Apple Thoughts: Mophie Juicepack Air: Apple Juice Defined

The verdict: I'm not going to lie. I didn't perform exhaustive battery tests on the Juicepack Air. Instead, for about a month, I used it nearly daily. I used it to supplement my battery, and I used it to recharge a dead iPhone. In all cases it performed better than I expected.

Typically with my 3GS, the battery will be half dead by 3:30 or 4:00 (I take it off the charger at about 7:00 in the morning). With the Juicepack on, the battery easily made it a whole day with only approximately 20 percent battery loss total. To me, that's worth it. Mathematically it isn't a doubling of battery capacity, but it's a gigantic improvement.

If your iPhone dies, the Juicepack can recharge it from the dead, but doing so basically means you can't use the Juicepack until you get some juice back into it. That means finding a USB port somewhere because it doesn't come with an AC adapter, something you can easily buy online for a few bucks if you want to have it along with you.

Overall, the Juicepack is great. It's a tad expensive, but if you measure its price against the frustration you feel when your battery dies, it's a small price to pay. I'm glad I got a chance to try one out and would highly recommend it if your battery just isn't lasting the day.

Where to buy: The Mophie Juicepack Air is available in Apple Retail Stores and in various online stores, as well as from Mophie directly for $79.95.

Editor's note: I used press images for this review only because every photo I took of the Juicepack Air came out terribly bad. Rather than spend all night trying to come up with better pictures, I just used stock ones. I apologize if I've offended any of you!

Vincent Ferrari is an Apple fan, videoblogger, blogger, writer, and all-around geek from the Bronx. He works in the IT Department of a cellular phone company that shall not be named, and lives in a very comfortable apartment with his lovely wife, two lovely cats, two Macs, two iPhones, and God-knows-how-many iPods of varying age.

Do you enjoy using new hardware, software and accessories, then sharing your experience with others? Then join us on the Thoughts Media Review Team! We're looking for individuals who find it fun to test new gear and give their honest opinions about the experience. It's a volunteer role with some great perks. Interested? Then click here for more information.