MiPow-ered.
We've previously had the pleasure of testing MiPow's range
of smart lightbulbs, but adding a dash of colour to your home isn't the only
thing the tech company dabbles with. Making sure your smartphone is always
charged is just as important to them (in order to activate your smart bulbs, we
assume), judging by the effort they've placed into their latest portable power
pack. We test the MiPow Power Tube 3000.
At first look the Power Tube 3000 seems to be an everyday portable charger: a battery pack with a USB connector to charge it, and an extendable wire to plug into your gadget. However, this little pint-sized power pack has quite a lot more going for it, on top of some very well thought out design features.
In a nutshell, the onboard battery within the Power Tube
3000 is (as you might expect) a 3000mAh capacity with a 5V output. You plug it
into a USB port, charge it up, then take it with you to provide your phone (in
this case just an Apple product due to the Lightning connector) with some
emergency juice whenever you require it. Sounds pretty standard so far, and not
unlike the countless others we've reviewed in the past.
However, the MiPow Power Tube 3000 also features Bluetooth
connectivity to link itself with the JuiceSync app. An app, designed solely for
a power pack? Now we're interested. With the app you can - wirelessly, mind -
monitor the Power Tube's current charge, see what temperature the device is
currently running at (and set up an alert should it get too hot), and also find
it should you misplace it around your home. And you thought it was just a power
pack?
In use we found all this extremely helpful, as normal power
packs can be pretty vague about how much energy they have left, with some using
just a bleakly flashing red light to indicate... something? Having an actual
percentage right there on your iPhone's screen was great, as was being able to
monitor how hot the Power Tube was.
We also really love the design of the connectors, which are
both kept safely concealed underneath a firm-fitting cap which remains on the
Lightning cable when removed - we can't tell you how many caps - or indeed USB
wires - we've lost from other power chargers in the past. Couple all of the
above with a nice choice of colours, and you have yourself a very good mobile
essential here. Well played MiPow.
£44.99