- Rechargeable 3000 mAh battery
- Extra 13 hours of talk time
- Built-in Lightning & Micro-USB connectors
- Built-in USB port
- Charges 3 devices at once
The packaging said it came pre-charged, so I wasted no time putting it to the test. This Power Bank has a built in lightning connector for your newer model iPhones, iPods, and iPads, along with a USB port and a built in micro USB. I used all of them, charging an iPod, a Kindle, and a PDA simultaneously. In a short time, they were all loaded up. Then I just unplugged them to use, and plugged the Power Bank itself into the wall with its built-in but recessed plug.
It advertises that it will give your smartphone an extra 27 hours of talk time, and while I can't vouch for that, I will say that it certainly was a convenient, effortless way to recharge all my electronics.
The Power Bank is also pretty light, and could be thrown in a backpack or purse without adding significant weight.
If you are always in situations where you are about to run out of charge on your electronics, this is a MUST BUY.
Buy myCharge Hub 3000 mAh Power Bank, RFAM-0228 (Silver) Now
Pros:Three outputs (Apple lightning, micro USB,USB-A)
Lightning and USB-A port are 2.1 A
Integrated Apple Lightning and micro USB ports (male)
Integrated, fold-out wall prongs for charging in an AC outlet
Can charge up to three devices at a time
All-in-one convenience; no need to pack power cords or synch cables for selected devices
Cons:
Only 6000 mAh
Integrated Apple Lightning and micro USB ports are not designed so that it is easy to use your device while charging
The myCharge Hub 6000 mAh Power Bank, is a well made external power supply that can be used to power up or charge your smart phone, iPhone, iPod, iPad, or other accessories. It has the usual standard USB-A port, but also has integrated Apple lightning and micro USB out ports so you can charge your devices on the go without having to remember to bring your synch cable.
The device itself is 4.5 x 1.4 x.7.4 inches and weighs 9.3 ounces--about the size of an iPhone 4 but twice as thick. It's casing is made of plastic but is highlighted with attractive, brushed aluminum panels and easy to grip rubberized areas.
The rubber cover on the bottom opens on one side to reveal fold-out prongs that connect to a standard, USA wall outlet. The other side reveals a USB-A port. The two L-shaped rubberized fingers atop the device can be pulled back to reveal an Apple Lightning connector and a mirco USB out connector.
Charging the device is as simple as plugging it into an outlet. You simply pull back the rubber cover and fold out the AC prongs. (A bit of a gripe--they might want to make a little lip of a handle at the base of the AC prongs wider to make them easier to flip the plug position on future devices.) I really like the integrated plug however--there is no need to remember to bring an extra power cord. The battery indicator atop the device tells you when it is completely charged--generally speaking this takes about 4 hours if the battery is fully drained.
I like the fact that the USB-A out is 2.1 A--this means that you can charge certain devices more quickly and that this can fire up/more quickly charge even some of the more demanding tablet computers.
The integrated Apple Lightning and mini USB ports are a nice touch too, as you don't have to remember to bring a synch cable with you to charge your device. The fact that the Lightning connector also runs at 2.1 A means that you have enough juice to charge or run an iPad.
The problem with the rubberized, L-shaped Lightning and mini USB connectors, however, is that they are not long enough to really allow you to use a device easily when it is connected to the myCharge. The device ends up being too close to the battery and a little difficult to use. If the myCharge connectors were longer, this would not be the case. This is not insurmountable--you can use your USB cable and connect to the USB port to give you more berth, but it would have been nice if the integrated connectors were a little longer.
6000 mAh will give you a fair amount of power and the myCharge also seems to hold its charge well.
That said, I have a 10,000 mAh Anker external battery [Anker Astro3 10000mAh Multi-Voltage (5V 9V 12V) Output Portable Power Pack External Battery Charger for iPads, Samsung Tablets, iPhones, Android Smart Phones, Camcoders, Digital Cameras / DV Recorders (Dual USB Output: 5V, 2A; DC Output: 9V / 12V, 2A) ] that is not much bigger or heavier than the myCharge (and the latest version of this device is 14,000 mAh). The Anker definitely supplies more power for less of a price; on the other hand, the Anker doesn't have integrated connectors and you have to bring a separate power cord to charge the battery.
My preference for these kind of things, though, is that everything else being equal (including portability), you should try for the maximum power storage you can afford. If you want the myCharge and you can afford it, it looks as though they have a 9000 mAH version of this device on their website, which should be coming to Amazon really soon.
Still, the myCharge is generally a well thought out self-contained power device that will definitely give you power on the go. It is a convenient, all-in-one, stow-and-go option. The major convenience is that you don't have to look for connectors or bother to pack cords; just throw it in the suitcase or your car's glove compartment and you're ready to go. If you have a current generation iPad, the integrated Lightning connector is an added bonus.
