mophie Dual USB-A Car Charger and Charging Cables REVIEW | Mac Sources

Dual USB-A Car Charger and Charging Cables

9.7

A worthy investment for on-the-go charging.

A few months ago, I invested in a new car for m yself. My used truck was starting to show its age and I decided it was time to car shop. I ended up with a 2019 model year vehicle that comes with a lot of new technological options such as built-in USB ports. This was a new adventure for me as it meant I could connect my mobile phone with my car like never before. These USB ports serve a dual-purpose — charging and connection to the built-in communication system of the car. I love it because it provides me with hands-free calling and texting as well as navigation thanks to CarPlay. That said, when I have passengers or other devices that need a charge, my new car still has the standard 12V auxiliary power outlet (also known as the ‘cigarette lighter’ for children of the 80s). Since I’m a super-fan of both mophie and Apple, I was ecstatic to find that mophie now offers a Dual USB-A Car Charger that is optimized for use with Apple products.

DETAILS

In mid-July this year, mophie announces the release of Car Chargers and premium Charging Cables that are optimized for Apple users. These charging accessories are being sold on Apple.com, in select Apple Stores, and other approved retailers.

“We’re bringing Apple customers a range of high-quality accessories to keep their favorite devices powered and connected,” said Chris Ahern, CEO of ZAGG, Inc. “Our latest products are optimized and designed to work with a variety of Apple products. Whether you’re wirelessly charging your iPhone at home or powering up your iPad in the car, mophie has you covered.”

The Dual USB-A Car Charger (MSRP $29.95) includes two USB-A ports that deliver up to 12W of charging output to two devices at one time. This averages out to a total output of 24W when both ports are in use. This charger, along with the Single USB-A Car Charger, are designed for on-the-road travelers so that any car can become a mobile power hub. The charger is made of premium anodized aluminum and will safely charge the iPhone, iPad, and AirPods. The charger has a built-in indicator light and slim design for portability.

SPECS (Car Charger)

• Compatibility: smartphones, tablets, and USB devices
• Dimensions: 2.75 x 6.35 x 2.75 in (70 x 161 x 70 mm)
• Weight: 0.05 oz (0.85g)
• 2-year warranty

The new mophie Charging Cables are available with a variety of charging connectors including USB-C to USB-C (for use when paired with a power adapter that features Power Delivery support), USB-A to Lightning, and USB-A to USB-C. These cables are durable and built to last as they are constructed with a braided nylon exterior. Mophie tests these cables for quality to ensure that they will work properly and last for a long, long time. They are high-speed compatible.

The cable options include:

For the purposes of this review, I will be focusing on the USB-A to Lightning cable option.

USER IMPRESSIONS

The first thing I noticed was the packaging. Mophie has a really nice, clean retail packaging for its products. They typically include an image of the product on the front of the box with basic details included on the back. They don’t clutter up the front of the package with lots of text — just the essential information is included. I did happen to notice how the all-white box (with black text) blends nicely with Apple’s retail packaging. And, since this product was designed to work with Apple products and is being sold on Apple shelves, I believe this was an intentional design choice.

The Dual USB-A Car Charger was a good choice for my personal uses. Since I have a vehicle that features built-in USB ports, the addition of two more ports specifically for charging is great for travel. I have used it to charge my iPad while driving around town and my daughter has used the charger for her phone when I take her to and from school and work. It’s worked really well for a quick charge. I think the charger will really come in handy in a few weeks when we travel to Florida, which is a 900-mile trip for us.

The USB-A Cable with Lightning Connector is a really nice choice to pair with the Dual USB-A Car Charger. First of all, since the cable is wrapped with braided nylon, it’s reinforced for tough uses. What is tougher than a teenager on their mobile phone in the car? Because I planned on using this cable specifically for passengers in my car, I chose the 2-meter length option. This is great for when I want to charge my iPad, but have a passenger riding in the front. The cable will stretch far enough so that the device that’s charging is out of the way for the passenger.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This sleek combination of cable and charger from mophie is just what the doctor ordered for on-the-go charging. The Dual USB-A Car Charger makes it possible for multiple devices to be charged and the charging cables create a durable connection for those devices to receive power. The products do have a premium price, but because they are specifically design for Apple products by mophie, I am willing to invest in them. I can trust that they will work when I need them to and they will also protect my gear.

For more information, visit mophie.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Originally published at https://macsources.com on August 14, 2019.