Fastmac iV: iPhone Battery Pack Review

Posted by Cyprian on March 9th, 2009 at 05:34pm Comments

iPhone 2G/3G Backup Battery Review: Fastmac iV
Reviewed by: Cyprian Peters
-Official website
Price: $99.95

Today I’ll be looking at Fastmac’s battery charger/case that is compatible with first (2G) and second (3G) generation iPhones. This isn’t your ordinary backup battery. It comes loaded with a few unique capabilities, one of which is a LED light.

Let’s talk a bit about the power of this battery, as it is, after all, its main function. The iV comes with a whopping 3100mAh of juice. It boasts the largest capacity battery cell available, allowing you for plenty of use. This translates into 24 hours talk time, 21 hours of video, 72 hours of audio, and a month in standby! This means, you’re good to go for that weekend camping trip you have planned. The iV charges your phone fastest when it is at full capacity. It should take around 2-3 hours to fully charge a dead phone. When mine was at 60%, I put it in the iV and the next time I pulled it out of my pocket a little while later, it was almost full! Great for topping up your battery.

Not only does the iV give you amazing battery life, it also doubles as a case. Now, because the battery has such a huge capacity, this isn’t the most protective case you’ll find. It is somewhat bulky, but did manage to fit in my pocket. This is where the sacrifice for max power is made. That being said, the case part of it is still nicely done and feels good in your hands and when talking on the phone. I don’t use it as a case really, but instead whip it out if I need a charge and return my phone to its protective case afterwards. The iV isn’t so big that it’s a pain to carry with you. It’s even tapered at the top to expose the camera.

One of the coolest things about the iV is that it has a full-sized USB port on the bottom in addition to the dock connector. This allows you to charge any other device that is charged through USB. This includes but is not limited to: Bluetooth headsets, iPods, or even another iPhone. Great for helping out a friend in dire need of a charge. The regular dock connector also allows you to charge both your iPhone and the iV at the same time, as well as giving you the regular sync capabilities. There are two buttons also on the back, one to power the iV on and off, and the other to check its charge.

One last feature that sets this charger apart from the rest is the inclusion of a built-in LED. Now I was told this was bright but figured it wouldn’t be much different from turning on my iPhone screen to see in the dark. That theory was killed the first time I turned the LED on! It is almost blinding in a dark room. You will definitely be able to see where you’re headed. No more banging into the coffee table in the middle of the night. This also doubles as a flash for taking pictures in dimly lit areas. It is activated by a little switch on the side of the iV.

This is the first external battery I’ve tested thus far but I believe I got the king. I wouldn’t advise using this as your main case due to its bulkiness and the top of your phone is exposed and could take some damage if dropped. It definitely is a powerhouse when it comes to charging. If you’re looking for pure power, this is the one to buy. The price is slightly above slightly above other battery packs, but you are getting quite a bit more capacity out of it. If you need pure, unadulterated power for either your iPhone 2G or 3G, put the iV on your shopping list, you won’t be disappointed!

Score:

9.5/10

Related posts:

1. Fastmac launches iV: extended battery and portable charger for iPhone
2. iPhoneSuit’s MiLi Power Pack doubles your iPhone’s battery life
3. Phonesuit MiLi Power Pack: iPhone 2G/3G Backup Battery Review
4. RichardSolo 1800: iPhone/iPod Backup Battery Review
5. Mophie Juice Pack 3G: iPhone 3G Accessory Review

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