Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger

Cool Yule Rating: 4.5 stars

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Cool Yule Rating: 4.5 stars

Price: $49.99

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Description: This handy gadget is a snap-on lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack for iPhone and iPod models that use the Universal connector. When connected, the battery pack provides some extra juice for those devices (as many iPhone owners know, battery life can drain pretty quickly). Kensington claims the battery pack can provide up to 30 extra hours for music, six hours for video, or up to three extra hours of phone time. In practice, we didn't achieve those numbers, but we also were grateful for the extra time we had with our iPhone until we could get to a power outlet for recharging.

The battery pack also includes a pass-through USB port that lets you recharge the battery pack and the iPhone/iPod simultaneously. An LED meter on the battery pack also lets you know how much power is left on the device.

Another reason I love this device is that it's small enough to throw into your laptop bag or even your pocket. I have become quick friends with people by offering them some extra juice when it looks like their iPhone was running out of battery power. It certainly beats having to power up your notebook or carry around a bulkier power cord in order to recharge the iPhone / iPod.

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