You have them. I have them. What do we all have? Personal portable devices of course.  Millions of them are out there, and the more feature-rich they become, the more power they require. But because these devices are intended to be portable, we can’t always use them near a power outlet. Hence the boom in portable batteries and chargers to power our devices while on-the-go. The NIFTY Mobile Charger is one such portable battery, and its looks and features piqued my interest. Let’s check it out! Gadget on!

Options

The NIFTY Mobile Charger is available in three colors/finishes:

• Signature Stone Red – Sandstone finish (reviewed here)
• Stone Gray – Sandstone finish
• Suede Black – Soft Tough finish

Specs

Per the NIFTY site, the NIFTY Mobile Charger’s specs are the following:

• Dimensions – 106x59x25mm / 4.1×2.3x.9in
• Weight – 156g  / 5.5oz
• Material – Flame Retardant ABS Thermoplastic
• Battery – 6800 mAh lithium-ion
• Input Power – 15 Watts
• USB-A Output –
  • TriCircuitry:
    • Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0
    • Fast-Charging 2.1A iPhones
    • Fast-Charging 2.4A Android Devices
    • Max 18 Watts
• Type-C Output –
  • Max 15 Watts
• Features –
  • Priority Pass-Through Charging
  • Powerloop Technolgy™
  • TouchSense™
  • TriCircutry™
  • Lumi I/O™
  • Intelligent Variable Output Delivery™
  • Dual-C™

Packaging & Contents

The NIFTY folks sent me both a NIFTY Mobile Charger (with cables included) to review as well as a 1-ft Lightning to USB Cable to connect to my iPhone 6 Plus. The packaging for both products is similar: a thin, stiff cardboard sleeve in a primarily white color scheme on the exterior which covers the interior black box that contains the actual product and accessories.

Above are shown the package backs which list features of the enclosed devices.

Above, the 1-ft Lightning to USB Cable’s exterior package is shown on the left, and the interior box is shown on the right.

The interior box is a clamshell-style with a magnetic closure. The 1-foot Lightning to USB Cable is enclosed in a plastic bag inside the box, as shown above.

Shown above are the contents of the separately-packaged 1-foot Lightning to USB Cable: the cable itself (with a Velcro strap) as well as a small instruction booklet.

Above is a photo of the NIFTY Mobile Charger’s interior box, which looks very similar to the 1-ft Lightning to USB Cable’s box, but with a “NIFTY” logo embossed on the front.

The NIFTY Charger’s interior box, which elegantly presents the device nestled into a cavity in a tray, which has a pull-tab to the left for easy lifting of the tray out of the box.

Beneath the tray are found the items shown in the photo above and which are listed below:

• NIFTY Mobile Charger (show in its own plastic tray)
• 3-foot Type-C (to USB) cable
• 1-foot Lightning (to USB) cable
• Microsuede drawstring cable pouch
• Quick Start Guide booklet
• Info card
• (2) NIFTY decals

Features & Functions

Let’s start with the separately-provided 1-foot Lightning to USB Cable.  This cable, as well as the two cables provided with the NIFTY Mobile Charge itself, are a flat, ribbon-type which helps to greatly reduce or even eliminate tangling. More details on the cables to follow below.  Also included with each cable is an attached Velcro cable wrap, a very handy feature.

Above is the NIFTY Mobile Charger with its accessories, the micro suede accessory pouch (top left), 3-foot Type-C to USB cable (top right) and 1-foot Micro USB to USB cable (center).

The image above depicts both the 3-foot Type-C to USB cable (top)  and the 1-foot Micro USB to USB cable (bottom).  NIFTY calls their flat, ribbon-style cables Flatline cables and claims that they are made with aluminum, are seamless and have oval-shaped connectors with precision-welded internals that make them 240 times more durability than the industry standard and able to withstand 6,000+ bends.  In addition, both are equipped with Velcro straps to keep them secure when they are wound.  These cables both look and feel of very high quality, and I did not experience cable triangulation even once.

The micro suede pouch is a really nice added bonus.  It has a rich, luxurious feel and has the NIFTY logo embossed into one side in a very subdued style.  Both the 3-foot Type-C to USB cable and the 1-foot Micro USB to USB cable both easily fit into the pouch, with room to spare for another cable or two, or a few other small items.

