Joined on 11/06/03
Solid and Reliable So Far
Pros: * Very good battery life. During initial testing, I charged my Moto Atrix (1800 maH battery) for five days under normal daily use before having to recharge the power bank. * Charges devices quickly through the 2.1a USB port. * Durable, has survived a couple of hard drops. * Works reliably even on partial charges. * Charges even my finicky Moto Atrix, though the Atrix wants an OEM Motorola-spec cable. This is NOT a flaw in the power bank; Motorolas are known to be finicky about USB cables. * Speaking of cables, has worked reliably with ten out of twelve cables I've used it with. The two flaky cables however are eight feet long and flaky in general. * Small and easy to carry in a pocket or pouch, and light enough to hold in-hand with your phone, though a velcro strap would make your life easier.
Cons: All of my cons are minor. * Port labelling could be clearer-- it/s white on white. * Charge indicators are hard to see in bright light. * Charge lights go from right to left, minor but can cause a moment of confusion. * The 1.1a port (port 1) sometimes will not charge 1a devices. However the same devices do charge without issues on the 2.1a port. * The bundled cables are short, though this once again is easily addressed.
Overall Review: We have two of these, one for the vehicle and one for the home. After five-six weeks of ownership they are both rock-solid reliable. A few notes: * It won't charge 2 devices at the same time reliably... because it is NOT DESIGNED TO. * The bundled USB cables are OK, but if your device is finicky, like mine, use a MANUFACTURER-APPROVED cable before you declare failure. * Remember, you have to press the power button to start charging after EVERY TIME a device is plugged in. This is NOT a bug, it is a feature designed to extend the life of the product. * The device itself takes about 6 hours to reach full charge from zero on a wall charger. This is NOT a flaw in the device. It's a huge honkin' battery and it just takes time.