I don’t know about you, but I break out in hives and develop a slight twitch when my mobile device’s battery indicator drops below 15%. My symptoms really get bad when I am nowhere near a power outlet and/or don’t have my laptop bag filled to brim with cables ready to power each and every device I own.
For those times when plugging in to charge a mobile device is NOT an option, portable power is the answer. The arena is relatively new, but is a must as more and more people depend on mobile devices to get them through the day. So I am going to feature three different options that will wake you up from a mobile battery drain nightmare.
Power! Dual 1850
The Power! Dual 1850 Rechargable Backup Battery comes from Powermat and is a dual backup battery charger capable of charging up to two portable devices, due to its built-in port for charging Apple iOS devices, and a short MicroUSB cable able to charge a myriad of mobile devices that have a MicroUSB port.
The Dual 1850 comes with its own MicroUSB cable that you can either plug into a laptop/desktop computer, plug into a USB to wall outlet converter, or slap it right on a Powermat Mat for easy charging sans the cords. The Dual 1850 cost around $49.99 and is small enough to keep in your pocket or purse and will keep your mobile devices charged up for the duration of the day.
Motorola 89442N
Another similar device is the Motorola 89442N Universal USB Portable Power Pack. The 89442N mimics the size of a smartphone, which also makes it small enough to keep with you without any extra baggage.
Similar to the Powermat Dual 1850, the 89442N can also charge two mobile devices at once; but; is different because instead of proprietary Apple iOS port, the 89442N has a normal USB port that will enable you to charge a MicroUSB-compatible device AND another USB device – That includes an iOS device (per additional Apple sync cable) and just about any other device that has a USB port. The 89442N also has a MicroUSB port for charging itself when not in use and retails for approximately $40.00
Morphie Juice Pack
Finally, if you have a tablet device, the former two devices just won’t cut it. That’s where a device like the Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation comes into play. It is larger than the Powermat and Motorola devices, but it ensures you can charge ALL of your mobile gadgets with just one unit.
Features include the ability to charge multiple devices at the same time, a standby switch that ensures no juice is lost when not charging a device, and a built-in short circuit so you don’t overcharge your mobile devices. Like the others, the juice pack pro comes with a USB cable to charge the unit, but at a higher price tag of around $100.00, but with the guarantee that you won’t have to visit a wall outlet for days on end.
Do yourself a favor and invest in some portable power for your mobile devices and avoid looking like the rest of the poor schmucks all huddled up around a wall outlet at your local airport, tech conference, or gadget expo.