Review of the PowerSkin battery case for iPhone 4 and 4S

Even if the last
version of iOS has apparently improved autonomy as
you indicated it in our survey seen here, it remains that the iPhone is
often very busy: telephone, web consultations, emails, learning,
push, etc… So sometimes you have to give it a boost at the end of the day
or on the move! This is why accessory manufacturers
offershells incorporating a battery.

We have already been able to test several of them, for our79th accessory test
iPhone, this is the
PowerSkinwhich passed through our feverish hands.

Here in pictures, our opinion on this case for iPhone and iPhone
4S :

Premier contact

The case comes with a mini USB cable and instructions in
French.

Right out of the box, it is doubly surprising.

First of all by the fact that it isin one piece, il
Doesn't seem to have any part that comes off to allow sliding
the iPhone inside. The hulls that we had tested until then had
always at least two parts.

The second surprise concerns thematerial used. Indeed,
While most battery cases are rigid, this one is actually
in a silicone type material and therefore stretchable. It is pleasant to the touch
with a slightly “peach skin” exterior appearance.

It is this second particularity, in this case its flexible side, which
actually explains the first. Not being rigid, theiPhone will actually
slip insideeasily.

Otherwise, we notice a discreet logo, that of the brand, it is a…
octopus! Why not ! don't worry it's barely visible and
he's quite cute.

For the rest, aprise synchrowill allow the connection of
the battery integrated on the back of the iPhone while abutton and
LEDs are discreetly integrated into the lower part, Thus
that oneport mini USBwhich is on his side.

A very homogeneous whole, rather aesthetically successful:

It weighs 82 g and has dimensions of 12.6 x 6.35 x 1.96 cm thick. This
is not the most compact that we have seen, for example, the
PhoneSuit seen therehad comparable height and width dimensions but
a thickness of 1.7 cm.

Finally, it weighs around 82 g.

Charging and capacity

The battery has a storage capacity of 2000 mAh which can be recharged
(tested with the iPhone USB transformer) in 5 hours. This is relatively
long, you will therefore have to take precautions!

The charge level can be seen during charging via the LEDs
located on the lower part, and can also be checked when it is not
not connected, via a short press on the button.

To use it, simply slide the iPhone inside then press
for 2 seconds on the button, charging then starts.

Ample space is provided for the cell of the device
photo :

Regarding recharging, in approximately 2 hours, you will go from 2% to 95% and
Afterwards, the battery is drained. It therefore allows almost complete recharging. We
may still be surprised not to have any surplus at the end of the charge
the iPhone, because it has a battery of around 1500 MAh and the battery announces 2000
MAh, in theory, it should have been able to charge more than an iPhone
complete.

This nevertheless allows you to almost double the autonomy of the iPhone,
a real breath of fresh air at the end of the day!

Conclusion

With a successful exterior appearance and pleasant to the touch, this battery allows
to double the autonomy of the iPhone, we can only appreciate it. But like
each time, it is at the price of an iPhone which takes on the appearance and weight of
PDA from the late 90s! So our advice is quite simply
to take this full battery in your bag or travel bag and
put it on only when the battery drops dangerously low. At that moment, we
gives the iPhone a boost. And unlike batteries which
plug into the iPhone (less expensive), you will be able to use
your iPhone, put it in a pocket or make calls without it being a
problem, it's just thicker. On the performance side, we saw better in terms of
capacity especially taking into account the 2000 MAh announced, a little disappointing on this
point, without it being a big problem.

She is
sold for around 55 euros here for example.

The Pluses

only one piece, you will not lose any of the elements
easy to put on and take off when needed
pleasant touch and presentation

The least

slightly bulkier than some competing cases
insufficient capacity for a complete recharge of the iPhone, (lack of
a few % despite an announced capacity of 2000 mAh)