Written by Thomas on Friday, April 24, 2009

Review: iPWR for iPhone


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The iPhone is a lot like a cigarette. Both are popular, both are frowned upon in restaurants, and you know what? I’m really only making this comparison because I think the iPWR portable charger looks so much like a lighter.

If you agree, hit the jump for the full review! Actually, just hit the jump regardless.

“Need a light?”

Alright, so it’s not quite a Zippo, but you can do one really cool trick with it. You pick the iPWR up in one hand, you take the top off, switch it on, and attach it to the iPhone. Suddenly your iPhone is charging like magic (but it’s actually technology). I think the only hitch here is that the cover can be a little difficult to take off, which can kind of spoil the show if you’re trying to impress your friends. There aren’t any ridges or indentations for your fingers to get a hold of, so I find it easiest to pry the top off with a nail. Unfortunately the top doesn’t attach to any other part of the battery, so you’ll have to secure it in a pocket or your bag while you charge.

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The iPWR attaches to the bottom of the iPhone (or most anything iPod-y), but it’s very light so you won’t be scared of it snapping off during use and breaking your connector. It also feels pretty solid, so it would satisfy my rigorous build quality tests (if I had any). There’s an on/off switch located just beside the connector, but I don’t think you ever really need to power the battery down. An on/off switch makes more sense on something like a Mophie charger, where the battery functions almost like a case for the device. However, the iPWR is pocketable, and it’s not really designed for general usage during charging. You can take a call just fine, but it’s a lot more difficult to type or play a game with the battery getting in the way.

You’ll want to keep it off when not in use

Back to that power switch, though. You won’t need to power down for saving battery life, but you might want to do so to save your eyesight. That’s because the LED on the front can (glows green while charging, red on AC) get a little distracting, if not a little blinding, even if you only see it on the periphery. I could do with the brightness on the LED being toned down a notch or two.

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The last wish I’d have for the product (how presumptuous of me!) would be a better way to gauge the battery level. Currently there isn’t any way to know you’re out of battery until – surprise! – you’re out of battery. Even the addition of something as simple as a third LED colour would be welcome. Maybe the light could glow yellow after dipping below 50% capacity.

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How’s the battery?

The iPWR features an 1800 mAh battery that claims to double the battery life or any iPhone. However, in my testing, I got to around 90-95% of a charge out of the device until it died. That’s just fine by me – especially considering the size. Fully recharging the iPhone takes about two hours and juicing the iPWR up usually takes around three. You can charge the iPWR with any mini-USB cable, but it just so happens to come with a handy dandy retractable USB<->Mini-USB cable to help keep your mobile life simple. This cable only plugs into the computer, though, so there’s on AC charging unless you already own a USB/AC adapter.

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Conclusion

I’ve spent a few weeks with the iPWR and it’s my new power pack of choice. I also own a Mophie Juice Pack and a RichardSolo 1800 and find the iPWR a lot more convenient overall. The Mophie inadvertently turns my iPhone into a siren when it runs out of battery, and the RichardSolo now just feels too big. If you’re looking for a portable, pocketable charging solution, then give the iPWR a shot.

What I liked:

  • pretty much doubles battery life
  • glossy iPhone lighter design
  • convenient and pocketable, lightweight
  • good build quality
  • inclusion of retractable USB cable – how sweet!
  • fits on most anything iPod

What could use improvement:

  • LED a bit too bright
  • no way to know when you’re running low on power
  • inclusion of an AC charger

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You can pick your own iPWR for $60 at wirelessinput.com. Free ground shipping for US customers!

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  3. Power It Up With PPCTech’s Lil Sync USB Mobile Power Pack
  4. Review: Mophie iPhone Juice Pack
  5. FastMac’s iV mobile iPhone charger charges other devices, too!

More in Accessories, Reviews | 7 Comments


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7 Comments

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Internet Marketing
Apr 25, 2009

You can get 5% off your total purchase at iPWR.com by using the case-sensitive promo codes at http://www.modoenterprises.com/ipwr.php

MODO


Richard Thalheimer
Apr 26, 2009

The iPwr is nice but you’re leaving out some important points.

First, the iPwr does not let you charge the backup battery at the same time it is connected to the iPhone.

The RichardSolo lets you charge both up together. Also, the RichardSolo gives your a dual port USB Car Charger, and a USB wall charger (iPwr doesn’t give you any charger). It is a nice convenience to just take one charger, or to just plug in one thing at night.

And the RichardSolo now comes with a free 3G iPhone hard case that is custom designed to work with our support brace. And since the RichardSolo has a different and more substantial connector, it latches on and stays firmly connected.

Plus RichardSolo has a built in ultra-bright flashlight, and
as laser pointer too.

Here is the link to see all the details on the RichardSolo:
http://richardsolo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=326

So it is a better functioning unit to use in many ways, and a heck of a value with the extras. And we are really fast and responsive on the Customer Service! Fun people too!

Thanks for reading this long reply!


Michael
Apr 30, 2009

I originally bought one RichardSolo for my wife, later bought iPWR to use with my iPhone, now we own both.

