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Mobile Technology

Ultra-high capacity battery lands on Kickstarter

February 14, 2013
Ultra-high capacity battery lands on Kickstarter
The three models of the Ultra-high capacity battery
The three models of the Ultra-high capacity battery
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The 11,200 mAh Expedition's ports
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The 11,200 mAh Expedition's ports
The 10,000 mAh Destination's USB ports
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The 10,000 mAh Destination's USB ports
The 6600 mAh Adventurer's plugs
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The 6600 mAh Adventurer's plugs
The plugs that come with the battery
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The plugs that come with the battery
The three models of the Ultra-high capacity battery
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The three models of the Ultra-high capacity battery
The three models next to an iPhone 4S for size comparison
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The three models next to an iPhone 4S for size comparison
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Lately, there has been an influx of products designed to charge your phone or tablet without an outlet. One of the latest offerings has found its way to Kickstarter, and it promises high capacity in a form factor that's quite a bit smaller than most on the market.

By comparison, the Sandberg BatteryCase comes with much higher price tag of US$80 and only a 1500 mAh battery. The Scosche goBat II costs $89.99, and only comes with a 5000 mAh battery installed. Eton also has similar products, but again, none of them come with such high capacities.

The Ultra-high capacity lithium-ion battery for mobile devices comes in the three flavors — the 6,600 mAh Adventurer, the 10,000 mAh Destination, and the 11,200 mAh Expedition. The Expedition and the Destination each have two USB ports, so they can charge an iPhone and an iPad at the same time. The smaller Adventurer only has one USB port, but as a trade-off, it has a smaller form factor.

The Adventurer is 2.55 x 3.9 inches (65 x 99 mm) and is 3/4-inch (19 mm) thick. The physically-largest model, which is the 10,000 mAh Destination, measures 3.75 x 5.25 inches (95 x 133 mm) and is 5/8-inch (16 mm) thick. To put the size in perspective, even the largest model is only slightly larger than the iPhone 4S.

The Expedition, which is the largest-capacity model, can charge an iPhone from zero to 100 percent almost ten times on one charge. It can charge an iPhone two times and an iPad one and a half times if both are plugged in together. It can charge the devices to full in 4-6 hours, which is solid for a mobile charger.

All versions of the battery come with a bunch of USB charging cables that work with iPhone 3-4S, iPad, PSP, Nokia, Micro 5 Pin USB, Mini USB, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG. Because it also comes with standard USB ports, you can use it to charge other devices as well – you will just have to use your own cables.

Anthony Vilgiate, the creator of the battery, is seeking funding on Kickstarter. The project has already received almost double its $25,000 goal. The Adventurer is available for $30, the Expedition is $50 and the Destination is $65.

The pitch video below provides more information.

Source: Kickstarter

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solutions4circuits
Assuming 80% battery charging efficiency in this and the phone, 36% of energy is lost in charging this battery to charge a phone battery, vs 20% by directly charging it. So, given it's not in a phone case form factor, the only people using this will be ones where there is no power, yet there is cellphone coverage? Good for him that he met his Kickstarter goal.
David Bell
Nice Kickstarter project, but it's been scooped! Google "Impulse 10,000mAh Battery Charger". I've seen it from $22 to $25
USB charging, two USB output ports plus an array of phone charging connectors (but no Lightning plug.) 23*79*99(mm)
Daishi
@solutions4circuits
The scenario of power but available cell phone coverage is a lot more common than you think. Places like Airports, restaurants etc. don't usually have easily available AC. I've been to large conventions where there is some AC outlets but there are often being used and you don't always want to tether your phone to a wall away form where you are sitting in public.
Anything outside a building would qualify as having coverage but no AC. Any sort of public transportation for instance and lots of people probably have jobs where they don't have immediate access to AC power.
Besides, there are uses for electronics that don't require cell coverage anyway. Airplanes are a common one etc.
Even in an automobile where there is power available, there isn't always power available for passengers/kids in the back seat who may be using the devices.
Motorcycles typically don't have power outlets available either and at least here I know more motorcycle owners than I do people who own iPhones. Snowmobiles are another area where external chargers would be useful because many people use GPS and a lot of sleds don't have available outlets.
Dave Andrews
It's also easier to use one of these if you're in another country and want to use wifi somewhere. I just had that experience in Bulgaria.
Stradric
@solutions4circuits: During the power outages from Hurricane Sandy, we had cell coverage. I had to charge my devices on my computer UPS. Something like this would have been very helpful.
Nina Yung
There is nothing new or exciting about these products. I am actually quite impressed that they were even approved by Kickstarter. I thought Kickstarter was about cool, new, innovative or inventive products and services? Maybe these guys got a Kickstarter hook-up? There are many other portable mobile chargers that are more unique out there. For example...oh yeah!...the Opso from Apelpi. It's a cool-fun shape (an apple!), not bulky, light and powerful (the idea is to be "mobile," right?), colorful and just nicer to look at than a plain, boring rectangular box.