The pouch’s locking toggle keeps its drawstring secure and keeps items from falling out.  Sidenote: In a pinch, I was able to use the micro suede pouch to clean some smudges off my glasses.  Bonus!

In fact, the micro suede pouch is just the right size that the NIFTY itself will actually fit into it, as shown above, though I don’t think that is the pouch’s intended purpose.

One of the first things I noticed about the NIFTY Mobile Charger was that it has no buttons or switches.  Instead, the NIFTY is equipped with Powerloop Smart Sensing Technology, which means it is essentially on standby mode until a device is plugged into it, and then it delivers the fastest, safest charge to that device.  I like that because I don’t have to remember to turn it on or off.  What it does have are two ports, a full-sized USB port, and a Type-C port.  The USB port is ringed with a white LED which NIFTY calls Touchsense.  A simple tap or any slight movement of the NIFTY illuminates the LED for a few seconds to improve its visibility and make it a bit easier to connect to the USB port.  In addition, NIFTY has Lumi I/O, a linear, dynamic, multi-function LED indicator on the top with five LED bars.  This LED glows red while being charged and white while charging other devices.  Its five bars indicate the status of the battery life while power is either incoming our outgoing.  It looks very sharp but is also very functional.

Above is an action shot of the NIFTY Mobile Charger doing its thing.  The cable on the right is the Type-C to USB cable.  I have the Type-C end plugged into the NIFTY and the USB end into a wall adapter, which is charging the NIFTY.  The cable on the left is the USB to Apple Lightning cable.  I have its USB end plugged into the USB port on the NIFTY with its Lightning end plugged into my iPhone 6 Plus’s Lightning port.  With NIFTY’s Priority Pass-Through Charging, it always charges devices that are plugged into it first, then charges itself afterward.  The NIFTY’s TriCircuitry enables Qualcomm Quickcharge 3.0. But as far as I’m concerned, the bottom line is that the NIFTY Mobile Charger charges fast.  It was able to completely charge my iPhone 6 Plus from about 20% up to full charge in under 20 minutes.  Crazy fast.  In fact, with its Intelligent Variable Output Delivery, NIFTY will automatically assign priority to each device plugged into it, depending on its charging needs.  Sidenote: I don’t have a MacBook with Type-C charging capability, so I was unfortunately not able to evaluate the NIFTY’s Type-C charging capability.

The first time I picked up the NIFTY Mobile Charger, I would have sworn the exterior was made from anodized aluminum with some type of textured finish.  However, the exterior is not aluminum, but rather a flame retardant ABS thermoplastic that is lightweight yet rigid and with a “sandstone” texture finish (which helps give it some grip).  It allows the NIFTY to be slim, small and lightweight—it is only 5.5oz (156g).  I can tuck it into lots of places with ease.  It also feels very durable.  And it looks cool.

Conclusion

I am a huge fan of the NIFTY Mobile Charger.  It is slim, small and lightweight, so I can stow it and take it just about anywhere.  Plus it looks cool.  It is also packed with tons of features, all of which I found to be useful, like the Lumi I/O LED indicator, its TouchSense port automatic illumination, Priority Pass-Through Charging and Powerloop Technology.  But because this is a mobile charger, probably the most important feature is its power, and it has power in spades.  Its USB-A output TriCircuitry includes Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and it has an 18W output, while its Type-C Output has 15W.  And 2.1A means it will charge a phone and a tablet simultaneously, and prioritize with Intelligent Variable Output Delivery.  So it charged my devices very fast, faster than any other mobile charger I’ve ever used.  If you are in the market for a mobile charging solution, I would strongly encourage you to take a look at the NIFTY Mobile Charger.  While it’s a good price at $79.99, as of this writing it is on sale on the NIFTY site for $49.99, which is an absolute steal.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by NIFTY Electronics. Please visit their website or Amazon for more information or to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Batteries and Chargers

NIFTY Mobile Charger review originally appeared on on June 5, 2017 at 7:30 am.

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“Dad! Do we have another USB charger??!! The batteries in my calculator are dead and I need it for homework!” 

