The single biggest complaint with any smartphone from an iPhone to an HTC Wildfire is around battery life. The different apps that people are now using their devices for vary banking on the move to satellite navigation to streaming music on the move but the one thing that all have in common is the drain on the battery resources.
This often means that having a portable charging solution is a must. Whilst there are many on the market, it often pays to get the best in terms of quality and functionality. Enter the Belkin 2.1A Dual USB Car Charger.
Thanks to the guys at Wireless Ground we have managed to get our hands on one that comes complete with a 4ft Lightning to USB Cable.
Key features:
- Super-compact
- Plugs into any car power outlet
- 10 Watts/2.1 Amp per port
- Includes one 4 FT Lightning to USB cable
- 2 powered USB ports
The Belkin Dual USB car charger is a premium product and certainly looks and feels the part. A matt black finish is complemented by the Belkin logo as well as a pleasant kind of man shaped logo on the opposing side. It also feels relatively heavy and well built, unlike many of the cheaper alternatives that you can find on well known auction or market sites.
When the charger is plugged into the relevant port a pleasant blue glow is emitted from the outer ring on the front.
The big question however is how does it perform. Well, despite the inclusion of the 4ft lightning to USB cable, I have no iDevice to test it on however the I did run the tests on a couple of Android devices using standard USB cables. The results were exactly as one would expect.
I undertook a journey that lasted nearly 2 hours during which I used Google Maps to navigate. I started with approximately 75% battery and when I arrived I had a completely full charge. This despite the fact that Google Maps was on all the time.
I also tested the charger on my Nexus 7 which under normal conditions takes an age to charge. Again, the Belkin handled this with aplomb, charging promptly and efficiently. When both of my Nexus devices were plugged in both were handled with no problems at all. The sheer power that is emitted from the Belkin clearly benefits any device plugged into it and a rapid charge is always the result.
Mobile accessories are very much a personal thing. Some prefer cheap and cheerful, products that are made to last a small amount of time and use less than excellent materials whilst others prefer accessories that are well build and use strong durable materials. The Belkin certainly fits into the latter category with no worries at all that it will fall apart upon unplugging or repeated use.
Despite its premium pricetag I would have no hesitations in recommending the Belkin 2.1A Dual USB Car Charger for it is a quality product that is clearly designed to last for at least the lifetime of your device and longer.
The Belkin Dual USB Car Charger is available from Wireless Ground for $35.95 (£22.87 at todays exchange rates.)
I purchased a 2.1 amp one…not a Belkin, but a decent one, last year. It’s been flawless…2 x 2.1 amp ports is PERFECT for me.
I also have a 2.1 amp one. The Scosche one Leigh reviewed last year. Been brilliant. It’s a good cheaper alternative. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0077PM3KG/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Or you can get the Monoprice one for less than $9. Product ID 10239.You’ll have to sign up to be notified when they are in stock. They always sell out when they get them in.