.99) to try. This portable iPhone charger has a lot to offer. First, it's lightweight, soft, and compact. That's important because Eggtronic designed it to attach the back of your Qi-enabled smartphone. Second, the wireless charging bank comes with your choice of grip: the Power Ring, a 360-degree rotatable ring, or the PopSocket-style Power Popper; you just have to decide which you prefer when you order. You can also choose from assorted colors for the fabric exterior.
Review: MagEZ Juice Portable Wireless Power Bank
By Todd Bernhard
I have been a fan of Pitaka's iPhone cases and car charger for some time. The company has a unique design combining aramid fiber (which looks like carbon fiber) and metal and magnets to not only look good but also to keep your phone and accessories connected, in place, and fully charged. But if you want an extra battery pack to carry with you, Pitaka also has the MagEZ Juice ($89.99), which Pitaka sent me to try.
Review: ChargeHub HomeBase Power Bank Docking Station
By Todd Bernhard
I keep restocking portable battery packs because the kids borrow and don't return them. Then I'll clean around the house and find discharged battery packs strewn around the house. Now, the ChargeHub HomeBase Power Bank Docking Station ($59.99) that Limitless Innovations sent me may be my saviour. The portable battery charging dock is a compact base that has four slots for the included aluminum battery packs, each offering 4,000 mAh of power, which is impressive given how slim they are.
Good news for everyone who was disappointed 2018 concluded without the announcement of AirPods 2, the AirPower Charging Mat, or a new set of over-ear headphones, potentially called Studio Pods: We may be getting at least one, maybe two of those devices very soon. Via press release, Apple has given us an official release date and specs of the AirPods 2. The rumors of an accompanying wireless charging enabled AirPod case, indicate that Apple may finally be ready to release the promised AirPower Charging Mat as well. In this rumor roundup, we'll cover every update about the new rumored new wireless earbuds and wireless charging case, as well as Studio Pods and AirPower related rumors.
Review: MyCharge AdventureMax Portable Power Bank
By Daniel Rasmus
Once a technology, in this case, backup batteries, becomes a free give away for marketing purposes, it gets harder and harder to find products that warrant a review. MyCharge has managed to create a new backup battery worthy of your attention. The $49.99 MyCharge AdventureMax packs a 10050mAh battery into an attractive but rugged compact portable charger that weighs just half a pound. The plastic case looks great and the material offers a secure feel when it's being held. The AdventureMax will charge two devices at a time via its 2.4A standard USB ports.
Review: VogDuo 30W Travel Wall Charger
By Daniel Rasmus
I have a new travel companion. VogDuo has delivered what is perhaps the ideal travel charger. The VogDuo Charger Pro 3-Port USB Wall Charger ($49.99) is thin, powerful, and adaptive. And my evaluation unit is cherry red, just like Elon Musk’s car heading out to the asteroid belt.
Despite the upgraded hardware and features that come with every new iPhone and iPad iteration, one thing typically stays the same: battery life. If you’re a new iPhone 8 or 8 Plus or iPhone X owner, Aukey’s 20,000 mAh power bank ($42.99) will definitely keep your device going while you’re out.
Review: NIFTY Is the Portable Charger of & for the Future
By Todd Bernhard
USB-C is the future, whether the iPhone 8 supports it or not. Apple has embraced USB-C across its latest MacBooks, and the cable has a lot of advantages, including reversible connectors and quick charging. To bridge the gap until we get USB-C for iPhone, there's the NIFTY Mobile Charger ($79.99).
Kickstarter Alert: World’s Thinnest Battery Case
By Alex Cequea
For the average iPhone user, there’s just never enough power. Seriously, if I’m away from an outlet for too long, I start to go into a mild panic attack. In all these years of mobile innovation, Apple has not yet been able to crack the code to unlimited battery life. Sigh. Maybe on the iPhone 10?
Father's Day is just around the corner, and if you are looking for the perfect gifts for that special man in your life, Lander has some great, ruggedly crafted products worthy of your consideration: the Lander Timp backpack (or messenger) and the Cascade powerbanks.
Power Up with Style: 3 Best External Batteries from Moshi
By Becca Ludlum
When it comes to tech products people usually just go with the flow when it comes to style and design. They like their iPhones and iPads to look good, but the accessories usually just serve a purpose. If you are looking for the best external batteries to charge your iPhone on the go, you may not pay much attention to design. But Moshi wants you to love the way your accessories look just as much as you love the design of your iDevices. This design dedication is noticeable with the Moshi IonBanks.