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A tale of two iPhone cases

SMARTPHONES HAVE changed our lives. We can work anywhere, listen to music, take high definition videos and check our email at braais. But they suck at battery life. That’s especially true of Apple’s iPhone – one of the few smartphone devices people actually want to use all day. Though the iPhone 4 and latest versions of Apple’s iOS operating system have vastly improved the situation, you’re still lucky to get through a day of heavy use.

But some smart battery companies have fixed that. Though Lenmar and Mophie are competitors in this sector, their products are very similar. They both offer protective cases with built-in batteries that boost the life of the iPhone 4. They look similar, both provide similar power output and both charge using a standard micro USB cable. So it makes sense (in this reviewer’s mind anyway) to comparatively review them.

Both cases bulk up the iPhone, so you do have to make peace with having something bigger in your pocket as a trade-off for roughly doubling the battery life of your iPhone. The iPhone is pretty much a large battery to begin with: its other components, barring the screen, are tiny.

Size aside, both the Lenmar and Mophie cases are an awesome answer to the battery life problem. They also have the added advantage of making your iPhone compatible with any standard micro USB charger or cable, and you can even sync your iPhone with iTunes using micro USB. A win.

Both cases also have four LED lights that reveal how much charge they hold, which is handy, and both have clever microphone, camera and speaker cavities so having them on your iPhone doesn’t compromise its other features.

Both products work well, but the Lenmar case looks a tad better than the Mophie in my opinion and, more importantly, is almost half the price.

REVIEW

VERDICT: Clever solutions to the battery problems.

COMPLEXITY: Put them on your phone and plug it in.

PRICE: Lenmar R500; Mophie R900.

ALSO CONSIDER: Powertraveller Mini Gorilla.

VALUE RATING: Both 8/10
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