Case

Micro USB Cable

Instructions

HOW I USE THE IPHONE

I am constantly surfing the web, playing games, or listening to music which really gives the battery a run for its money. I am out of battery life in 4 hours if I don’t use a supplementary battery.

WHAT I HAVE TRIED

3GJUICE Major Mojo

Incase Power Slider

PROS

Preferentially charges the iPhone before using the iPhone’s internal battery

LED indicator for battery life

Solid construction

CONS

Short proprietary Micro-USB Cable

Unable to use iPhone in docking station with the case installed

Decreases signal strength when you have fewer than 5 bars

Hard to remove iPhone from the unit

Adds thickness and weight to the iPhone

DESIGN

This two piece battery/case is constructed of hard plastic with recesses allowing for protection of the buttons along the side and top of the iPhone. The microphone and speaker are completely covered but do not impede the transmission of sound. The back has a 4 level LED battery indicator. The bottom of the unit has a switch allowing the user to toggle the battery on and off. The fit and finish are excellent, and this has a glossy appearance. It does not extend far beyond the touch screen but will probably protect the screen against blunt drops. Unfortunately, if you have an iPhone dock this case will prevent you from using it with the case installed.

Removing the iPhone from the Juice Pack Air can be challenging. First recommendation is to put it on correctly. Make sure you are sliding the iPhone along the case without much resistance. If there is the least bit of resistance, imagine how hard it will be to remove it. Assuming you have installed the case correctly, the best way to take the phone out is by wedging your fingers along the gaps at the bottom of the case, adjacent to the “Mophie” imprint, and pushing down to get a decent gap between the phone and case. Then, carefully slide the phone up and out of the case.

The micro-USB cable takes the place of the iPhone connection but still allows you to plug it into the outlet and USB port. This also allows for syncing with iTunes without problems, as opposed to the finicky nature of the Incase Power Slider. The cable is shorter than the OEM USB cable supplied with the iPhone. Given the proprietary cable, it would serve as a challenge to find a suitable car charger (my vehicle has a built in AC outlet).

The phone gets warm when the battery is charging, but not hot to the point that you are uncomfortable. When driving, I frequently use my Bluetooth interface through my vehicle’s speakers.

OPERATION

The battery is already charged and ready for use. Access to the volume and power buttons is not at all obstructed. The toggle switch is a little difficult to switch for its size. Charging time is about 3 hours. The Juice pack battery is preferentially used over the internal iPhone battery. When the Juice Pack is down to zero charge, the iPhone will give a message that the device does not support charging for the unit.

WIFI signal and 3G signal is not noticeably impeded in areas of strong signal. However, there is more of a limitation with the Edge Signal in my experience (taking about 1 bar off my indicator). In areas where signal is poor (without the case on), I get “No Service”. I actually get signal as opposed to the Incase Power Slider which gave me trace signal or “No Service” even in the strongest of 3G networks.

Battery life is true to the manufacturer’s word, doubling my usable time without a need for a charger. This allows for about 20 hours of watching a movie or 60 hours of audio (without a plug) – assuming you turn off WIFI, Bluetooth and switch to Airplane Mode.

HOW I USE IT IN LOW/LIMITED SIGNAL AREAS

If I need to check email or have to send a text to use the network, I will just take the iPhone out of its case momentarily. After I am done, I put the iPhone back in the Juice Pack Air. When I alternate with my 3GJUICE Major Mojo or want to charge the phone in the car, I place my iPhone in the Incase Slider.

SUMMARY

If you have strong signal in your area, this is a formidable solution to your battery concerns of the iPhone. In areas of weak signal, you will just have to try it for yourself. It is an excellent product, but it may not work for everyone depending upon the coverage in your region.
Rating: 4 / 5

PROS:

- Slick design, looks like part of the iPhone

- Standby mode is extremely useful – Use battery when needed

- Cutouts are positioned correctly (Camera, volume, ringer silence switch)

- Easy installation

- Can sync while installed (must use micro USB cable)

- Can use the Apple compact wall charger that came with the phone

CONS:

- Uses micro USB charging cable (not standard Apple 20 pin connector)

- Cannot dock iphone with Juice Pack Air installed

- Adds a little bulk and weight

- Limits use of cases/shields (relatively new someone should make a case soon I hope)

I rarely dock my iPhone so this is not a problem for me. If you are a person who dock’s their phone regularly in a docking station/iPhone compatible clock radio to charge at night then this item may not be for you. In order to dock your iPhone the juice pack air must be removed.