RicahrdSolo has AC charger/car charger (very low-tier products though), this could be the reason their price is higher, but my wife never used the AC charger/car charger to charge her iPhone since they are not Apple certified, there is concern there could unpredicted (or negative) impact to the phone. The backup battery is OK, but the size is too big, almost the same size of iPhone, it can not be attached to iPhone and hold both.

iPWR has half the size of RicahrdSolo with same capacity of 1800mAh (even more from my experience), light-weight, I can do charge & talk, or charge & surf, etc.

Good luck to all!


Thomas
Apr 30, 2009

@Michael
thanks for the extra feedback!

@Richard
Good point, I didn’t do a direct feature comparison with the RichardSolo batt. My reasoning for bringing the other products in was for a quick reference point to talk about why I liked the size. I also linked to the other two battery reviews here on JAMM so readers can find out about them as well.
I’m not saying the backup battery doesn’t have its uses. I loved having a small LED flashlight with me everywhere I went, but now that I’ve started shoving the iPhone into my pocket again size is what really matters for me and that was my focus.
I, however, revise this review to include the lack of an AC charger.


Hal Z.
Apr 30, 2009

I have to agree with Richard’s comments as I have tried many backup batteries and my #1 choice remains the RichardSolo 1800. With so many new batteries flooding the iPhone market it does get harder to decide. But I’ve got a desk drawer with a few of the losers shuffling about, if you could somehow take a look. The RichardSolo 1800 has provided me with more than double the talk-time on my iPhone and it’s amazing to me they can create such a quality product that is so lightweight. It isn’t the smallest battery out there but consider when it is connected and you are talking on your iPhone, that light weight truly helps. And it just feels more of an even weight, not a big lug drooping from the bottom like so many others. The length actually feels better, more like it’s made for the iPhone. That’s a very subtle feature of course. But when you’re on the phone for awhile, that subtlety makes a difference.

I also agree with what Richard says about the ability to charge the 1800 and iPhone together at once, in tandem. That’s a time saver and cuts down on the clutter. No more wires going every which way to add to the confusion. Just a clean simple connection is all I want and by morning I have a full iPhone and my 1800 all charged up for the day ahead.

Finally, as you can see, I am a RichardSolo advocate because of their customer service. I cannot tell you how much time I had wasted with a few simple questions for the other battery suppliers. Sometimes it took days for a simple answer by email. Then I sent an email to RichardSolo. I am not kidding, I had a reply within 10 minutes. I asked a follow up question… bingo… another reply in 15 minutes. It is no wonder they have such a huge following with THAT kind of service. I am sold for life because of this one “feature” alone.


Jeremiah
Apr 30, 2009

@Internet Marketing, it is applicable and thanks for the 5% off, but it tastes a little spammy.

@Richard Thalheimer, back in the beginning of 2007 your richardsolo.com site was a cheap and rather lame version of your sharper image site, I mean seriously a “Automatic Vacuum Container” for $70? Now it seems like you are focusing everything on the iPhone charger. I’ve used some of your products, both from sharper image and your iPhone charger, and frankly I am unimpressed. Every time I used them I would get the thought, “cheap chinese manufacturing” running through my mind. Your 1800 iPhone charger has potential, but right now it just does not match up with the iPWR iPhone charger. If I want a fun radio night light I may visit your site, but for something as sacred as my music I am going to stick with my iPWR.

@Michael, you said it best, “very low-tier products though.”

@Thomas, thanks for the review! I found your site looking for information about iPWR, and since I have been JAMMing.

@Hal Z., do you get your checks from Richard on the 1st and the 15th or just the 1st? Seriously!? Richard, is that you pretending to be someone else? Hal, your post is so thick with crud it pains me to read it. I don’t care about your drawers! What is amazing is that you claim to have used them and you actually claim to believe the solo product is better! If you set your job aside, and you really compare them, anyone with half a brain will realize the iPWR is the best product on the market today!

@iPWR, can I get a kick-back like Internet Marketing must be? I promote your stuff everywhere I go! Just kidding, I do not want to be a sell-out.

@*.*, I do realize the iPWR is made in China. Must be from a different region….


iPWR.com
Apr 30, 2009

Thanks to justanothermobilemonday.com for the review, and thanks to all above for great comments. Richard certainly brings up some great points about RichardSolo 1800. We appreciate the chance to mention a few points of our own that some iPhone addicts may find important.

First, Richard Solo maintains its charging capacity for up to 300 full charge/discharge cycles. iPWR SuperPack is a lithium-polymer battery and retains its full charging capacity for over 500 full charge/discharge cycles. That’s 60% longer useful life.

Second, there is the size. RichardSolo 1800 weighs 2.3 oz, while iPWR SuperPack is only 1.5 oz. In addition, our battery is only 2.3 inches long, while RichardSolo 1800 is 4 and 3/8 inches long, almost another full lentgth of an iPhone. (The iPhone is 4.5 inches long).

Third, the SuperPack has an integrated circuit with full “on/off” capability that allows it to store full charge for up to 12 months when fully charged and not in use.

If someone wants a flashlight, a laser pointer to entertain a cat, additional chargers, and other toys on their device, than you got us, Richard. Hands down. However, all the iPhone addicts that simply want the sleekest, lightest, most compact, and longest lasting 1800 mAh backup battery around that will keep them charged and rocking, take a look at http://www.ipwr.com/shop/default/ipwr.html

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