Unless you pick the matte black versions, which look like most of the other iPhone 6 and 6 Plus battery cases I’ve tested, you’ll quickly be wowed by how premium Mophie’s newest Juice Packs feel in your hand. Glossy white plastic Apple accessories may have become passe years ago, but Mophie somehow got the look and feel just right — better, even, than the “unapologetically plastic” iPhone 5c.
The reason for that luxe feel? Mophie needs it, as the new Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 6 ($120) and Juice Pack for iPhone 6 Plus ($100) are currently the most expensive battery cases currently available for their respective iPhones. Though the company has never been shy about charging more for top quality cases, this year’s Juice Packs are hitting shelves well after numerous solid and aggressively priced competitors.
Below, I’ll discuss how Mophie’s price to performance equations actually play out for these Juice Packs, and whether they’re worth buying in light of other options…
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Since developers didn’t anticipate heavy demand for iPhone 6 Plus battery cases, there’s only one Juice Pack for Apple’s largest iPhone (2,600mAh, billed as “more than 60% extra battery”), versus three different models for the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 version I tested is Mophie’s Juice Pack Plus (3,300mAh, “more than 120% extra battery”), which sits between the company’s already-available $100 Juice Pack Air (2,750mAh, “more than 100% extra battery”) and upcoming $150 Juice Pack Ultra (3,950mAh, “more than 150% extra battery”). Mophie brilliantly packages each Juice Pack in a box labelled “pre-charged,” letting in-store customers know that they can start refueling their dead iPhones right away. As is typical of Juice Packs (and most other battery cases I’ve tested), both of the cases arrived roughly 3/4 full.
Apart from the sizing adjustments necessary to hold the differently-sized iPhones, the cases are nearly identical. Each Juice Pack has a pop-off top and a “slider” style body, so you slide your iPhone onto a Lightning plug at the bottom and replace the top to close the case. The iPhone 6 versions all have a slightly extended bumper-like ridge along their edges, while the iPhone 6 Plus version instead has a completely smooth C-shaped curve on its sides. On or off, the cases feel completely solid, which can’t always be said for their less expensive rivals. There’s no give when squeezing their sides, and unless you have an issue with glossy surfaces — if so, pick matte black instead — they’re very comfortable to hold.
The Juice Packs’ fronts are almost featureless, with standard-sized chins and small metallic vents for the microphones and speakers. On the sides are very subtle but responsive pill-shaped protectors covering the iPhone’s buttons; similarly, the bottom micro-USB and headphone port holes are inconspicuous, apart from two extra metal circles alongside the USB port. (These help the Juice Packs work with Mophie’s $50 Juice Pack Docks, which are offered in separate iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus versions.) You get a Micro-USB cable in each Juice Pack’s box for recharging, as well as a nice headphone port adapter, both black regardless of the case color you select.
There’s one small difference in protection between the cases I tested. Historically, Mophie differentiated its low- and high-end cases by limiting the button and switch coverage on the less expensive versions, while giving the most expensive model fancier metallic button protectors. This year, all three of the iPhone 6 Juice Packs have ringer switch coverage, but the iPhone 6 Plus version does not; instead, there’s a hole on the side. All of the cases have matching button protectors; none are enhanced with different textures. As a result, Incipio’s offGRID Express actually looks a little fancier than the matte black Juice Pack Plus, though Mophie’s glossy white and golden color options are standouts compared with most of their rivals. They’re also a little thicker — 1mm to 2mm versus less powerful battery cases.
Each Juice Pack uses Mophie’s standard four-light power indicator and on/off system. Many battery case developers have opted to consolidate two features — the on/off switch and a remaining power indicator — into a single button, but Mophie always keeps its on/off switch and separate power indicator button on opposite sides of four bright white LED lights. While I’ve used plenty of cases that operate flawlessly with simpler systems, the Juice Packs continue to work well and look nice doing things this way.
Both of the Juice Packs exceeded Mophie’s battery performance estimates. Juice Pack Plus for the iPhone 6 delivered a 137% recharge, restoring a fully discharged iPhone 6 to 100% and then adding 37% more after the same iPhone was partially discharged again. That’s 17% better than Mophie’s claim, and 10% better than Juice Pack Plus’s most powerful rival, iBattz’ $95 Refuel Invictus. Juice Pack for the iPhone 6 Plus took a fully discharged iPhone 6 Plus from dead to 70%, which is 10% better than Mophie’s claim but 16% lower than MOTA’s $54 Battery Case. It’s worth noting that the Juice Packs can recharge themselves at 1.8-Amp speeds, though they’re capped at 1-Amp output to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
There was only one hitch during my testing. While the iPhone 6 Juice Pack Plus worked perfectly across multiple tests, something was off with the Lightning plug in the iPhone 6 Plus Juice Pack, and depending on the case’s angle, it would randomly go back and forth from charging while the power was on. This appears to be a manufacturing issue, and in my experience is highly uncommon for Mophie cases, but it gives me pause in recommending the iPhone 6 Plus version of Juice Pack.
