Every once in a while you need more power. Captain Kirk needed it from Scotty for the Enterprise. You need it from the wall for your iPhone. But do you really need to spend your waining moments of battery life running from one outlet to another? Do you really need to spend your day choosing not to use your phone because you know that when it comes time for a crucial call later in the evening it’ll be dead? And who wants to get going on a session of Plants Vs. Zombies only to have your battery run out right when you’re getting to the boss at the end? Really – I bought a smartphone because I wanted to be able to use the darn thing, not have it sit on the desk like a paperweight because the battery won’t make it through the day.
Enter the mophie juice pack plus.
Now, let’s not be fooled into thinking the juice pack plus (here on known as the JPP) is the answer to all your worries. It is, but it really isn’t because you’re not going to worry about battery life much anymore, but you are going to have to worry about how many times a day you’ll need to explain why your iPhone looks so weird. Then you’ll have to explain that you’re a phone battery abuser (like me) and that there needs to be some kind of support group or something.
The JPP really is pretty much the end of your battery worries – unless you’re out in the middle of nowhere and aren’t going to see a power outlet for days on end. But then again if that’s the case… you aren’t likely to get a signal anyway so I don’t think it’s all that big of a deal. In all honesty the only thing the JPP doesn’t have going for it is the size, but even that isn’t a limiting factor. Sure the JPP is a portly little bugger, but it still feels really good in your hand, because the back has a nice curvature to it, much like the iPhone 3G(s) did.
So what’s the big deal with the JPP? And should you even bother with the JPP vs. the juice pack air?
This comparison (from mophie’s site) really sums it up. The JPP is all about battery life. BUT – don’t think for a second that the extra battery life is going to equate to a heftier case!
juice pack air:
Product Dimensions: 5.07 in x 2.51 in x 0.68 in; 2.5 oz
JPP:
Product Dimensions: 5.10 in x 2.57 in x 0.71 in; 2.5 oz
I was shocked when I saw this comparison. The air doesn’t seem so “air” anymore does it. I really expected there to a much bigger difference between the two.
I’ve been using the JPP for about a month now and it has become one of those “what did I do before this” kind of experiences. I don’t worry about running out of battery anymore. I don’t curse my horrible short term memory when I forget my sync cable at home, I don’t think about plugging in when I get a chance throughout the day. I just go about my business and don’t let my battery woes get in the way.
Alright. Time to stop fawning over the stupid case and give you some review type details. As you can see from the images and specs above the JPP packs a 2000 mAh battery which equates to about doubling your iPhone 4’s battery life. So if you were able to eak out one business day’s use from your phone before, you can plan on getting a second day’s worth. If you only got through the day and the phone was dead by the time you got home, you can plan on making it until bedtime now, just plan on plugging in overnight. In my testing there wasn’t a single day where I ran out of juice by bed time and the longest I made it was 2 full days and the phone had to be plugged in mid day on the third day – but I was actively avoiding the phone as much as possible.
Size like I mentioned isn’t that big of deal. The case is big no doubt about it, but because of the design it doesn’t seem that big in your (my) hand. The backside is curved which I’ve found really lends well to holding the device comfortably for long periods – even more so than even the old 3G. In all – mophie definitely got this one right. One grumble I have is the stupid micro-usb plug. Yes, I understand design limitations and licensing, but I have Apple sync cables everywhere. I am limited on my number of micro-USB cables as are most people. I would really love to see mophie license the dock connector and start using it. Put the lights somewhere else and let me use a standard Apple cable … pleeeease!
Oh, and speaking of the lights. MOPHIE — PEOPLE CHARGE THEIR PHONES AT NIGHT. Specifically I charge my phone on my nightstand because I’m on call 24/7. Who’s the genius over there that decided WHITE LEDs which STAY ON when you’re charging was good idea? My phone lights up the frickin room all night long now. FIND A BETTER CHARING INDICATOR. 4 bright LEDs all lit up in a dark room – genius. Definitely the biggest mistake mophie made on this case.
Conclusion
Look, stupid bright blinky lights aside, the JPP is hands down my accessory of choice for the iPhone 4. I still stand behind BodyGuardz being my top spot gotta buy screen/body protector for the iPhone 4, but the BG and the JPP serve vastly different purposes. So, if you’re thinking about getting an iPhone 4, or you already have one and are worried about how long the battery is going to last you in your daily routine – you owe it to your sanity to take a look at the mophie juice pack plus.
Where to buy:
mophie – $99.95
Additional Info:
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This review unit was provide to iSource by a PR company for mophie. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the “About” page.
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TAGS: mophie
