Charge an Apple Watch on the Go with Kanex’s GoPower Watch

One of the first MFi-certified products for the Apple Watch, Kanex’s GoPower Watch officially landed earlier this week.

Since it is certified by Apple, the Apple Watch charger is built into the battery, unlike some other options I’ve previously reviewed like ZAGG’s Mobile Charging Station. That means you can leave your Apple Watch cable at home.

The portable battery sports a 4,000mAH cell and can charge an 38mm or 42mm Apple Watch up to six times. Weighing in at almost 5 ounces, it’s about the size of a deck of cards but a nice square shape.

Using the battery is easy. After attaching a micro-USB cable, four LEDs on the front will let you know when its completely charged. When on the go, just hit the small button and you can see how much juice is still left in the battery. Each LED equals a 25 percent charge.

Just like with the official cable, place the back of your watch near the front of the magnetic connector, and the charging cycle begins. The disc is slightly raised off the main body of the battery, making it very easy to find – even in darker rooms.

As a nice touch, an extra USB port can also power up another USB device. Since it’s limited to 1A, it’s perfect for an iPhone or other smaller device. You will need to provide your own cable for that port.

While the design is compact and easy to travel with, it can only charge an Apple Watch lying completely flat. So you can’t activate the handy Nightstand Mode by placing the watch on its side while charging. That’s definitely disappointing since the battery is tailor-made for travelers.

My bigger issue with the battery is its current retail $99.95 retail price. If you already have the correct cables, you can purchase a similar sized battery that can charge two devices at one time for less than $30.

That makes the GoPower Watch’s price hard to swallow, especially if you already have a spare Apple Watch charger lying around. But if you’re a frequent traveler and heavy watch users who values traveling light, the battery is definitely worth a look.

• Small, lightweight, and doesn’t take up a lot of space in your gadget bag.
• The 4,000 mAH battery can juice up an Apple Watch up to six times before needing to be recharged.
• Can charge an iPhone at the same time.
• Smart priority charging will automatically charge any devices first before the GoPower Watch itself.

• Can’t place the watch in Nightstand Mode.
• Very expensive compared to other battery packs without built-in Apple Watch charging.

$99.95, Amazon.com or Kanex.