Duracell 24-Hour Power System
The slim and attractive Duracell 24-Hour Power System delivers the same wireless charging capability of the original Powermat, but until the technology becomes more ubiquitous it remains something of a novelty.
Everything is going wireless these days, and that even includes power cables. Using magnetic inductive charging, the Duracell 24-Hour Power System ($99.99 list) wirelessly delivers juice to compatible devices. This technology isn't new, but the latest iteration brings a more streamlined form factor, for both the base station and wireless case, than we saw in the original ($59.99, 4 stars). If Duracell can deliver on its promise to build out its network of public wireless power stations across the country, and embed the technology directly into more devices, the Powermat system could hold some serious potential. Until then, the 24-hour Power System seems more novel than truly convenient.
Design and Features
Both the original Powermat and the new Duracell-branded Powermat use the same magnetic inductive charging system, which lets you place compatible devices on the mat to begin charging. It's simpler than plugging cords in and out, and it looks much cleaner on your desk. Here, the included Powermat measures 0.38 by 6.25 by 3.75 inches (HWD) and weighs just over 6 ounces. It's more attractive than the last iteration, with a nice brushed aluminum base and a glossy black plastic top. There are two charging spots on top, marked by small and subtle concentric circles, and rubberized rails on the bottom to keep the Powermat in place.
The power adapter plugs into the back of the Powermat, and two LEDs on the bottom light up to indicate charging. There is also a built-in speaker that makes a somewhat obnoxiously loud chirp when charging begins. Unfortunately, Duracell nixed the USB port found on the original Powermat.
The two included accessories are a slim iPhone 4/4S case and a portable external battery. The iPhone case is made of glossy plastic, with a top that folds back to allow the phone to slip in. A 30-pin dock connecter sits in the bottom of the case, making the iPhone a bit longer when it's inside. There's also a micro USB port on the bottom for traditional charging or syncing with a computer. Other than that, though, it's hard to differentiate between this case and any normal non-Powermat compatible case out there. The fit of the case isn't completely precise, as the top portion has a bit too much wiggle room. It's only a modest improvement over the ($59.99, 3 stars).
The external battery resembles a small square puck, with a combination of gray and black plastic. It measures 2.75 inches across and 0.69 inches tall, making it somewhat pocket friendly, but you'll probably just want to throw it in your bag in case of emergencies. The battery has a stowaway 30-pin Apple dock connector and micro USB cable built in, with a power button on front and four LED status lights. It features an 1850mAh capacity, which added about 4 hours of 3G talk time to an iPhone 4S in our tests. The battery can also provide a charge to devices while charging itself on the mat, making it something of a universal adapter for devices with micro USB ports and 30-pin Apple ports.
Testing and Conclusions
Setup is fairly straightforward: Simply attach the wireless charging accessory and place the device on the indicated charging spot. The magnetic attraction helps guide the accessories into place, and I found that you can simply toss the battery onto the Powermat and it will usually find its own way—a neat trick for sure. The phone case, however, took a bit more getting used to. The margin for error was far narrower, and the connection was more finicky. The best way to establish a connection was sliding the case onto the mat from one end until you hear a chirp. Every so often I would get a connection, only to see it disconnect from a slight nudge. After some practice, though, lining up the connection became much easier. The Powermat also features what Duracell calls Smart Charging, which stops the flow of power once devices are fully charged. That said, I didn't notice any discernable difference between charging times with a traditional wall adapter and the Powermat system.
The new Powermat is compatible with all existing Powermat products. There are Powermat wireless accessories made for devices like Blackberrys and Nintendo DS's, but you won't find them listed directly on the Duracell website. For now, your only options for expansion are an iPhone 4/4S case ($34.99), additional Powermats for one, two, or three devices ($34.99, $49.99, and $69.99 respectively), and portable backup batteries ($49.99).
Everything works as advertised, and the whole system is pretty cool. But my biggest concern is replacing all your traditional power adapters with Powermats. Most people charge their devices in multiple locations, like at home and at the office, and would need separate Powermats for each location. That isn't exactly cost effective. On the other hand, if Duracell can deliver on its Wireless Nation promise, Powermat has some serious potential for changing the way we charge. The 24-Hour Power System definitely has a futuristic feel to it, and it will certainly tidy up your charging area. But until Duracell starts to embed the capability directly into a multitude of devices, it remains something of a novelty.
More Gadget Reviews: