iPhone power pack review, the Mophie Juice Pack Air

Way back in March 2009 I reviewed the Mophie Juice Pack which got our "Recommended Award", since then Mophie has released the Mophie Juice Pack Air, but is this new power pack as good as or better than the original? Read on and you'll find out.

Manufacturers description

The world’s thinnest rechargeable battery case for iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS.

The juice pack air™ is a rechargeable external battery concealed inside of a protective form-fitting case for the iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS. It offers you the full protection of a hard-shell case while providing virtually twice the battery life of the iPhone alone; all in an ultra-thin, light-weight, low-profile design.

The juice pack air™ is available exclusively through mophie.com and Apple stores world-wide. This is the first Apple certified “Works With iPhone 3G(S)” attached battery in the world!

The juice pack air™ is specially designed for iPhone 3G & 3GS and has passed the strict over-the-air performance tests by an Apple designated test lab. As a result, the mophie juice pack air™ has been officially certified by Apple Inc. as a “Works with iPhone 3G(S)” product!

The mophie juice pack air™ for iPhone 3G & 3GS, also uses Apple designated connector, which can only be ordered through Apple’s certified vendors. This ensures it’s 100% compatible with your iPhone 3G or 3GS.

Specifications:

iPhone 3GS:

• Standby Time: Up to 270 hours
• Talk Time: Up to 4.5 hours on 3G | Up to 10 hours on 2G
• Internet Use: Up to 4.5 hours on 3G | Up to 8 hours on Wi-Fi
• Audio Playback: Up to 27 hours
• Video Playback: Up to 9 hours

iPhone 3G:

• Standby Time: Up to 270 hours
• Talk Time: Up to 4.5 hours on 3G | Up to 9 hours on 2G
• Internet Use: Up to 4.5 hours on 3G | Up to 5.4 hours on Wi-Fi
• Audio Playback: Up to 20 hours
• Video Playback: Up to 6 hours

Other product specifications are as follows:

• Product Dimensions: 4.90 in x 2.59 in x 0.75 in; 2.66 oz
• Battery Capacity: 1200 mAh
• Shipping: This product ships world wide
• Product Category: Cell Phone External Battery
• Product Compatibility: Apple iPhone 3G and Apple iPhone 3GS
• Package Content Included: juice pack air™, USB-micro cable, User’s Manual
• Patent Pending: iPhone not included

First impressions

The Mophie Juice Pack Air comes packaged in a nice looking matt black box that hinges open. Inside you have the Juice Pack Air, a proprietary micro USB Sync & Charge cable and a user guide, and on first impressions looks a worthy successor to the original Juice Pack.

Out of the box

The first thing you notice is unlike the original Juice Pack, the Air has a high gloss finish and has the form factor of an iPhone case, fully encasing the iPhone, which is the same design as the Incase Power Slider. To fit, you simply slide your iPhone into the lower section of the Juice Pack Air and then slide on the top half (cap). This is where my first gripe with the Air comes in, as the cap is a bit on the flimsy side and the plastic around the volume/silent switch is way too thin and looks like it would easily break. In addition to this section being flimsy, the cut out for the volume/silent switch is poorly designed and if you have big fingers or don't have any nails then you will struggle to access the volume control or switch. Across the top of the cap you have cut outs for the headphone socket and on/off switch, and on the rear a hole for the camera lens. Whilst the headphone socket seemed fine for the range of headphones I have for my iPhone, and the lens cut out showed no vignetting, the cut out for the on/off switch, for me, should be a little bigger. I've nearly finished with the top section, but there is one last thing, and that is the top section doesn't fit as well as I would have expected, and if held at the right angle, across the top you can see there is about 0.5mm gap between the cap and the iPhone.

Lets move on to the main section of the Juice Pack Air, which is where the battery is housed. This section is surprisingly thin considering it has a battery enclosed, and compared to the Incase Power Slider is noticeably thinner and shorter in length. Like the previous model, the Juice Pack Air has the Mophie name embossed on the lower front of the power pack, and on the rear has 4x blue LED's to show the battery charge state and a button to check the battery status.

At the very bottom of the Juice Pack Air you have a proprietary micro USB port, which I don't like as you can't just use any old micro USB lead, but instead if you damage or break the supplied one, or need a spear, then you will have to buy one direct from Mophie.

