Elevation Lab Debuts New 'BatteryPro' iPhone and Apple Watch Charger

[MacRumors]

Elevation Lab today introduced its latest product, the BatteryPro charger that's designed to be an on-the-go charging solution for both the Apple Watch and the iPhone.

The BatteryPro features an integrated Apple Watch charging puck, so there's no need to supply your own Apple Watch charger, and it has a USB-A port (and included cable) for charging the iPhone.

At 8,000 mAh, it's able to provide more than two weeks of Apple Watch charges or three days of charges for the iPhone 7. It supports full-speed iPhone and Apple Watch charging, with an integrated Apple-approved StowStrap that locks the Apple Watch to the charger so it can charge securely regardless of where the BatteryPro is at.

Design wise, it's similar in shape to an iPhone 7, but thicker, and it fits well in a back pocket. LED lights indicate charge level, and the BatteryPro itself can be recharged using micro-USB. It can lay flat for charging, but there's also an option to balance it on its end to use the Apple Watch Night Stand mode.

Elevation Lab is offering pre-orders for the BatteryPro on its website starting today, with shipments to begin on June 1. The BatteryPro retails for $99.00, but during the pre-order period, a 20 percent discount is available using the POWERUP code at checkout.

Article Link: Elevation Lab Debuts New 'BatteryPro' iPhone and Apple Watch Charger

 

[adamjackson]

$99 is far too expensive unless a big portion of their money is going to the MFI program for including inductive Apple Watch Charging?

I have become very familiar with battery packs with USB ports and I have two 10K MAH that I travel with each with a USB-A port. I just have a USB Multi-port hub and plug everything in to one pack. These run $20-$30 for ones from reputable brands. $99 is absurd.

 

[whyamihere]

I got the Belkin Valet Charger for the same price for Christmas. These are very useful especially when camping or travelling.

 

[imola.zhp]

My Series 0 often lasts nearly two days and charges very quickly as it is. You could just get a cheap brick and plug your watch charger into it. I hope the next iPhone uses the same wireless charger.

 

[WildCowboy]

$99 is far too expensive unless a big portion of their money is going to the MFI program for including inductive Apple Watch Charging?

This is exactly the issue. The cost of the MFI charging puck is exorbitant.

 

[MrX8503]

USB A and micro usb? Pass.

The first battery that has more than 1 USB-C gets my money.

 

[sven3]

The strap is a good idea, I have the Belkin Watch charger and you basically have to keep it still with the sport band on. And the usb out charges super slow.

 

[Bigsk8r]

I like how $99 for a potentially best in class watch / iPhone charge solution is too much after spending $700 - $800 on the phone and $300 - $400 on the watch.

 

[HoosBruce]

I'm sure some have, but I haven't found the need for anything like this for the watch yet. It lasts 1-2 days and if I think I'll have an issue getting through the next day, then I charge it at night or while in the shower real quick. Maybe others have found this necessary though.

 

[CarlJ]

This seems useful, nicely thought out (handles the charger-behind-phone-in-one-hand scenario as well as watch charging) and much more well executed than some of the other portable watch chargers out there. I don't doubt it's nicely made - Elevation Lab does pretty high quality manufacturing. I just don't have a huge use for this - aside from the charger at home, I have a spare that I keep in my glove box for the odd occasion where I'm out somewhere and my watch gets low (because I forgot to charge it) and I particularly want it to continue running.

The thing that surprised me the most, though, was seeing a product shot with a Microtech Ultratech OTF switchblade in it, on MacRumors. That's a relatively esoteric bit of kit.

I wonder, at this point, can they get the charging puck as a part directly from Apple officially, or are they buying Apple Watch chargers at retail in quantity and then cutting the puck off the cable?

 

[WildCowboy]

I wonder, at this point, can they get the charging puck as a part directly from Apple officially, or are they buying Apple Watch chargers at retail in quantity and then cutting the puck off the cable?

They are available through the MFI program, but Apple only has a couple of suppliers authorized to manufacture them and they are not cheap by component standards.

 

[Apple_Robert]

For its power and abilities, the charger is too expensive, in my opinion. I have a 22000mAh charger, that has more power and features for $37.00

 

[CarlJ]

For its power and abilities, the charger is too expensive, in my opinion. I have a 22000mAh charger, that has more power and features for $37.00

Hmm, could you point out on that RAVPower battery pack where the built-in watch charger is?

There are a lot of good battery packs out there for great prices. I'm a fan of Anker's line. But this is something different, with the (expensive) watch charging puck built in. Not something I need, but trying to assert that the legion of good low-priced battery packs out there equal this in features seems silly.

 

[TheIntruder]

Everyone has their own value standards, and Apple seems to have no problem killing the MfAW program in its crib, but the pricing is kinda high, just the same.

Is it worth $99 just to avoid the inelegant (but more flexible) tangle of a separate battery pack and charging puck/cable? For some it is, I suppose, but how many?

What's $99 going to translate to in terms of a street price (outside of places that don't charge MAP, like Apple Stores, where this will probably end up, in competition with the Belkin)?

Knocking 20% off as an introductory offer suggests there is still plenty of margin, despite whatever Apple is charging EL for the pucks.

Lastly, the slightly lower capacity Belkin equivalent regularly goes on sale for 50% off its $100 MSRP, so perhaps EL apparently isn't the only company that seems to have unrealistic expectations or pricing strategies for AW accessories.

The 5000mAH Gigaflash struck a more balanced approach, but alas is no longer available.

What the AW ecosystem needs is a company like Anker to come in and wake it up and provide stylish, well-designed, and reasonably priced accessories (and I'm one who thinks that they sometimes charge too much of a premium for their brand, but their support is worth it).

 

[Mike Oxard]

Just give us a watch recharging puck with a lightning port instead of a fixed cable!