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Mac-a-roon

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 19, 2014
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EnerPlex Surfr iPhone 5 Review



Packaging: I am very impressed with the way that the Surfr is packaged. On the front is what you would expect, a typical image showing both sides of the case with a phone in it indicating that it is 100% charged.
The front panel opens up like a book to reveal a window looking into the box so that you can see the actual cast that you are buying. There is even a small magnet in the corner to keep the flap closed.



The window extends around to the back of the box where you can look in and see the solar panel that is located on the back of the case. On the back of the packaging there are also the specs for the case. This case’s integrated 2000 mAh battery is supposed to provide 100% more battery life giving the user 10 more hours of talk time, 10 more hours of video, 10 more hours of Wi-Fi, or 40 more hours of music. If the case holds up to the manufacturers claims, I will be thoroughly impressed.



What’s in the Box?
Surfr Case for iPhone 5 (nifty blue trim)
Micro USB Charge Cable
Headphone Jack Extension Cable (I love that this is included since my headphones have a large plug)
Illustrated Installation Instructions & safety/warranty info



Installation & Operation: A toddler could install a phone into this case with the illustrated instructions. Simply take the top section off, slide the phone onto the lightning adapter, and slide the top back around the phone.
All of the iPhones buttons are still easily accessible and work smoothly. There is a small button on the bottom of the case that powers it on so that it can begin charging the phone. There are 4 Blue LED light that each indicated a 25% power level, so if all four illuminate then the case is fully charged. There is also a Red LED which illuminated to show when the solar panel on the back is charging the case. One thing that I like particularly about this case is that it is charged via micro USB instead of lightning which should make it easy to find someone with a charge cable should you leave yours at home.



Performance: Right out of the box the case showed that it was fully charged with all 4 Blue LED indicator lights illuminated. I installed my nearly dead (7%) iPhone 5S, turned the case on, and the charging icon on my phone popped up indicating that the case did indeed charge my phone. The case was able to fully charge my phone in about an hour and a half. Pretty good.

The built in solar panel on the back of the case is there to slowly trickle charge the battery, and provide an emergency backup charging solution. It would take days to fully charge the case from the panel; however it only takes about an hour to get enough juice for a short phone call, which is good to have in an emergency situation.



Conclusion: Overall I love this case and feel that it lives up to the manufacturers claims, and is designed just as well as any other battery integrated case on the market. Being a solar installer, the panel on the back is awesome to have and show off, even if I will rarely use it. It is stylish, simple, and provides enough power to fully charge my dead iPhone without being too bulky. This case is a keeper. I am hoping they release their case for the iPhone 6 soon as I will probably be upgrading in a few months and I will end up giving this one to my girlfriend. This is a must have for people who use their phone a lot throughout the day and need to keep it charged without being confined to an outlet.

The Surfr for iPhone 5 retails for $99.99 @ http://www.goenerplex.com
but I purchsed mine on Amazon for $79.99http://http://www.amazon.com/EnerPlex-SFI-2000-BK-Surfr-iPhone-Black/dp/B00ICS5K1Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411683782&sr=8-1&keywords=Surfr
 
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