Next to the micro USB port you will now find a power on/off switch, which for me is the most import design change Mophie has made, because with all of my past power pack tests/reviews, the one most annoying feature of ALL of them, was their inability to switch from main battery to external without the constant sounds of the iPhone's charge indicator. With this new feature to can now choose to run your iPhone from the main battery, only switching to the Juice Pack Air when the main battery is low (my preferred choice), or you can run it from the Juice Pack Air and then switch the Juice Pack Air off when drained of power and revert back to the iPhone's in-built battery, either way avoiding charging switch over sounds.

So, what do I think of the Mophie Juice Pack Air?

I've been using the Juice Pack Air for the past week now, and I am very happy with it. It doesn't add much bulk or weight to the iPhone and protects it as well as any case would (after all it is a case with a battery). The only minor issue I had with the Juice Pack Air, was that, due to the albeit minimal extra weight, every time I bent over with the iPhone in the top pocket of my shirt it fell out. Now this happened twice, but not a third time, as I now take it out if I have to bend over to pick something up, something you will want to remember. Apart from that the Juice Pack Air has performed flawlessly, and for me still retains the crown of best external iPhone power pack, and still gets my "Recommended Award".

Like's

• Very light weight
• Look and feel
• Battery management (the inclusion of an on/off switch)

Dislike's

• Minor fit issues with the cap
• Proprietary micro USB Sync & Charge cable
• Build quality and design of the cap

Price and availability

UK = £64.99 from Mophie UK
USA = $79.95 from Mophie USA

Mophie Juice Pack Air video review by Steve Trotto at Mobile Tech Moment

As anyone who uses their iPhone for a lot of photography, gaming or any other battery intensive use, will know just how quick the iPhone battery can deplete. The good news is there are a number of external battery options out there, like the MiLi Power Pack, the Incase Power Slider and original Mophie Juice Pack have been reviewed here on the iPhoneography blog. Well now there is a new kid on the block, the Mophie Juice Pack Air, which I am hoping to get for a future review, but until then I though you would be interested in the 2 video reviews from Steve Trotto over at Mobile Tech Moment.

Fill her up, more juice for your iPhone

As anyone who uses their iPhone to take, edit and upload photo's in the field will tell you, the iPhone's battery will not last for a full days shoot. The good news is there are a number of solutions out there to fix this problem, from external batteries that with charge your iPhone when its battery has died, to ergonomically designed, form fitting case styles power packs like the MiLi, which I reviewed last month. For me it is this case style battery pack that I find most useful, as the iPhone first powers itself from these battery packs, and then switches to its own internal battery when the power packs had died, and so you can keep shooting, uninterrupted for twice as long as normal.

As this market is growing, I have decided to compile the current case style battery packs, but if I missed any, then please let me know.

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G (coming soon)

Price: $79.99 in the USA, or £TBA in the UK

Available from: Mophie in the USA or Juice Pack in the UK

The All-New mophie ‘juice pack air’ will be available in Spring 2009.

The juice pack air™ is a rechargeable external battery concealed inside of a protective form-fitting case for the iPhone 3G. It offers you the full protection of a hard-shell case while providing virtually twice the battery life of the iPhone alone; all in an ultra-thin, light-weight, low-profile design.

Features:

• The world’s thinnest Apple certified “Works With iPhone” external battery in the world!
• Rechargeable 1200mAh lithium polymer battery virtually doubles your time to rock, talk, surf and send.
• Pass-through USB charging and sync with iTunes
• Extended smart battery and full case protection
• On/Off switch offers choice of battery or case
• Integrated 4 LED charge status indicator

Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 1st Gen and iPhone 3G (review coming soon)

Price: $99.99 in the USA, or £68.49 in the UK

Available from: Mophie in the USA, or Juice Pack in the UK

The All-New mophie ‘Juice Pack 3G’ is now shipping and is designed to more than double the time you can Rock, Talk, Surf and Send with your iPhone 3G.

This is the first Apple certified “Works With iPhone 3G” attached battery in the world!

Juice Pack 3G is specially designed for iPhone 3G and has passed the strict over-the-air performance tests by an Apple designated test lab. As a result, the Mophie Juice Pack 3G has been officially certified by Apple Inc. as a “Work with iPhone 3G” product!

Mophie Juice Pack 3G also uses Apple designated connector, which can only be ordered through Apple’s certified vendors. This ensures its 100% compatibility with your iPhone 3G.