My conclusions are pretty straightforward with these Juice Packs: given its 137% recharging ability, Juice Pack Plus is an easy pick if you want the highest battery capacity and best overall build quality currently found in an iPhone 6 battery case, and are willing to pay the non-trivial premium to get them. By comparison, the iPhone 6 Plus version of Juice Case has a nicer look and feel than its closest rival, but less impressive battery performance, potential Lightning connector issues, and a much higher street price. Consider it only if you’re a loyal fan of the Mophie brand.
| Manufacturer: Mophie |
Prices: $100 (Juice Pack) / $120 (Juice Pack Plus) |
Compatibility: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus |
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The best thing about mophies – the dedicated switch. That trumps everything (for me)
Great review Jeremy. Ive been a mophie user since the iPhone 4, and the issues you found with the lightning connector and the iPhone 6 plus is the exact problem I’ve had with EVERY mophie case I’ve owned, and it was my biggest fear and reason I’ve held off buying it until some reviews came out. I’m very happy I read this one, and will probably go with the MOTA. I would have no problem paying a premium price for this case if it worked as advertised, but I’ve just had so many issues with these Mophie cases that I’ll happily try out a new brand.
Thanks, James. I’ve tried Mophie cases for every iPhone since the original, and thankfully haven’t had this issue with any of the prior versions. It could be just a millimeter too much manufacturing tolerance in the molding that creates the instability in some cases, but I was really surprised to see it.
These cases would not be needed if Apple (and other phone manufacturers) had removable batteries like many phones from Samsung.
YMMV, Dan.
I prefer not having removable batteries, because that adds weight, increases complexity and reduces reliability.
Much prefer battery-cases or external batteries. Works great for me.
lol, this comment is now funny.
I have the same problem with my Juice Pack for my 6+, but it doesn’t stop the case from charging. I wish the case had a little more grip to it, it is really slick and I’ve dropped it a few times.
Yeah. It’s more an issue of the connector just not guaranteeing a stable flow of power at all times, though the power always stays on. Which color did you choose?
I actually recently returned my mophie juice pack 6 plus. A couple things I didn’t like about it. Felt like a i had a brick in my hand for the size. I felt cheated with only getting 60% extra battery. I was told that the 6 plus already has an amazing battery life from Mophie. Who cares…I want my 100-120% extra battery. I also got a mophie dock, which was awesome. In the end the case was just not for me. I prefer to have no case on the phone at all. The phone is so thin, I love it. I usually put a full body Zagg Protector on it or something. And if I drop it oh well thats what my apple care is for.
I have another cheaper battery case (can’t even remember the manufacturer). One thing that I find in all of those, is that they don’t use the slider concept, and removing the phone from the case is… not comfortable. I liked the removability of my old Mophie iPhone5 case.
That and the hardware switch is very welcome.
Is that worth the extra $50 markup? Personally, I’m on the fence. I’d also have to sell/give away my existing battery case.
Removing the iPhone is easier with the slider design. On the other hand, the chin below the iPhone tends to be a bit larger. Sort of a tradeoff, which when added to the price and battery capacity differences makes the various iPhone 6 Plus options a wash.
Thank you for the in depth review. I have to say the the problem you and it appears other users are reporting related to the lightening charge connection is a defect (sad to say). I purchase two Mophies two weeks ago. The first (Gold) began experiencing charging issues in less than 10 day. The other (black) took about 12 days. Based on the cost factor alone that is unacceptable performance for sure. The cases are absolutely nice looking and seem to fit well, disappointed in this. I’ll be taking mine back and looking at competitors offerings.
Just switched from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6 plus. One major change in the design of the cases was the cap to the case. On the 5 is was on the bottom and on the 6plus it is on the top. The 5 design was definitely superior. If you did not have a mophie charger, you could take off the cap and use an iPhone charger. Now you will have to totally remove the phone from the case to charge. Someone on the design team was not thinking.
Extra rubber rim periphery that comes with the iPhone 6 Juice Pack Plus is not correctly sized. It is made 3mm too long and therefore is very sloppy and loose. Mophie needs to redesign the total rubber rim otherwise it is irritatingtly useless. Th purpose of the rubber rim is useful in giving added protection to the Mophie Juice Pack which was not present on previous iPhone 4 and 5 models.
Is there any difference running a cable from the Mophie usb out to a headphone amp as opposed to taking the case off and running a cable direct from the lightning socket?
One drop of iPhone 6S in this battery pack (white) and the right side little panel sprung off and was hanging. I ignored it for the longest tine, Dropped it again recently and the black bed inside the case sprung up on the right side. It was already difficult to insert and remove the phone from the beginning. This made it way worse. I had to yank that plastic bed out of there. You can see this black bed is pressing down on the battery bag – so it’s sprung over the battery bag and I think there are these little blue plastic things that were holding it. So I guess it took the shock and popped its plastic rivets?