We want slim phone but, equally, we want battery life. Something has to give. And usually it’s the battery. As a result, battery packs have been pretty ubiquitous. A few years ago, though, they were always tethered by a wire, and where to put the bulk battery pack whilst you were using it was always a feet of supreme juggling, especially when you wasn’t using your phone and needed to put it away in your pocket, now along with an even thicker power bank and a metre long cable.
Nothing really changed until Apple introduced MagSafe – a magnetic, clip-on connectivity system for iPhones. And to prove its usefulness, they created their own MagSafe battery pack. No cables needed, it simply snapped to the back and instantly started charging your phone.
Apple no longer makes it, and other manufacturers have stepped in with their own alternatives. After trying an Anker model, I’m now trying the latest from ESR. Not only does it have a massive capability but it has the latest Qi2 charging technology – more of that in a bit.
(more…)