There are four LED lights on the back with a status button to let you know the charge level of the battery pack. When activated, the Juice Pack Air actually charges your iPhone and the phone will display and chirp that it is charging. When charging and when you place the battery pack in active mode, the iPhone and battery pack get warm on one side.

I have seen some reduction in signal strength in weaker cell signal areas (especially on the edge network) but works well in areas with stronger cell signal. I live in a major metropolitan where you would expect cell service to be exceptional, however at time my iPhone 3G would display searching or no service (strange).

As many of you may have experienced, surfing the Internet or using applications can cause the iPhone to generate heat and I’m not too sure placing an external battery pack on the back will help dissipate the heat.

Overall, it does what it claims. I would have like Mophie to stick with the standard Apple 20 pin connector or provided an adapter for docking the iPhone with the juice pack air installed. Additionally, for those who like a full body skin or protector (like me)it would have been nice to have one included or one available on the mophie website.
Rating: 4 / 5

This pack *does* increase the battery life of the iPhone, and it *is* pretty well thought out in that regard – power meter on the back, ability to turn the battery on and off with a physical switch (the iPhone will use more energy to keep itself at a full charge than if it’s just using battery power, so this actually increases life a bit more), and you never have to take the case off to charge or sync.

Unfortunately, in my experience, it KILLED the signal strength on my phone. In my house, I normally get 3-5 bars, depending on where I’m standing. With this case, it would fluctuate wildly between 1 and 5 bars – even when I wasn’t moving around – and it had a tendency to be at 1 or 2 bars most of the time. As the case was too tight to get off, for the first week I had the iPhone, I thought my AT&T reception was just that bad.

The separate cable that some other users have mentioned wasn’t too bad in my experience, but this case does preclude the use of any docks you may have – could be more of a hassle for others.

The cost is also a bit on the high side, although if signal isn’t ever an issue for you and you tend to be out of power a lot, it might be worth considering.
Rating: 2 / 5

– Debbie Lee Wesselmann
Rating: 5 / 5

The good – this is an excellent case for the back and sides of your iPhone. It does not protect the screen (use this protector invisibleSHIELD for the Apple iPhone 3G (Front)). The new charge time is impressive, actually a usable phone now. Whatever time you’ve gotten with your iPhone, this will just about double that time. For me personally, I used to get right around 24 hours until the red light (<20% charge) came on. Now I can go 2 days before the red light. The plastic is very nice, glossy and looks just about like the iPhone body.

The bad – dump your iPhone connector, you will now use one of those micro-USB connectors to charge and connect your iPhone to your computer. No this is not the small USB connector used by digital cameras (you probably have about 50 of these standard cables laying around), this is that new flat connector that is very easy to flip upside down and have no idea you are ruining the connector. It’s actually a pain in the rear to use. In addition the connector is recessed pretty deeply into the Mophie case, so some micro-USB connectors won’t work. You can sync the phone with this connector.

The mediocre, or of no real consequence. The microphone and speaker are covered up by the bottom of the Mophie. There are slots that redirect the sound (down toward the microphone and out toward you for the speaker). The slots don’t change the sound at all. This is a two piece device, the battery is in the bottom 3/4 with a plastic cap on the top 1/4. All the controls are now recessed – so it’s not super easy to reach the mute switch. All others are easy to get at.

This is much much better and thinner than the incase version (Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G – Black (EC20003)). It looks much better than the other Mophies.

There are 4 blue LED’s on the back that show how much charge is in the battery. There’s also a switch to turn off the battery.

Overall, a good case and a very good battery extender. Given that my iPhone now has a useable charge, I don’t mind the extra thickness and weight.

August 3, 2009 Update – Thank you to Esanta for their comment that I originally called the connector a mini-USB. The connector the Mophie uses is in fact a micro-USB connector (I have corrected the review). Still a pain in the rear, and a lot less common than the mini-USB connector.
Rating: 4 / 5