The Duracell PowerSnap Kit which provides backup power and wireless charging for the iPhone 5 works in concert with the Duracell Powermat charging hub to provide extended life for the iPhone 5 battery. Each is sold separately.
The Case & Battery
The PowerSnap Kit includes an AccessCase which serves as the iPhone 5 case and a SnapBattery which snaps on to the AccessCase to increase the battery power of the iPhone 5 by a factor of two. The kit also includes a USB charging cable should you wish to use it independent of the Powermat (see below.) The power source is a 1950 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, and there are four LED lights on the back to indicate the battery level. The PowerSnap Kit is available in black or white and has an MSRP of US$99.99. The SnapBattery carries a one year warranty.
Access Case and SnapBattery
Wireless Charging
The Powermat is a charging hub that works with a number of Duracell products, but my only concern here is how it works with the PowerSnap Kit. It is very thin and flat and stays plugged in to a wall outlet ready to use when needed. It knows the right amount of energy to send and stops sending power when devices are fully charged so it doesn't waste energy or overcharge batteries.
There are slip-proof strips on the bottom that hold the device in place. It comes in three sizes to accommodate one, two, or three products and prices range from US$39.99 to US$69.99. The number two product size is 6.15 x 3.75-in (15.9 x 9.5 cm). The Powermat package includes a power supply with a cable wrap around feature. The Powermat is available in black or white and carries a one year warranty.
Power supply with wrapping cable
Using These Products
First of all, I must say that I really like this iPhone 5 battery pack on a number of levels, not the least of which is the Powermat. Before you turn up your nose and think that is is just another thing to deal with, it is important to look at the whole picture.
When I am using this system and need to recharge my iPhone 5, I just slide it onto the Powermat, listen for the chirp that tells me contact has been made and walk away. I don’t have to search for the power cord and plug it in. And conversely, when I want my iPhone 5, I walk up to the Powermat, pick it up and I’m ready to go.
My only responsibility is to make sure I have lined up the symbol on the back of my phone with the symbol on the Powermat so that charging can begin.
Powermat – arrows indicate charging symbols
I also very much like some of the features of the AccessCase and the SnapBattery. The AccessCase is easy to put on and remove from my phone, primarily because the case is in two pieces. This also means that I can attach my phone to my computer by USB cable should I wish to, without removing the entire case. The only caution is that when inserting the bottom piece to the top piece, the user must be careful to click both the side pieces in place.
Two parts of AccessCase
It took me a couple of tries to figure out how to add the SnapBattery to the AccessCase, but once I got the feel of it, it was easy. Of course, looking at the directions helped too. (Sometimes I forget to do that.)
My iPhone 5 weighs 7.9 ounces (224 g) when wearing the AccessCase and SnapBattery.
All this comfort and convenience is well and good, but the real question is how well does it work? I have used these two products together for a couple of weeks, and my iPhone 5 has gone four to five days between charges. Granted, I don’t watch videos or read books on my phone, but I do play games and make several calls a day, so perhaps that will help you measure your own use requirements.
Do I Recommend It?
I do. At around US$150 for all of it, it will not be for everyone, but if you value the convenience and productivity provided, then it is a worthy investment.