In our busy lives it's very easy to forget to charge your phone or other portable gadget you might have, I do it all the time, that's why I've got a car charger and home charger. What happens though when you don't have access to any sort of power outlet and you need power for your phone in an emergency? There are many portable battery powered charging devices out there today that can help, and today I've got one of them for review.
The iGo powerXtender battery operated charger uses two AA batteries and interchangeable tips depending on which types of devices you own. The powerXtender can come in very handy in many situations where you need additional power for your device, be it a phone, mp3 player or even a portable game system. It's very easy to use, very portable and relatively inexpensive as well…
So read on to check out the powerXtender from iGo …
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
iGo powerXtender battery operated charger (2 cell)
Price: $15.99
Provides emergency power for your mobile gadgets anywhere you go. Get up to 10 hours of talking, 20 hours of playing or 28 hours of listening.* Uses 2 AA batteries (included) and iGo power tip technology (tips sold separately) to power/ charge your mobile gadget.
* Provides an emergency power source when away from power outlets
* Interchangeable power tips allow you to power multiple gadgets with a single charger (tips sold separately)
* Works with multiple gadgets, including mobile phones, Bluetooth headsets, smartphones/PDAs, MP3 players, portable gaming devices, digital cameras and more
* Reusable – use it again and again, just replace the batteries
* Compact lightweight design – convenient for travel of emergency use
Power tips for use with this charger sold separately
* Runtimes based on performance tests and manufacturers' stated battery life for Motorola RAZR V3, Blackberry 7280, iPod Nano and Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP. Runtime will vary according to the device being charged. Runtimes indicated are with 2 premium AA batteries.
Tips included in this review:
iGo power tip A53 (For ATT Tilt and other phones/gadgets)
iGo power tip A40 (For LGC1300 Mobile Phone)
Price: $9.99 Each
Deliver the right amount of power to your mobile device using this interchangeable tip with iGo power tip technology.
* Compatible with the latest models – no need to buy a new adapter when you upgrade
* Automatically configure to ensure each device gets the precise amount of power
* Portable and lightweight – eliminates the need to carry multiple adapters
NOTE: Please check compatibility to ensure you select the correct tip for your device.
A Better Look at Things
:
The iGo powerXtender came to me in a bulk style package, nothing pretty just a bubble wrap bag and a zip bag with the tips in it. The tips I got with the iGo are the A53 and the A40, the A53 is a mini-USB style which is compatible with most devices that use the mini-USB interface, while the A40 is for certain LG brand phones, mine is specifically the LGC1300.
Inside the package we find the powerXtender itself and two Duracell AA batteries along with a product pamphlet and instructions.
The powerXtender is rather small, a bit larger than the two AA batteries, and it feels well made and should last quite a while. On the top is an LED indicator and the bottom just has an informative label, while the tips get attached to the top or front of the device. I have to wonder why there isn't some sort of protective cap over the end where the tips go on, it's basically a bunch of holes or 'female' interface that could easily get stuff stuck in it…
On the side is a small switch to turn the powerXtender on and off.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
First thing of course is you need to put the batteries into the powerXtender, it's easy to do just pop it apart and put the batteries in. When you flip the switch the LED turns a bright blue to let you know it's powered on.
As I mentioned the tip end of the powerXtender is female while the actual tips are male, they are notched or keyed on one side so they can only fit one way.
Using the powerXtender is very easy, plug it into your phone or gadget and flip the switch, it's just like any standard charger where you can continue to use the device while it's charging if you wish.
The iGo powerXtender is very easy to use, it's essentially plug and play making it very user friendly so that anyone with any level of technical knowledge can use it.
In my time with it I've used it a few times when I've forgotten to charge my phone and it really does come in handy, it provides that extra juice to get to a regular charger if need be.
Charging seems the same as it is with a standard charger, so it's not a fast charger, but it acts like a constant power source as well so you can use the your device essentially powered by the powerXtender itself, so if your battery is dead it will give you power and charge the battery as well.
The one major drawback I can see with this product is the price of the tips, if you have many devices that you want to charge then you have to pay $9.99 for each tip, so let's say that's $10 and if you have 10 devices that's $100 plus shipping just for the tips…
iGo does have numerous bundle specials on their site for sale, but if I were them I might want to have a 'create your own' type of bundle as well where the buyer could get x amount of tips at a discounted price.
The one thing nice about the tip system is that the tips will work with most any of their products, so if you are interested in another of their items then you won't need to buy the tips as well.
Summary:
The iGo powerXtender is a very useful little gadget that I think most people will find a use for, in this day and age where pretty much everyone has some sort of portable device there will come a time when you need more power and the iGo powerXtender can provide it.
The powerXtender is very easy to use and portable, you can just toss it in your glove box, laptop bag or purse and have extra power whenever and where ever you happen to need it.
I mentioned the tips, well it is a good system overall but of course the cost is a concern, if you only have one or two gadgets then that's not bad but if you have many then it can get expensive quickly, but if you've got more than one iGo product you won't need additional tips either…
DragonSteelMods gives the iGo powerXtender a 4.5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.
Pros:
-Uses standard batteries
-Easy to use
-Compatible with many devices
-Small and portable
-Power when you need it
Cons:
-Tips are extra cost that can quickly add up
-No protection for tip of device
I would like to thank iGo for the chance to review the powerXtender and for their support of DSM.
review# 434