The Power Slider — a protective iPhone case that doubles as a second battery — appears to be the first practical solution to extend the handset’s meager battery life.
The Power Slider contains a battery with a capacity equaling 120 percent of iPhone 3G, according to its maker InCase. That means more than doubling the iPhone 3G’s battery life, or, if you want the nitty gritty details:
- Standby time: up to 330 hours
- Audio playback: up to 26 hours
- Talk time: up to 5 hours on 3G network and 10 hours on 2G network
- Video playback: up to 7 hours
- Internet use: up to 5 hours on 3G network and 6 hours on Wi-Fi
How does it work? A USB cable inside the case hooks up to the handset. The iPhone runs off the Power Slider until it’s sucked dry before using its own. The case even has its own five-LED battery status indicator on the back.
iPhone 3G owners have been complaining about the handset’s battery life since it launched July; some say they can’t make it through a day without having to charge their iPhones. Some companies are selling accessories such as add-ons that serve as a back-up battery, but they’re a bit impractical as they wouldn’t fit in your pocket.
Of course, like any case the Power Slider is going to make the sleek, sexy iPhone a bit chunkier. It measures 5.1 by 2.6 by 0.9 inches (height x width x depth). Without a case, the iPhone measures 4.5 by 2.4 by 0.5 inches. The case will also add an extra 2.5 ounces to the 4.7 ounces. But hey — it protects and significantly extends battery life, so I’d say the benefits outweigh the costs.
Speaking of costs, the Power Slider doesn’t run cheap at $100. InCase is shipping the Power Slider starting Nov. 28.
Product Page [InCase]
Photo: InCase
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