Sound familiar to you? I think I hear phrases similar to this once or twice a week in my house. There never seems to be enough power sockets. Just prior to wiring this review, I checked my daughter’s bedroom and found four single-socket USB chargers crowding two wall sockets, powering her phone, Bluetooth speakers, TI calculator, and portable power supply. She even unplugged a lamp to accommodate the charger she needed for the calculator.  I guess she would rather do the math than being able to see what she’s writing. Priorities, priorities…

Enter Syncwire’s SW-AC01 four-port USB charger. This powerhouse provides a generous 6800mA, or 34 Watts, staggered across two 1 Amp and two 2.1 Amp USB Type A sockets. There are no cords included. Measurements are 2.5 x 2.75 x 1.75”, not overly large, but certainly heftier than your standard iPhone wall-wart. For reference, if one were to assemble four iPhone adapters into a cube, it would be about the same dimensions as this adapter.

On a recent trip to South Carolina, I simultaneously charged my phone equipped with a monster brick backup battery, my daughter’s phone, my iWatch, and a Bluetooth headset.  It was a pleasure to pack a single supply, rather than a gaggle of gadgets. I was thankful the SW-AC01 sports folding two-prong plug, making it easy to toss into a backpack without worrying about damaging the plug (been there, done that).

International adapters are included. Syncwire’s implementation of these plugs is innovative, not requiring the built-in Type-A “American style” plug to be deployed to attach the international adaptor of your choice. Very clever.  This means that unlike many comparable models, the SW-AC01 does not need a separate adapter and stays considerably tighter to the wall. This is safer, sturdier and helps prevent accidental unplugging. Several years ago, I had this occur while in Italy and I assure you, it’s a very uneasy feeling knowing your phone battery is near death with a full day ahead in a country where you don’t speak the language and Google Translate is a necessity to prevent from tipping a cab driver so much that he can retire.

I’ve noticed a trend lately that manufacturers are cutting costs by not including power supplies with the devices they sell. It only makes sense to have one (or more) of these useful USB supplies handy. Syncwire’s SW-AC01 fills the need for additional power, saves on the crap I carry, and returns several wall sockets to me, restoring my ability to scold my daughter because she’s trying to read and it’s too dark in her room.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Syncwire. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Batteries and Chargers

Syncwire SW-AC01 four-port USB charger review originally appeared on on June 3, 2017 at 8:31 am.

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Carrying around enough potential energy to fuel our increasing appetite for connectivity is a never ending balancing act. Hardware engineers make energy-efficient phones and tablets, and Developers respond with ever-increasingly sticky apps and websites. Engineers make better, lighter, more efficient batteries, and we leave them on longer and whine that the device is larger. Into this mix walks the arbiter of fairness, the humble battery pack maker. “Here. If you need power, use one of these. When you don’t, leave it home, or in your bag.” Olala has even going a step further with their latest power bank by including cables and a sliding cover to hide them. They sent me a sample just before we left the country for two weeks.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

The Olala Power Bank will work for any USB powered device but is specially designed to look inconspicuous with recent Apple devices. It has a Gold case, which would perfectly match the Gold iPhone, but it looked fine, even though I have a Space Grey iPhone 6s, and my Lovely Bride has a silver iPhone 6 (shown below).

Overall, it’s a 125 mm x 75 mm x 15mm (~5″x~3″x~.75″) rounded rectangle with smooth sparkly gold plastic panels on the larger sides and a metalized band around the narrow edges. The top has a white silk-screened Olala logo centered on it and hides the secret chamber with the hidden cables.

Sliding the top panel with the logo up reveals a cord on one side with a Lightning connector and one on the other with a standard USB connector. There is a slight click to hold it open or closed fully, as well as notches on each side to allow the cables to be extended while the cover is closed. The bottom has silk-screened legal registration info. The other surfaces are free of printing.

One short side has a standard USB jack for output to any device, and a microUSB port for charging. There are 4 battery level LEDs between the two.

