car charger

Nomad, maker of the beautiful Stand for Apple Watch and Pod portable charging station for Apple Watch, today announced Roadtrip, a unique combination of an iPhone car charger with a 3000mAh battery. Made from a mix of anodized aluminum and plastic, Roadtrip takes the shape of an elongated traditional USB car charger, packing both USB and USB-C ports alongside a four-LED battery power indicator on its face. Each of the USB ports promises 1.5-Amp output.

Roadtrip is designed for people who want to be ensured a full iPhone recharge whenever they leave their cars, regardless of whether they’ve had enough time to complete the charge during the drive. The power output and battery capacity are suited to iPhones, iPods, and Apple Watches rather than iPads, which have larger batteries and charge fastest with 2.1- or 2.4-Amp power.

Available for pre-order today through October 14th at a discounted price of $40, Nomad’s Roadtrip will sell for $60 starting on October 15th, and ship October 30th. Nomad offers free shipping on any order through its web site using coupon code SHIPUS at checkout. Additional images are below…

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While two dozen battery cases have been released for the iPhone 6, only a handful have become available for the larger iPhone 6 Plus, which can run longer without assistance. But there are definitely situations where even the iPhone 6 Plus can benefit from extra battery life, including international travel and occasional emergencies. And that’s why Tylt has released the Energi Sliding Power Case for iPhone 6 Plus ($100). It’s a true rarity due to its Made for iPhone certification, some unique features, and much better performance for the same price as Mophie’s Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus.

In what may well be a first for iPhone battery cases, Energi is actually being offered in two different widths, one billed as “2.9-inch” and the other as “3.3-inch.” They’re both sold for the same $100 price, but the 2.9-inch version has a 3,200mAh battery and the 3.3-inch model has a 3,500mAh battery. Another surprise: the model I tested with the 3,500mAh battery unusually boasts 2.1-Amp power output, which means the iPhone 6 Plus will recharge at its top possible speed. There’s more, too…

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Anker specializes in accessories that deliver uncommon value. Like gigantic batteries that cost as little as small ones. Six-port USB chargers that are less expensive than two Apple one-port chargers. And iPhone battery cases that outperform rivals sold for twice the price. So it’s only natural that the company would leverage its power expertise to go beyond resuscitating little Apple devices and assist with real emergencies. With roughly the same footprint as its Astro E7 — a battery capable of fully recharging any iPad Air twice — the same-priced Jump Starter Portable Charger ($80) goes in a slightly different direction. You still get a pretty big 10,000mAh battery that can charge two Apple devices at once, but instead of E7’s third USB port, Anker includes jumper cables that can bring dead cars back to life.

Like all of the Anker products I’ve covered, Jump Starter is thoughtfully designed, efficiently packaged, and aggressively priced relative to competing products. Moreover, unlike some of the cobbled-together 3-in-1 accessories I’ve tested, its feature set actually addresses a related collection of problems a driver may have. But it’s not as much of an iPad-charging powerhouse as Astro E7; it’s best-suited to iPhone users. So is it the right battery pack for you? Read on…

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