It’s always a good idea to have a portable, backup battery backup for your mobile devices. Most iPhones and iPads get decent battery life (and some even better); But when you’re rushing out the door, your device won’t always be fully charged, and hours of use can add up quickly. Even if you bring a charger, electrical outlets are not always available. If you can’t rely on wireless charging, you need to remember the charging cables or the battery pack is more frustrating than useful. The latest Mophie Powerstation Plus aims to be the perfect mobile power solution for Apple iPhone and iPad owners. Small and light, 20W USB-C port with 10,000 mAh battery capacity; Comes with built-in Lightning and USB-C cables.
Mophie Powerstation Plus
My daughter is the poster child for someone needing this solution. Currently attending college on the other side of town, I’ve been out here to catch the bus more often than not watching videos while I’m getting ready for breakfast and my iPhone battery is half dead. Sometimes, once she arrives on campus late in the evening, the iPhone is critical for security; social exposure; times between classes; Entertainment on the bus and everything other kids do with mobile phones is important.
If his iPhone battery dies, he’s in a lot of trouble.
The port can also be used for charging and power output via USB-C.
I gave him a compact battery pack to keep in his backpack so he always had emergency power if needed. I also included an official Apple Lightning cable — the one that looks like gold and silver around here. Although she begged to leave that cable in her backpack, she didn’t. It often found a way out, and after she was stuck with the battery case, she had no way to charge her iPhone.
That’s where the Mophie Powerstation Plus comes in.
Very compact
Few people carry around a backup battery for their iPhone if it’s built like a boat anchor. Fortunately the Powerstation Plus is very compact. It measures about 5.75 x 2.75 inches and is only half an inch thick. That’s surprising. Just over 8 ounces according to my kitchen scale. That size makes this a backpack, It makes it easy to slip into a purse or shirt pocket and forget about it until you need it.
This power station is about the size of an iPhone 11 charger, but thicker and weighs 8 … [+]
Charge Options iPhone and iPad owners required.
Composite cables attach securely to grooves running along the sides of the Powerstation Plus. Made of a flexible material, each one is about 5 inches long when pulled out. One stops at the USB-C connector and the other is Lightning. Both output 20W. The USB-C option is a must for recent iPads and can charge most Android smartphones (and many wireless headphones). In addition to composite cables, There’s a USB-C PD port for charging the battery, but it can also be used for 20W power output. A Micro USB can be issued here if needed. If you want to use this port, you will need to bring your own cable.
You can charge up to three devices simultaneously, but the total combined output is limited to 27W.
iPad Air can be fully charged and some capacity.
The ability to charge an iPhone multiple times
The Powerstation Plus battery has a total capacity of 10,000mAh. This makes it ideal for travelers, including for use on airplanes. The 10,0000mAh battery pack can fully charge my daughter’s iPhone XS Max about three times, which is significantly faster than the Apple charger that comes in the box.
I used it to charge my iPad Air from 50% to 100% using the integrated USB-C cable. It took just over an hour to do so. The Powerstation Plus LED indicators then showed three out of four, or somewhere around 75% of capacity remaining. Those LEDs aren’t exactly — in reality; 50% of that iPad’s 7600mAh battery should keep the Powerstation Plus about two-thirds full — but you only need to fiddle with four LEDs. However, It’s enough to give you a good idea of when you’ll be recharging the battery.
Endorsement
small and inexpensive; 10,000mAh capacity and no cables to forget or lose – what’s not to like … [+]
At $79.95, the Mophie Powerstation Plus is an easy recommendation for iPhone and iPad owners. It’s cheap insurance and eliminates the hassle of remembering to carry chargers.
Don’t forget to charge the Powerstation Plus itself — as far as I know. No one has yet found an answer to this.
Disclosure: Mophie provided the Powerstation Plus for evaluation purposes, but was not included in this review.
