Information technology's no underground that I love mophie's products, fifty-fifty if I do have an issue with their insistence on writing everything in lower instance. Recently the good folks at Photojojo sent over a sample of the mophie juice pack reserve (United states$34.95), an external battery pack for iPhone and iPod that'southward designed to e'er be at your fingertips when you demand actress power, but without the majority of a case like the juice pack air.

So how does mophie manage the pull a fast one on of having extra power available just virtually anytime without requiring a case? Information technology's easy -- the juice pack reserve has a key band fastened to it and so it will always be with your house or car keys. It's pretty lightweight at 1.6 ounces, with a 700 mAh battery packed into a i.5" x 3" x .5" box.

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To charge the juice pack reserve, there's a flexible prophylactic USB cablevision to facilitate plugging it into an AC adapter or USB port. A tiny orange LED during charging flashes to signify that the juice pack reserve is beingness fed power; that LED turns green when charging is complete. When you lot're prepare to go, the flexible USB cablevision is easily tucked away into the side of the unit of measurement.

When you're ready to top off your iPhone or iPod, a tug on the lesser of the unit reveals a standard thirty-pin Dock connector. Shove the connector into the advisable receptacle on your Apple device and the charging process begins. For an iPhone 4S that has a 1432 mAh battery or an iPhone 4 with a 1420 mAh battery, you're getting well-nigh a half charge -- merely enough to help you out in an emergency by giving you four hours of talk time on the 4S or iii.5 hours on an iPhone 4.

As long as your favorite Apple device continues to apply a Dock connector, you should accept your juice pack reserve available. It can handle up to 500 total accuse cycles; mophie notes that topping off a juice pack reserve with a 10 percent charge only counts as about a tenth of a full charge.

Similar mophie's other power products, the juice pack reserve is well built. The key ring and small size make it a no-brainer as an emergency ability supply for your iPhone or iPod. If y'all'd similar fill-in power but don't desire the actress bulk added past a case like the juice pack air, the juice pack reserve might exist your best choice.

PROS: Lightweight, built-in keychain for attaching it to keys or handbag strap, congenital-in charging cable and indicator LED, comprehend keeps Dock connector clean.

CONS: More expensive than competing external battery packs with more chapters from Monoprice and other outlets.