Every Wednesday, AppleUnboxed lands in subscribers’ mailboxes. It’s an all-things-Apple guide to what’s going on with the world’s most fascinating company. Each weekend, I’ll be publishing just one item from a previous newsletter.
AppleUnboxed has much more stuff, including exclusive interviews, reviews before you can read them anywhere else (no, I mean anywhere), long-read features, comparison pieces, news items and more. To see all that, you’ll need to subscribe—and you’ll get it half a week sooner, too. Sign up here.
Ten days ago, here’s just one of the things subscribers saw…
Wireless battery packs head-to-head
Now that the iPhone 12 has MagSafe, it’s easy to snap a compatible battery pack on to it. Apple has just released its own accessory for this purpose. But there’s also a very capable one from Anker and—for those with earlier iPhones who want in on the action—I’ve included the smartest-looking wireless battery around, the Moshi Porto Q.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
$99 from apple.com
This is the battery pack that revealed the iPhone 12 is capable of reverse wireless charging, because if it’s attached to the phone and you’re charging the iPhone via Lightning cable, the phone will share its power with the battery pack, too.
This model looks great and is a perfect fit with all sizes of iPhone. But the capacity leaves something to be desired. At 1,460mAh, it’s only enough to partly recharge even the iPhone 12 mini.
Some users have found you can also use it to recharge AirPods, which is a nice benefit. Additionally, the battery shows its remaining charge on the iPhone, something third-party gadgets can’t do.
Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K
$45.99 from amazon.com
Although this is a more demure-looking device, that’s no bad thing. And it’s powerful, with a 5,000mAh battery that’s enough to charge even the iPhone 12 Pro Max to well over half or as much as three quarters.
It’s small enough to be squirrelled away in a bag and light, too. A row of lights shows you how much charge is left and the battery itself charges quickly.
Moshi Porto Q
$89.95 from amazon.com
The sleek and attractive Porto Q is gorgeous and versatile. Have it on your desk, powered from the mains and it works as a neat QI wireless charging pad. It doesn’t have MagSafe to hold it in place but the material finish and silicone ring keep the iPhone secure.
And then, just unplug it and take it with you as a battery pack. A smart LED system shows charge levels and breathes when it’s charging.
Verdict
Apple’s own model is great, but the truth is that Moshi’s looks better. The Anker PowerCore stands out, however, as the best balance of power and value.
One More Thing
Readers of Dwight Silverman’s excellent Release Notes newsletter will know he includes a photo of his cats to show off smartphone photography capabilities. I’m eager to do the same and as I don’t have ready access to his pets, will choose photos of my dog.
The thing about pets is their expressions. The can be inscrutable, indifferent or engaged. Like this one where, I imagine, I said a keyword like treat or walk or park to gain my dog’s unswerving attention. It’s a Portrait Mode shot, though as it’s mostly on one plane, there’s little bokeh. Still, that means snout, paws and tail are all pleasingly sharp.
And, yes, I did take her to the park afterwards.
