Juice Pack MiLi Keeps Your iPhone Going

Juice Packs new MiLi battery add-on for the iPhone gives users always on the go an extra 8 hours boost before charging. We’ve given it the reality check and weren’t disappointed with the results.

The last iPhone battery we reviewed left us a little sickened by the bulky ugly look whilst attached to the sleek iPhone, I don’t think it could get much worse.

The product arrives in a tidy black box with the performance specs on the back. Opening up the box we find the MiLi battery and a 3D cardboard cut out iPhone 3G inside (you can give that to the kids to play with).

The MiLi is a hard plastic battery pack that covers the back of the iPhone and extends the length of the handset. When the iPhone is inserted it adds thickness to the phone which can be a pocket packer unless you’re in baggy jeans. On one hand the added thickness improves grip of the device when in use (at least for my hands), but at the same time it removes the beauty of the device.

The case is finished in gloss black or white, with a choice of colours for the slot inside. Once your iPhone is slotted in the colour doesn’t really show so the choice of colour for personalisation seems a little pointless.

The back of the MiLi features the branding, and covers up the Apple logo. A small cut out in the case ensures the camera isn’t obstructed – a nice bit of attention to detail.

The bottom front of the MiLi features 4 blue LED lights indicating the remaining power in the battery. A power button in the middle can be clicked to light up the LEDs for a short period in order to check the battery level. During normal use the case remains black (or white) and blends in well with the handset.

The base of the MiLi features two USB ports market ‘IN’ and ‘OUT’. The input is how the MiLi is charged, via the supplied USB cable, from any computer.

Unusually for iPhone/iPod accessories is that the standard Apple cable supplied with the device isn’t used – meaning you not have extra cables going to waste. However the reduced size of the mini USB input leaves space for a handy extra feature.

The ‘OUT’ socket is a full size USB port providing power from the MiLi battery to charge another device such as a bluetooth headset. This is a great addition, as I often leave my bluetooth headset in the car for weeks and neglect to keep it charged up whilst at home.

Stats on the packaging are all very impressive, but as iPhone 3G users found, Apples stats don’t always match the real world! With our 3G handset I left the wireless connected, bluetooth on, push email on, and IMAP mail collecting every 15 minutes, and browsed the net and Facebook a considerable number of times. The iPhone’s iPod functionality also got some usage for a couple of hours too.

So from a full iPhone battery and full MiLi battery I managed to keep the iPhone 3G away from a power socket for 27 hours. iPhone 2G users will get even better lifespan too.

Speaking of 2G iPhones, a good selling feature of the MiLi is its multi compatibility. Unlike other cases and batteries, the MiLi works with the iPhone 2G and 3G, meaning you can upgrade to an iPhone 3G when your contract ends, and still keep using the battery.

The Bad

• Doesn’t use Apple connector for charging.
• Bit thick for carrying in the pocket.
• Glossy exterior might assist in making the device slip out of your hand.
• Prevents most protective cases from being usable.

The Good

• Additional USB output for powering other devices.
• Great design and colour matching the iPhone 3G.
• Impressive battery life when maxing out iPhone usage
• Can be charged from any USB port
• Compatible with 2G and 3G handsets.

The MiLi is available now in a choice of six colours from JuicePack.co.uk for £44.

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Tags: battery, iphone, power