Even though cell phone batteries seem to be getting bigger and bigger, they still are unable to get the user through the day without a recharge. For power users, the best accessory you can invest in for your phone is an portable battery pack. Wall outlets and car chargers aren’t always available, but a battery pack is portable. Belkin’s MIXIT Power Pack 6600 is an excellent choice for any cell phone user, but there are some small drawbacks.
The MIXIT functions as most power packs do. It has two USB output ports and one micro-USB port for input. Next to the ports is the power button with green LED indicators to let you know how much power the pack itself has. Combined, the two USB ports share 3.4Amps of output which means you can charge two devices at once if you need to. I have been using my review model for a few weeks and have gotten a lot of use out of it. I used it with my Samsung Note 5 (which technically isn’t on the compatibility list) and it worked great. Part of that time was spent at San Diego Comic-Con and this power pack saved me multiple times. With meetings throughout the day and all over the convention, finding a wall outlet wasn’t an option. The MIXIT kept my device charged through power usage that included social media, email, texting, and voice recording during interviews. The power pack also comes in handy on my many Pokemon GO adventures. When it is time for the pack to need a charge, I usually just plug it in overnight and it is ready to go.
Belkin advertises that users will be able to get up to 3 charges for their smart phones from one charge of the power pack and I found this to be about right. The only difference that I noticed was when I left it alone while it was charging or if I kept using it a while. On average I found myself getting about 2.5-3 charges before having to recharge the pack itself, and that is with a phone that isn’t listed as compatible. One issue I had with the MIXIT, however, is that one USB port seems to not have as much of a power output as the other. In some cases, a dual USB port power pack will have one port that outputs 2.4 Amps while the second one only does 1 Amp making it a combined power output of 3.4 Amps. Although Belkin doesn’t list it on the packaging or the power pack itself isn’t marked as splitting the power up, I found my phone draining faster than it was charging while plugged into one port. When I switched ports, the phone was steadily charging, if not remaining charged, while I continued with the Pokemon hunt. While I don’t mind that the power is split like that, it would have been nice to have some sort of visual indication.
When it comes to design, Belkin seemed to have the iPhone in mind as inspiration. The casing is a metallic finish much like the iPhones and comes in color options to match: dark grey, silver, gold or rose gold. The MIXIT definitely has a quality look and feel to it and the only complaint I have is that the metallic finish is a bit slippery. While this may not be an issue since most of the time it will be in a bag of some kind or a pocket, the one time it was in neither of these, I accidentally dropped it while getting into my car. Which brings me to durability: the mixit power pack is very durable. It survived a waist height drop onto pavement with very little noticeable damage and continued working like a champ. I don’t recommend testing the limits, but just know it has a solid build.
Overall, the Belkin MIXIT Power Pack 6600 is a great accessory to have with you. Not only will it keep you charged, it will look good doing it. Like I said, the biggest issue I had with it is the seemingly unbalanced USB ports, which is more like an inconvenience than a deal breaker. At an average price of $59.99, this is perfect for power users and Pokemon trainers alike.
Rating: 4.5/5 Atoms
The power pack was provided by Belkin for review.
from Nerd Reactor
0 comments: