The Freedom 2000 From myCharge Is A Great Way To Power Up An iPhone 5
by Brent Dirks
August 2, 2013
The Facts
Company: myCharge Product: Freedom 2000 Price: $79.99 Compatibility: iPhone 5 Website: mycharge.com Date: August 2, 2013 If you’re a power iPhone 5 user, battery cases can be a lifesaver. While there are thankfully a number of solutions on the market to choose from, the new Freedom 2000 from myCharge takes a refreshing approach.The Product
Instead of permanently covering the Lightning port with a built-in connector, the Freedom 2000 features a concealable plug that can conveniently be tucked inside the battery case when not used. Getting started is pretty easy. After charging the case to full capacity with an included micro-USB cord, it easily slips onto the iPhone. All of the major ports and buttons are very easy to access with the case on – including the headphone jack. Removing the case does take a little practice, but with a small push through the camera hole opening, the handset does come out without a lot of force. And while the case itself is nice, the battery technology also does a fantastic job. With a 2,000 mAH battery, I tested the case with a completely dead iPhone 5 twice. In both scenarios, I was able to charge my iPhone to almost 100 percent before the battery case was fully discharged. MyCharge claims the battery can add an extra nine hours of talk time to an iPhone 5. Beyond the Lightning connector, the only other major part of the case is the battery LED and button. To charge your iPhone with the case, you’ll need to push the button for three seconds after inserting the Lightning connector. Users can also check to see how much juice is left in the battery by a quick press of the button. The LED is green with 71-100 percent charge, yellow means 41-70 percent charge, red is 11-40 percent battery, and flashing red is 0-10 percent life left. After five seconds, the LED will turn off to conserve power. The case, available in black or silver, is also very durable. I was worried originally that the brushed aluminum back might scratch easily, but that has yet to happen. I have yet to drop my phone with the case, but I feel like it could easily take day-to-day drops and scuffs. I also like the fact that the case’s raised corners protect the iPhone’s screen from scratches and allows user to place their iPhone face down when needed. But like many battery cases, there is a fairly substantial downside. Along with adding 3 ounces of weight to the 4-ounce iPhone, the case also doubles the depth of the thin handset. In my day-to-day use the extra bulk was noticeable, but not a huge downside.What’s Hot
- Easy to install and remove.
- Retractable Lightning cable provides more flexibility than a built-in connector.
- Lightning and headphone port still fully accessible.
- Quickly charges an iPhone 5.
- Very durable.
What’s Not
- Adds a substantial amount of bulk to the iPhone 5.
