My son has nicknamed the RAVPower external battery pack “The Brick.” That’s because this portable charger for our cell phones and iPods is hefty. It’s no light device that I’d want to be carrying around in my purse daily. At 10.2 ounces, it’s even a bit heavy for my carry-on (that said, it weighs less than the pile of magazines I typically shove into my tote before a plane ride). However, for road trips and long-term travel — say, for our European adventure next summer — I’m happy to pack this battery pack to charge my devices in a pinch. Here’s why:
The power pack charges fast: Connect the RAVPower external battery pack via a provided Micro-USB cable to an AC adapter wall outlet or your laptop and it will charge very quickly. You can see its charging progress via the blue lights – one light means its barely charged; four lights means it’s done. NOTE: The power pack does not come with a USB AC adapter; not a big deal – I have a bunch from other devices that I can use in the wall and in the car.
The power pack’s charge lasts a long time: Have I timed it? No. But it lasts a lot longer than the Enercell portable charger I reviewed a couple years ago. In fact, I’ve stopped using that Enercell since it’s totally lost its oomph; even fully charged, the power pack runs out before my Droid Razr Maxx is fully charged.
It charges my phone quickly: Again, I haven’t timed it from an empty cell phone battery to a fully charged one, but I never feel like I’m “waiting” unusually long for it to charge.
I can charge two devices at once: Two USB ports means I can charge two devices simultaneously. Helpful when I have three other family members who all have cell phones they use a LOT on road and plane trips
It’s suitable for charging different devices: It comes with two coiled cables (for the two output ports) with four connectors : the micro USB that is also used for charging the power bank itself, plus a mini USB, a Nokia DC 2.o connector and a Samsung 30pin. (For Apple products, the manufacturer suggests using the 30pin that came with your iPod or iPhone.)
The power bank detects when my device is done charging: It turns itself off to save power.
It’s a flashlight, too: Press the power button for three seconds, and there’s a little LED flashlight. I haven’t really needed to use this feature in the car or on the go, but I like the idea behind it!
The power bank can be recharged more than 500 times, according to the manufacturer.
The drawbacks? I have to return to its its relative heft, with it weighing in at 10 ounces. Also, the lack of AC adapter may deter some potential purchasers (but again, if you’re like me, you probably own a wall or car USB charger already). Finally, I find the USB output ports “scratchy”; they aren’t the high-quality, sleek and smooth “insert” I associate with other output ports (found on my MacBook or the USB wall chargers).
The RAVPower portable battery charger retails for $42.99 on Amazon.com (with free shipping) right now. Is it a great deal? I’ll be honest with you; I’m not sure. If the power pack indeed retains its “oomph” charging power for 500 cycles, I’d say it’s a decent value.
That all said, I’d love to hear what you use to charge on the go. Am I missing out on some fab product I should know about?
I received a complimentary RAVPower external battery charger for purposes of review.
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