This article was published on November 24, 2011

Mophie’s Juice Pack Boost is puny but packs a punch


Mophie’s Juice Pack Boost is puny but packs a punch

I use my iPhone so much that it might as well be attached to my hand. That’s why I’m always worried about battery life. Even before the issues with iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S cropped up, it’s always been tough for me to make it through a day on a single charge.

That’s why I’ve always been a big fan of Mophie’s Juice Pack products, which are really the gold standard of battery cases. But sometimes a case with a battery in it just isn’t the right fit. Don’t fret, as Mophie has you covered with the Juice Pack Boost.

If you’ve ever hated the bulk of a battery case in your pocket, or worried that you’re buying a case that could be made obsolete with the release of a new iPhone design, the Boost is for you.

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It’s a credit-card sized battery pack for the iPhone that pumps out 2000mAh of juice. This means that it’s got enough legs to fully charge an iPhone 4 or 4S battery and then some.

At the dimensions of 2.28 in x 4.09 in x 0.53 inches, it’s just a bit longer than a credit card and about as thick as a pack of gum. Instead of a permanently exposed dock connector or fiddly USB port, the Boost features a fold-out connection that allows you to use it as a stand for your iPhone.

The iPhone will sit upright while charging, letting it act as a stand as well. This is definitely not the best arrangement for those looking for an ultraportable solution that they can use as normal while it charges, but there are some tradeoffs.

Most of the other battery packs I’ve tested for iPhone charge between 60-80% of a battery from empty, but the Boost does it with breath to spare. The Juice Pack Plus also does this, but the more popular Air definitely does not.

I found that plugging my phone in and throwing them in my bag together while I was transiting from one location to another was an ideal way to use the Powerstation.

It’s a solid little package too, with just one exposed micro-USB port to charge it up, aside from the foldaway dock connector. There is a nicely stealthy battery indicator that displays through the upper skin of the Boost when you press the button along the side.

If I had one issue, it would be that I wish that the side with the battery indicator and label faced up when you use it as a stand. I’d rather see that than the FCC regulatory text. Just a detail touch that I found lacking, but not one that impacts the usefulness of the thing obviously.

While you do sacrifice some portability over its case-shaped cousins, the beefy charging capacity and speed of the Boost make it an excellent backup option for heavy iPhone users. As is typical of all of Mophie’s products, it is well made and feels like it has been thought through well. I also appreciate the fact that you have the ability to continue using the Boost beyond your current model of iPhone, even if it undergoes a facelift.

 Mophie Juice Pack Boost 

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