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December 10, 2010
Mobile devices are becoming more and more a part of people's lives. Products are becoming
more and more energy efficient. The problem is they still aren't efficient enough. Most
mobile devices will not last longer than a day with intensive use. What would a person do
if they're nowhere near an outlet and their mobile device is running low on power? A car
adapter would do the trick but it is not a good idea to leave it plugged in when the car is
turned off. It's also not a very portable solution since it would be that your mobile device
is tethered to your car. Thankfully these days there are portable chargers to recharge those
mobile devices so they can keep on going. Back in August we reviewed several pocket chargers.
The performance of those chargers was pretty much the same and most couldn't fully recharge a
smartphone. Will it be a repeat performance or do we finally have portable chargers that can
fully charge most smartphones?
There are two chargers in this round. The two chargers are the Duracell Powerhouse (2000 mAh)
and the Energizer XP4001 (4000 mAh). Both have enough power to fully recharge a smartphone at
least once. However, both chargers aren't as pocketable as the ones in our original comparison.
Both chargers are sold for about 50 to 60 dollars. Both chargers can charge two devices at once.
The difference is that the Energizer has two open USB ports while the Duracell only has one open
port and the other device must have a miniUSB power port. We'd prefer if the Duracell had two
open USB ports like the Energizer. While the flip out port keeps the user from loosing any
adapters or cords, we would rather have the freedom to be able to connect any USB device. The
Energizer also has the advantage that it has 4000 mAh compared to the Duracell's 2000 mAh. The
Energizer XP4001 comes with two cables and 6 different adapters. Is that not a shortcoming one
would ask? The answer to that would be no. Since the XP4001 has two USB ports, it can
practically charge any device as long as the cable that came with the device has a USB connector
on the other end. The cables and adapters could be considered bonus items.
Like the xP1000 we reviewed back in August, if you register your purchase with them, they'll give
you free tips. (Full details of the free tips offer at
http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/services/free-tips-for-life.html.)
Like smartphones, portable chargers also have come a long way. With USB ports instead of
properitary connectors, the search for the right cable has been made much easier. Devices have
also advanced and become more efficient then before. Despite efficiency gains, mobile devices
still do not last a whole day under heavy use. This makes the search for a portable charger as
important as ever. Both chargers have their pros and cons but in the end the Energizer xP4001
provides more value for the dollar. Its pros really do outweight its cons. The Energizer
doesn't have a light to indicate that it is charging a device, but there should be an idicator
on the device so that shortcoming is not a very big deal. It's just a minor annoyance. The
other con is its size. It would be nice if it was pocketable, but then it wouldn't have 4000 mAh.
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