One of the perks of working on a smartphone-related website is that there are so many cool gadgets and gizmos that pop up along the way. And, thanks to the near-universal approach that most phone makers take, there are a lot of products that play nicely with any device. Occasionally, you’ll also find something that works just as well with Android as it does for iPhones. Such is the case with the myCharge HubUltra.
I’ve spent the last few weeks playing with this external power supply and have come to love it. Yes, I know that there’s only so much you can say about these sort of things, but this is one worth checking out.
Packing 12000mAh worth of juice, this portable charger is designed to power up your average smartphone at least 4 times over. Depending on how old your handset is, or what the battery is like, it could go even higher.
One of the features I most appreciate about this particular model is that it features an integrated Apple Lightning cable as well as an integrated micro-USB cable. Not that I will necessarily use the former, it’s always nice to help one of my iOS-packing friends out with some extra power. The cords are roughly 4-inches long and rest inside of a track, locking into place when not in use. After a few weeks of use I didn’t notice any giving or slack in the part that keeps the cable locked in.
Also a plus, there’s a battery level indicator at the top, right next to where the cables pull out. It’s in a handy spot as there’s no need to flip over to figure out how much is left. There are four lights representing 25 percent life increments.
Specs:
- Battery: 12000mAh Lithium Ion
- Product Dimensions: 6.5 in x 3.0 in x 1.2 in
- Product Weight: 0.68 lbs.
- USB port delivers Shared 3.4A output
On the bottom of the unit you’ll find a microUS port which can be used to charge the HubUltra up. Indeed, this is where you might plug in when on the go.
At your more permanent resting spots, however, there’s a better option. This guy comes with a charging dock which goes directly into the wall. Simply plugging the dock into the wall and leaving it there gives you a USB port which accepts your standard cables. When you’re ready to charge up the HubUltra, drop it into the dock and the three pins do the rest of the work. Indeed, you can charge the power bank up and use the USB as a pass-through charger at the same time.
Thanks to the 4.0A input, the charging dock juice up the HubUltra quite fast. Promising to be 50 percent faster than competitors, I found it only takes a few hours to go from zero to full.
I’ve had a chance to review other myCharge devices over time and have always found them to be among the best in the space. The same goes this time around; the HubUltra is another quality product that represents the brand well.
You can purchase a myCharge Hub Ultra for $150 directly from the myCharge website. Currently, however, it does appear to be out of stock. With that said, you can’t really go wrong with any of the products from this company. Dig through Amazon and other retailers, too, and you’ll find some great prices on other capacities and designs.
