Specifications
The iON Universal Mobile Power Bank works with any device needing 5V or less power. It has a capacity of 1500mAh and can be recharged up to 500 times. The input voltage is 5V and current for input is 0.5A, output voltage is 5V. The iON Universal Mobile Power Bank ships with a standard USB output, barrel connection, iPhone connector tip, soft carry case, and a rubber coated surface. Overall dimensions for the device are 3.39" W x 0.35" H x 2.24" L.

In Use
The iON Universal Mobile Power Bank claims to be able to extend the run time of the iPhone or iPod up to 50 hours for music playback. Obviously, I can’t test that claim very easily. What I did to test the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank was charge the iON up all the way from the USB port on my computer and then connect it to my phone and use the device as I would any other time.

When I connected the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank to my original iPhone the phone had about half its battery life left. That usually means another hour or so before it needs recharged. The iON plugs into the charge port on the iPhone easily and connects securely with two tabs you have to press to remove the battery.

The battery is connected to the iPod tip via a short cord about 3-inches long. Once the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank was attached to my iPhone the phone recognized the battery as a charge source, gave me the little charge tone, and showed it was taking a charge. I proceeded to use the iPhone to play games and place calls for the next several hours without any issues.

By the end of the night, the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank still had power in the batter pack and the iPhone still showed to be charging. I left the iON plugged into the iPhone overnight and when woke the next morning the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank was out of power and the iPhone showed a bit more than 3/4 of a full charge. Based on that I would say that a fully charges iON Universal Mobile Power Bank would be able to charge your iPhone almost fully once before needing recharged.

The biggest issue I had with the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank was that it was awkward to use the phone with the battery pack attached. The cord isn’t that long, but the battery weight does put pressure on the charge port of your device if you simply let the battery hand while using the phone.

The best way to use the iPhone with the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank installed was to fold the cord back on itself and hold the battery pack in my palm while I used the phone. Another issue I fond was the battery got in the way while driving in my car. Typically, I put the iPhone in my cup holder so it stays put and I can get to it easily if a call comes in.

The iON Universal Mobile Power Bank when connected makes putting the iPhone vertically in the cup holder impossible. Having the phone sit upside down really isn’t that big of a deal. I wish there was some sort of clip or other method of attaching the battery to the iPhone included with the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank. As it is the iON Universal Mobile Power Bank works as well as the Mophie Juice Pack, but the design of the battery makes the Mophie easier to live with.