On one long edge, there is a button which activates charging or lets you see the battery level if there is no load on the outputs. While a hassle, the button is a nice protection from the device powering on due to a short across the connectors. And, being on the edge, it’s not going to be easily pressed by something on top of the unit.
On our trip, this became our best tool for “topping up” our phones and iPads while out-and-about. Using the car’s USB port meant audio only going through the car stereo, which caused us to miss a few turns. (We weren’t listening to anything on the car stereo, and there was no “just play the GPS” setting on it.) Then, we decided to use this Olala pack between the car and the phone. Our phone got topped up, and so did the power bank, and we could hear the turn-by-turn directions of our phone’s speaker.
When we left the car, we’d sometimes walk for a good long time, taking photos, doing walking tours, or exploring museums together. The Olala rescued us by letting us sit at a cafe for a cuppa and reorient our thoughts while charging. But it wasn’t too much trouble to plug it in and have it charge our phones while we were taking photos, reading about various points of interest while walking, or writing Yelp reviews. The sleek profile and short cable made it an easy solution to the power battle we all face, and the 7500 mAh battery meant it could provide a full charge to both my Lovely Bride’s iPhone 6 and my 6s, with enough left to make sure each of us got a little extra as well.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Olala. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Batteries and Chargers

OLALA S75 7500 mAh power bank review originally appeared on on May 23, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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What’s the worst tech catastrophe that is only a few minutes or hours away from occurring to you every single day? A dead smartphone battery! If you’re not near an outlet, the threat of no juice is a real nightmare. Am I being melodramatic? Only barely. We count on our phones for so many reasons that backup battery power is a very important commodity. Just like we might carry snacks with us in our gear bag, we should also carry extra power with us for those times when we are away from the power grid and see the dreaded low battery notification. One potential solution is the TYLT FLIPSTICK Portable Power Pack. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The TYLT FLIPSTICK is a 3,350 mAh portable power supply that is available with a USB Type-C connector, micro-USB connector, or a Lightning connector (for $10 extra).

Design and features

The FLIPSTICK is a 5.25-inch long tube shaped backup battery with a soft touch rubber covering.

Available in gray or blue, the FLIPSTICK has a built-in USB cable that plugs into the top of the FLIPSTICK to create a loop that you can use to attach the FLIPSTICK to a strap on your bag, your belt loop, or something else.

The cable is about 4 inches long on a flexible, soft cable.

In the image above you can also see a + etched into the rubber covering. Below the + is a line of 4 LEDs that light up to show the FLIPSTICK’s battery capacity while charging your device and while the FLIPSTICK itself is charging. Below the bank of status LEDs is a slight divot that is a button that you click to see the current battery capacity status.

On the other end of the FLIPSTICK is the cable that you plug in to your USB Type-C device, micro USB device, or Lightning connector device.

Putting the FLIPSTICK to use

Using the TYLT FLIPSTICK is very easy. First, you plug the black USB cable into a USB port on your computer or a USB AC adapter to charge the FLIPSTICK. You’ll know when it’s finished charging by keeping an eye on the status LEDs. When all 4 LEDs light up, it’s fully charged.

TYLT sent me the USB Type-C version of the FLIPSTICK which I tested with my Nexus 6P which has a 3450mAh battery. Remember that the FLIPSTICK has a battery capacity of 3350 mAh.

Test 1: 6:10 am, the Nexus 6P was at 12% battery when I plugged in the TYLT FLIPSTICK.
The FLIPSTICK ran out of juice at 7:47 am when the Nexus 6P had been recharged to 77%.

7:47 am, plugged the FLIPSTICK into a USB port on a Dell laptop to recharge. The FLIPSTICK was fully recharged at 10:30 am.

… the next day…

Test 2: 7:36 am, the Nexus 6P was at 8% battery capacity when I plugged in the fully charged FLIPSTICK.
The FLIPSTICK ran out of juice at 9:00 am when the Nexus 6P was recharged back up to 73%.

4:07 pm, plugged the FLIPSTICK into a USB AC adapter to recharge. The FLIPSTICK was fully recharged at 7:00 pm.

Final thoughts

Does the TYLT FLIPSTICK provide auxiliary power to USB TYPE-C, micro USB, or Lightning connector capable devices? Yes.

Does the TYLT FLIPSTICK have fast charging capabilities? No.

Can the TYLT FLIPSTICK completely recharge a device’s battery? That depends on the battery capacity of the device and herein lies my main issue with the TYLT FLIPSTICK. It just doesn’t offer enough juice for the price. I can find a huge assortment of backup batteries for $30 that have 2 even 5 times the battery capacity of the 3350 mAh FLIPSTICK.

While the TYLT FLIPSTICK is well made and easy to use, it doesn’t offer enough bang for your buck. My advice is to keep shopping.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by TYLT. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Batteries and Chargers

TYLT FLIPSTICK Portable Power Pack review originally appeared on on May 18, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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