Power Up Your Keychain With The Bluelounge Kii
The facts
Company: Bluelounge Product: Kii Price: $19.95 for 30-pin, $39.95 for Lightning Compatibility: iPhone, iPad Website: Bluelounge.com Date reviewed: July 11, 2013
The basics
This week, along with the Saidokā, Bluelounge released the Kii.
The Kii is the size of a key – imagine that – and it allows you to charge and sync your Lightning devices via USB port. Now, if you forget, or don’t have room to carry an extra charging cable with you, the Kii is always with you. Well, assuming you always have your keys, that is.
The good
The best thing about the Kii is pretty obvious: It’s unforgettable. Being just under 3 inches in length, the size and shape of a big key, it’s extremely portable. Just attach it to a key ring and you’re ready to charge or sync your iPhone or iPad wherever you go. You won’t forget it. It’s a USB to 30-pin or Lightning connector. It even has a secure, self-locking cap, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. Just … don’t lose your keys, okay?
Also, it has to be said that the design of this thing is both practical and beautiful. A black or white, shiny key hanging from your keychain? And it charges your shit? Sold! I’ve had so many people ask me about mine already. It’s very sleek. Surely that isn’t a reason to buy one, but it’s worth noting for those of you who appreciate beautifully designed products. It should be noted that the 30-pin comes in black only, though. I prefer the black one, anyway, myself.
The bad
The one downside to the Kii is also it’s upside: Because it’s so portable, it’s so small and short. So, sometimes, it can be awkward when plugged in to a computer or other devices with USB ports. Also, the Lightning version is pretty pricey. It would be hard for most people to justify dropping $40 on a charging device, and I don’t blame them. However, I look at it like this: You’re paying about $20 more for the portability. It will always be on your keychain; it will always be with. If that doesn’t appeal to you, then the Kii isn’t for you.
Our advice
If you ever find yourself out and about without a charging cable, or just want a simpler solution to daily charging on the go, you’ll love the simplicity and beauty of the Kii. On the other hand, if you always have a cable with you, and don’t need to worry about being able to charge on the go, this isn’t for you. Unless you get the 30-pin which is a good price, but with Apple phasing that out, that doesn’t seem practical.
All in all, though, this is a pretty nifty device. It looks cool, it's super portable, and it's functional. You can't go wrong with that.
You can purchase the Kii from Bluelounge: $19.95 for the 30-pin or $39.95 for the Lightning.
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