Tech21 is marketing its new Evo Endurance Charging Case ($110) for iPhone 6/6s as the first “ultra-safe” battery case. Evo Endurance uses lithium ceramic battery technology, which is non-flammable and will not suffer from leaks or heat emission. To prove this point, Tech21 shipped us a lithium ceramic battery strip and scissors along with the case — as expected, cutting into the battery strip was not a hazard. Tech21 also claims the case will protect against 2-meter drops. A power button is found on the back of the case, and four nearby LEDs denote remaining battery life. Evo Endurance aims to deliver a 60 percent charge from its 1800mAh battery to a depleted iPhone 6/6s, and the black case comes with a headphone port extender and micro-USB cable.
As a case, Evo Endurance isn’t bad. It adds some bulk, but has a nice grip and feel, and button coverage is responsive when used with the 6s. We saw some strange things in our battery testing, but we’re wondering if the issues were with the iPhone briefly showing an incorrect battery capacity. In the end, Evo Endurance restored a 61 percent charge to a depleted iPhone 6s in about one hour. Yes, the case reached its goal, but the small battery is lackluster when compared to nearly every other battery case we’ve reviewed for iPhone 6.
When it comes to overall capacity, Evo Endurance is one of the more disappointing iPhone 6/6s battery cases we’ve seen in a while, and its price is higher than most battery cases, as well. Presumably, there are two reasons why you’d be paying a premium for this case. The first is drop protection — Tech21 makes a stronger claim here than most battery cases. The other, of course, is Tech21’s “ultra-safe” battery technology. But considering that we rarely hear of any safety issues with other battery cases — and rarely encounter any in our testing — Evo Endurance’s lithium ceramic technology can almost be seen as a gimmick. It’s a solution without a problem.
If you are truly concerned about external battery safety, or if you place added value on battery case drop protection, Evo Endurance is worth a look. Otherwise, you’d be better off going with a different battery solution for iPhone 6/6s.
Our Rating
Company and Price
Company: Tech21
Model: Evo Endurance Charging Case
Price: $110
Compatible: iPhone 6/6s
