iBattz Mojo battery cases keep your iPhone 4/4S/5 going strong
It's always nice to see a new player in the iPhone battery case market, especially when the entrant brings something really desirable -- an iPhone 5 battery case -- to the market. That's the situation with iBattz, which has a full line of battery cases to keep your iPhones running and running and ... you get the picture. In this review, I'll take a look at the company's line of cases and then give readers an opportunity to win one of these portable powerhouses.
Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case
The case of most interest to our readership is probably the Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case (US$79.90), which as far as we know is the first battery case for the iPhone 5. It does not carry the "Made For iPhone" certification from Apple, which means that the device would have to meet all of Apple's stringent design and compatibility requirements.
As a result, the Mojo Hi5 Powerbank doesn't feature a seamless design with a Lightning connector in the bottom of the unit. Instead, you'll still need to buy one of Apple's Lightning to micro-USB adapters ($19) to connect the included USB to micro-USB cable from the battery pack to the iPhone 5 (note that one is included with the giveaway case).
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The Mojo Hi5 comes with two polyurethane cases, one black and one white, and an aluminum-encased 2500 mAh battery pack. The cases have three small locking "keyholes" in them that match three little prongs on the back of the battery pack, so you can slide the iPhone 5 on and off quite easily. That's a good thing, since you won't be able to take photos with the iPhone's back camera with the battery pack attached.
Unlike Mophie's Juice Pack line of battery cases, this isn't a slide-on case that looks like it's part of the iPhone. Instead, you'll have to carry cables and adapters with you at all times. On the other hand, if you're blasting through a full charge in less than a day on an iPhone 5, this may be your only answer for awhile.
Pros
Possibly the only iPhone 5 battery case at this time
Easy to remove battery pack
Cons
Requires separate purchase of Apple Lightning to micro-USB adapter
Must carry cable and adapter to connect the battery pack and iPhone
Does not carry Apple "Made For iPhone" certification
Who is is for?
iPhone 5 users who can't wait for MFi-certified battery cases to appear on the market
Mojo Classic Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S
Unlike the Mojo Hi5, the iBattz Mojo Classic Removable Battery Pack for iPhone 4/4S ($79.90) is an all-in-one design and it also bears the MFi blessing from Apple. While the battery pack sports a 1500 mAh rating, you could actually say that it has infinite capacity since you can swap out the standard BP-4L battery pack that's inside the case. If you're planning on a long journey somewhere and won't have a way to recharge, you can stock up on the BP-4L's at about $20 a pop, charge them up before your trip, and then swap 'em out as necessary.
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The case itself consists of a silver bumper that holds the iPhone 4 or 4S, and the removable battery case that attaches to the bumper and your iPhone. There's a camera hole in the case, so you can easily shoot photos or video. You'll get about another six hours of talk time with the Mojo Classic.
Pros
"Infinite capacity" through exchangeable BP-4L battery packs
Certified as Made For iPhone
Fairly lightweight at just 80 grams
Cons
None to speak of; very well designed and constructed
Who is it for?
Anyone who needs the ability to swap out battery packs to keep their iPhone 4/4S going for an extended period of time away from power outlets
Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S
What's better than a removable battery case for the iPhone 4 and 4S? How about a removable battery case that's designed for excellent protection of your iPhone and comes with not one, but two removable battery packs? That's the iBattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S ($99.90) in a nutshell.
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It features a pair of 1700 mAh battery packs that can be swapped out, and as with the Mojo Classic, you can buy more to pop into the case for extra iPhone duration. The big difference with the Mojo Armor is the case -- it features a silicon outer cover (available in black, violet, or grey) and a polycarbonate front cover with a built-in screen protector. The back of the case has a clear plastic window for shooting pictures, although we would not recommend taking flash shots since the flash will most likely reflect on that window.
The nearest competitor for the Mojo Armor is Mophie's juice pack PRO Outdoor Edition, which features a MIL-STD 810G toughness rating but also comes with a $149.95 price tag and a single non-removable 2500 mAh battery.
Pros
Comes with a pair of 1700 mAh lithium-ion battery packs
"Infinite capacity" through exchangeable battery packs
Rugged two-layer construction
Reasonable price
Certified as Made For iPhone
Cons
Doesn't have MIL-STD certification for toughness
Not listed as water resistant
Who is it for?
Anyone who needs the unbeatable combination of extra battery life and a rugged case
Mojo Vogue Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S
As you'd expect with a name like "Vogue", the Mojo Vogue Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S ($89.90) is the good-looking member of the Mojo cases.
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Like the Mojo Armor, the Vogue comes with a pair of 1700 mAh lithium-ion battery packs that can be swapped out. So what makes the Vogue different? It comes with three exterior shells and a pair of interchangeable bumpers. That provides six different looks for the Mojo Vogue. For example, the Vogue we received for testing has black, red, and blue shells and purple and silver grooved bumpers. Another model comes with pink, purple and white shells with the same color of bumpers. The grooved bumpers provide a nice grip to the case
Pros
Comes with a pair of 1700 mAh lithium-ion battery packs
"Infinite capacity" through exchangeable battery packs
Customizable through interchangeable bumpers and shells
Certified as Made For iPhone
Cons
None to speak of
Who is it for?
Anyone who'd like a variety of case colors and extra battery life
Giveaway
As with many of the items that we review here on TUAW, we'd like to make sure that our readers get the opportunity to win an iBattz Mojo battery case. Here are the rules for the giveaway:
Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
The entry must be made before January 6, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
You may enter only once.
Four winners will be selected. One will receive an iBattz Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case valued at $79.90, one will receive an iBattz Mojo Classic Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S valued at $79.90, one will receive an iBattz Mojo Armor Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S valued at $99.90, and one will receive an iBattz Mojo Vogue Removable Battery Case for iPhone 4/4S valued at $89.90