The Juice Pack is a rechargeable lithium polymer battery in the form of a non-slip, soft grip case. It extends the time that you can use your iPhone 3G in these ways (additional hours):

Features:

• Standby Time – Up to 350 hours
• Talk Time – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G
• Internet Use – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 7 hours on Wi-Fi
• Audio Playback – Up to 28 hours
• Video Playback – Up to 8 hours

MiLi Power Pack for iPhone 1st Gen and iPhone 3G (reviewed here)

Price: $79.99 in the USA, or £TBA in the UK

Available from: Phonesuite in the USA, or Case Addict in the UK

The iPhone has fast become the "must have"accessory for all in 2008. Its fantastic features, usability and sleek look has led everyone from techno-geek to lust after it.

It has quickly turned into a lifestyle choice. It needs to be dependable and reliable for those who are lucky to own it.

The last thing you want is the battery to die just as you're sending that critical email or making that urgent call.

This is where the MiLi battery pack saves the day.

Features:

• Sync with i Tunes when still docked in your MiLi Power Pack
• USB out port on bottom of pack for charging other USB devices such as bluetooth headsets
• LED blue power indicator lights
• Compatibility iPhone 2G and 3G
• Battery Capacity 1800 mAh (2000 mAh arriving soon)
• Standby Time- Up to 350 hrs
• Talk Time- Up to 5.5 hours on 3G/ Up to 13.5 hours on 2G
• Internet Use- Up to 6.5 hours on 3G/ Up to 8 hours on WIFI
• Audio Play- Up to 31 hours
• Video Player- Up to 9 hour

Incase Power Slider

Price: $99.95 in the USA, or £TBA in the UK (review coming soon)

Available from: Incase in the USA, or TBA in the UK

The Power Slider for iPhone™ 3G is the first accessory of its kind to offer protection, expanded battery life and integrated sync and charge capabilities. While most supplemental batteries simply satisfy the need for added power, the Power Slider more than doubles the battery life of iPhone 3G while providing complete device protection and the ability to sync without removing iPhone 3G from the case.

With its low profile, complementary design and innovative functionality as both a case and power solution, the Power Slider provides the best in hardshell protection and extended battery life for iPhone 3G.

Features:

• Integrated rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery more than doubles the battery life of iPhone 3G
• Optimized power management system provides continuous charge to iPhone 3G internal battery
• 5 light LED battery status indicator
• Charge and sync without removing iPhone 3G from case using the custom USB cable provided
• Advanced lithium-ion polymer battery cell technology prevents overcharging and short circuiting and provides protection from extreme temperature
• Durable, lightweight hardshell construction with soft-touch coating
• Compatible with USB charging ports that provide 5V at 1A output
• "Works with iPhone" certified by Apple
• Standby time: up to 330 hours
• Audio playback: up to 26 hours
• Talk time: up to 5 hours on 3G network and 10 hours on 2G network
• Video playback: up to 7 hours
• Internet use: up to 5 hours on 3G network and 6 hours on Wi-Fi

IVYSKIN QuattroPower™ SmartCase

Price: $99.99 in the USA, or £TBA in the UK

Available from: IVYSKIN in the USA, or TBA in the UK

First SmartCase with interchangeable Integrated battery and Touch-Thru Glass Screen that sends a signal to the iPhone to drain the case's power first before using the iPhone's battery. This advanced power distribution system, enables the iPhone to receive an additional 200% battery life. The QuattroPower™ includes the QuattroPac™, QuattroT4™ home AC charger, USB cable and full manufacturer's warranty.

Features:

• Integrated Touch-Thru Glass Screen
• Battery brain is included at no charge: The QuattroPower™ sends a signal to the iPhone to drain its power first before using the iPhone's battery. This advanced power distribution system, enables the iPhone to receive an additional 200% battery life
• 6 light LED battery status indicator
• The QuattroPower™ case can be charged without removing the case, it includes a USB cable and a power charger
• QuattroPower™ has a full rechargeable lithium polymer battery embedded into the Quattro case that provides a non-slip, soft grip case
• Polycarbonate hard shell case with Polysilicon coating provides a protection that is secound to none in the market today
• Standby Time – Up to 350 hours
• Talk Time – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G
• Internet Use – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 7 hours on Wi-Fi
• Audio Playback – Up to 28 hours
• Video Playback – Up to 8 hours

Please note the information above has been extracted from the manufacturers or reseller/distributors website.