The best way to test products meant to be used on the go is the practical experiment. In this case, we are previewing two iPhone cases that can recharge your smartphone on the go as well as provide maximum protection.
Our two combatants for this unscientific test are the Scosche Switchback Surge G4 backup battery case with kickstand for iPhone 4 and the PowerSkin recharging soft case.
This battle hit the grounds of the parade for Chevrolet`s 100th anniversary, part of 2011 Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise car weekend in Detriot,with more than 1 million car lovers flooding Motor city to view more than 40,000 custom cars allowing for plenty picture shooting.
For two straight days, morning till night, a lot of pictures and HD videos were taken. As most people know, HD movies drain an iPhone`s battery fast. That crazy traffic jam was the best place to test how much protection the two cases can provide, and how well they recharged an iPhone in constant use.
These cases hold a battery pack and the standard iPhone USB connector. The case’s interior plug locks into the iPhone charging port transferring that backup energy supply to the iPhone.
The Switchback is a hard case equipped with a kickstand for easier video viewing. But since the focus was on taking videos, not watching them. The Switchback was necessary to recharge the smartphone quickly and to giving significantly more battery life for more camera time.
The Switchback effectively doubled the overall maximum battery life of the iPhone. Under maximum use with constant videography and photography, the iPhone 4 lasted between one hour and 90 minutes. With the Switchback in effect, photos and videos were taken for almost a full three hours.
The Switchback provides more protection than the PowerSkin, providing a high-impact shell around the phone. Its primary downsides are its weight–which almost doubles the heft of the iPhone–and its size. With its double-shell construction, you end up with a longer and thicker phone, sacrificing the sleek iPhone design for more battery life.
The PowerSkin,on the other hand, doesn’t offer the same level of protection, but its rubberized, soft case design) makes it lighter and thinner. The PowerSkin charged the iPhone with the speed of a cable connection and also doubled the video and HD camera’s life. In fact, while this isn’t independently verified, the PowerSkin drove the little camera for 30 minutes longer than the Switchback.
Regardless of whether you need to take photos of 40,000 cars, the choice between these two recharging cases comes down not to their near-equal charging capabilities but to their secondary qualities. If you are looking for maximum protection for your smartphone, go with the Switchback, but If you want a lighter, sleeker phone in your pocket, the PowerSkin is your choice. Both cases sell for $80 and are available online and multiple retails outlets.
