Over the past few years, standalone battery packs have become much more common, so it’s easy today to find high-performing, high-capacity charging units in relatively small and affordable packages. Tylt’s Energi ($40) is somewhat different, effectively fusing a 1-Amp/5-Watt wall power adapter with a rather small 1800mAh battery. It’s rare to find such a low-capacity battery outside of case-based solutions these days; one of the major benefits of standalone cells is added room for the battery. But Tylt’s price point and execution may make Energi compelling for some users.

Review: Tylt Energi 1800mAh Travel Charger + Battery

The low capacity doesn’t mean that Energi is a bad option. It uses a compact plastic housing that measures around 3” tall, 2.5” wide, and a little less than 1” deep—easy to slip into a pocket or a bag, without the need to carry a separate power charger, because integrated wall blades fold out from the back. There’s no Micro-USB input, though, so you’re not able to refuel the battery using a computer, and the width of the unit may present issues if you’re connecting Energi to a power strip.

 

Review: Tylt Energi 1800mAh Travel Charger + Battery

Users have two options for charging devices from Energi, although with this model, only one is iOS device-compatible. A micro-USB cable tucks into the side of the unit when not in use; a Lightning connector-equipped version of the battery is listed as coming soon. As the battery only puts out 1 Amp, it’s better suited to iPhones and iPods than most iPads. To charge them, you must plug in a self-provided Lightning or Dock Connector cable. A separate USB to micro-USB cable is included, enabling you to charge two micro-USB accessories at once.

 

Review: Tylt Energi 1800mAh Travel Charger + Battery

Based on our previous tests of batteries and battery cases with the iPhone 5, we expected Energi to be able to provide a charge of 80% or so. The result was a little lower than that: a fully-drained, Wi-Fi/LTE-connected iPhone recharged to only 74% before the battery ran dry. Relatively few standalone battery packs fall short of a full device recharge, but then, very few double as wall chargers.

 

Review: Tylt Energi 1800mAh Travel Charger + Battery

Viewed as a wall charger with a battery packed-in, Energi is actually a pretty smart product. You can charge as normally at home or in the office, and then have extra juice when you’re on the road. Executed properly, it could be a really good choice. Unfortunately, the battery size is a bit below ideal for current iPhones, the 1-Amp recharging speeds are similarly iPhone- and iPod-limited, and there’s no direct connection for iOS devices. Though pricing will determine its value, the Lightning-specific version may be a better buy, so we’ll add our thoughts to this piece once it’s available. For the time being, this version of Energi earns our B rating. We recommend it, but would love to see it refined.

Our Rating

B
Recommended

Company and Price

Company: Tylt

Website: www.tylt.com

Model: Energi

Price: $40

Compatible: All USB-charging iPods, iPhones, iPads

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Nick Guy

Nick Guy was an Accessories Editor at iLounge. He had reviewed thousands of iPhone, iPod and iPad accessories; provided visitors comprehensive evaluations of products on the industry-leading independent authority.