Recommended
Read Best Reviews of myCharge Hub 3000 mAh Power Bank, RFAM-0228 (Silver) Here
JUNE 22 UPDATE: I haven't been able to charge my phone fully more than once. I'll keep trying. It has never completely charged the phone, still (always to 97% or 99%). When the battery of the charger is low, and I first plug the phone in, the battery indicator light shows steady green (meaning that the charger is fully charged), and I have to press the indicator button to get a true reading--flashing red (almost completely empty). It does charge the phone very quickly though, when it has any juice.MAY 29 UPDATE: I've had it for awhile now and have charged it fully once and partially twice. The first time it didn't make it through charging my phone twice, when it should be able to charge my phone fully at least three times. I'm hoping it's because it had lost charge while sitting on a shelf somewhere. I haven't had time to do another experiment, but I will update again when I do. If it can't charge three times, then I can only give the device three stars, especially considering the sticker price.
_____
I just got this today, so I can't speak to the long-term reliability of the item (although it seems really well-built, and I dropped it and it's fine), but I love it already.
Just in case anyone is wondering, this is a 6000mAh battery pack, where mAh is the capacity. To give you some perspective if you need it, my Samsung Galaxy SII battery has a 1800mAh capacity. This "power bank" is like 3.3 phone batteries. It also came pre-charged! A nice bonus.
This device charges my phone quite quickly, but only to 99 or 97% for some reason. I like this type of power solution instead of (or in addition to) extra batteries or larger-capacity batteries, because I can use it to charge anything that can use USB, micro-USB or Apple Lightning (whatever that is) connectors, and unlike extra batteries, I don't have to put it into a phone or special-order a battery charger to charge it. I also like that I can easily separate the phone from the power source, so I can be sure not to use my reserve power until I really want to. It will be a nice buffer the next time I go on a road trip.
In addition to the USB, micro-USB and Apple outputs, the device has a folding two-prong plug-in for wall-charging. Unfortunately there is no built-in way to charge it from a USB port or 12v car outlet, which is disappointing.
Also, you might not realize from the photos, but the two connectors (that are shown being folded out) are flexible and encased in silicone or some similar rubbery substance. They can be repositioned to some extent, but they don't extend in length. If you want to use this (heavy) charger while talking on the phone or taking pictures, you have to hold the battery pack up with the phone, or plug your own longer charger into the USB connector to get some separation. If you're charging a larger device with one of the fold-out connectors, you'll have to bend the connector sort of backward to get enough room next to the power bank.
There is a button on the top of this device that you can push to get a general idea of how much capacity is remaining in the batteries--the LEDs transition from green to orange (and maybe red, but I haven't gotten there yet).
All of the openings in the device seem well-covered by the silicone caps, so it may be relatively weather-proof. I wouldn't drop it in the toilet if I could help it, but it'd probably be okay if it got a little rained on.
It is quite heavy in terms of cell phone equipment, so it might not be for everyone. I think it will be fine for my uses though. If you want a lighter battery, they also make at least one other size (3000mAh) that might be a better match.
So anyway, all said, I really love this. It is exactly what I was looking for, except that it doesn't have a 12v adapter. I had it rated at four stars, but I think I'm going to go with five because it's so cool otherwise.
Want myCharge Hub 3000 mAh Power Bank, RFAM-0228 (Silver) Discount?
I received the myCharge Hub 6000 mAh Power Bank, RFAM-0229 (Silver) with high hopes. I had been using the Dexim DCA171SP 3000mAh Back-Up Battery for iPhone 4/4S/3GS/3G/iPod Touch/Nano (Black) for years with good results, and wanted something with more power for a new backup power supply. The concept of integrated connectors also sounded intriguing. On opening the package, it was clearly evident that this device would not be as useful as I hoped. For starters, the integrated connectors are great if you need a micro-USB or Lightning connector (I do not use either one); otherwise you will need to use the generic USB port. Fair enough, as my current back-up battery only has a USB port. However, the main difference was size. The myCharge Hub 6000 is significantly larger and heavier than the Dexim back-up battery, but it also carries twice the charge. However, at 9.3 ounces it far outweighs the 1.3 ounces of the Dexim battery, disproportionate to the charge difference. Likewise, the dimensions of 7.5"x4.5"x1.375" far exceed the 3.9"x2.2"x0.5" of the Dexim battery, again without a proportional difference in charge capacity.Still, the power bank does the job expected of it, and does it well. Up to 2.5 charges (almost 3) on my iPhone 4S, and that's the whole point of having the power bank. I'll keep my Dexim battery for when I need a small back-up battery when size is critical (long trans-oceanic flights, for example); however for visiting with family, camping, or other occasions where size isn't important but plenty of power is, the Hub 6000 is the tool you need and want.
Save 11% Off
We are a digital family, eveyone has an iPad or tablet and both my husband and I have smart phones. This is great for road trips and vacation/camping. There are often times that there is not enough outlets for all our devices. it has also worked well on a long trip when I used my smart phone ap for navigation. It keep my phone charged for the whole trip (when usually I have to plug the phone in one of the outlets in the vehicle). I am very satisfied with the item. Some say it is bulky, but I think the size is fine, fits in my purse and how much smaller do they think it could be?Happy customer.
No comments:
Post a Comment