UPDATE 1/15/10: I recommend you avoid the Zagg Sparq. Please read my updated comments at the end of this review. A few weeks ago I noticed an interesting new external battery from Zagg called the Sparq. The company is primarily known for their high end screen protectors (InvisibleSHIELDs) and has recently released this combination  charger and portable battery supply. The premise is very interesting. Use the Zagg Sparq to supply power for up to two USB cables (which most devices ship with). While you’re powering your devices the Zagg Sparq recharges an internal 6,000 mAh lithium polymer cell that they claim can be recharged more than 2,000 times before losing capacity. Another interesting claim is they “guarantee 4 iPhone charges”. So how do the claims hold up? UPDATE January 15, 2010:

One of the first things that I noticed when I opened the package was that the Zagg Sparq requires a 9 hour initial charge. Subsequent re-charges take the same amount of time. This was a let down because if you are traveling it’s sometimes not possible to be near a plug for 9 hours.

On the plus side what the Zagg Sparq does away with is those nasty power bricks that you would otherwise have to lug around to re-charge an external battery. As you can see from the picture below Zagg have designed the charger so the prongs are built into the battery. It’s very similar in size and style to the power adapter that ships with Apple’s MacBook Pro.

It’s a little tough to see in this photo below but the Zagg Sparq provides for dual USB outlets to recharge two devices (you supply the cable) simultaneously. That’s a neat idea and coupled with the ability to ditch a bulky power adapter that other batteries require I thought the Zagg Sparq was onto a winning idea.

These two USB ports function both when the Zagg Sparq is plugged into the wall (where you’d use it as a regular AC Adapter) and when you’ve unplugged and are using the Sparq as a battery.

Everything pretty much works as you’d imagine with this power supply – except it didn’t last for anywhere near four charging cycles. More accurately I was able to retrieve about two full recharges out of the Sparq – though I did not test it only on an iPhone – and was using it to re-charge my Verizon Droid as well.

I tested this both out and about while on the road and in the office. Using it while on the road was great. The device is compact and because the Zagg Sparq recharges itself with the built in electric connector – I didn’t have to worry about lugging around a cable to re-charge the battery.

Is the Zagg Sparq worth the money? I guess that it depends on how long you need the battery to perform for. I’m still going to run my device (which I paid for myself and is not a loaner or manufacturer gift) through a few more charging cycles to see if the battery life is extended.

Although I know that the conventional wisdom is that batteries need a few cycles to really reach their capacity – I just have never found that to be true with any modern day device I’ve owned. So while I’ll report back on any extension of life offered by putting the Sparq through a few more charge cycles I’m still going to say that it’s disappointing that I received about half of what I was expecting for battery charge time.

Would I still buy the Zagg Sparq if I had to do it over again?

My sense is that this is going to be convenient enough (due to the built in charging prongs) that I probably would recommend it to someone. I also like that in a pinch you could use this charger on the road to recharge devices via the AC outlet in your hotel room. Then when you throw everything into your briefcase you’ll have a fully charged 6,000 maH backup battery.

For heavy duty road warrior use where you don’t mind lugging a bulky AC Adapter to re-charge the battery – check out this Energizer XP8000 which is small and compact and although it lacks the dual USB charging ports (it only comes with one) it does have  a coiled USB adapter cord with a few gazillion charging adapters supplied.

My Initial Pros And Cons Of Zagg Sparq

UPDATE 1-9-2010: My Zagg Sparq has suddenly stopped providing any charge from either of the 2 USB ports whether the battery is fully charged ( as indicated by the status lights ) or plugged into the wall. I’ll update the post once I return this device and test another.

UPDATE 1-15-2010: I’ve had absolutely awful results with my Zagg Sparq.

The list of issues seem to mirror what other users are reporting in this Zagg Sparg Review discussion on the Macrumors forum.

The device takes 9 hours to recharge per the manufacturer, it appears in both my testing and those on the Macrumors forum to drain inordinately fast.

On several occasions it has showed battery power but refused to charge anything.

The kick in the crotch is the Zagg Sparq that I have when used overnight ACTUALLY DRAINED MY GOOGLE NEXUS ONE phone not once but twice. That’s right when I woke up in the morning the Zagg Sparq still had a charge – but my Nexus One did not.

I recommend avoiding this gadget at any price.

The Good

- No charging brick to carry around – the recharging connection is built in
- Doubles as a USB charging adapter for two cables (use your own cable)
- Fairly lightweight
- Reasonably priced at $99 (on promotion – normal price of $129) – periodic deep discounts may further lower the price by 50%

The Not So Good

- The advertising promises 4 iPhone re-charges – and was only able to get through two on my first try (after charging the battery for 9 hours) – albeit I did recharge my Droid and Google Nexus One instead of the iPhone.
- 9 hours is a long time to wait for a re-charge if you’re constantly on the road
- Cheaper alternatives are widely available although they require a separate bulky charger adapter – I use this Energizer XP8000 which I found on closeout at my local Marshalls store for about $50 and have yet to exhaust its power reserve)
- The Zagg Sparq twice drained the battery on my Google Nexus One.
- Poor Zagg Sparq word of mouth from other users experiencing similar problems

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The Case-Mate BlackBerry 9700 Fuel is a protective case, carrying solution, and extended (2300 mA) battery life all in one. When your BlackBerry Bold 9700 is docked in the holster the battery is refueling. This batter boost adds up to 7 added Internet hours, 9 additional talk hours, 8 additional video playback hours or 24 added music hours. The case has just appeared on Case-Mate’s site with a “coming soon” status. Expect a price of $79 plus shipping.

Case-Mate Fuel Rechargeable Battery for BlackBerry Bold 9700

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I’m long past caring how pretty (or thin) by external battery pack looks. What I care about is how long it lasts and how many times I can re-charge. The new Zagg Sparq (normally $129 and on sale for $69 shipped) claims to offer 4 FULL recharges of your iPhone. There are two USB ports that accommodate the ubiquitous USB charging cables that seem to accompany most devices.

The constant risk of low batteries is a significant concern for gadget users, in particular when traveling. ZAGG Inc, the makers of the invisibleSHIELD™, has developed an exciting solution to that problem. The convenient size and portable power of the amazing ZAGGsparq means gadget lovers will never again have to worry about low batteries.

The ZAGGsparq plugs into a standard outlet and provides two USB ports for charging mobile devices. Then, unplug the ZAGGsparq and it carries multiple charges for any personal electronic device that can be powered by a USB plug – up to four complete recharges for a power-hungry Apple iPhone®. Perfect for everything from cell phones to hand-held gaming systems, dead batteries and expensive spares will be a thing of the past.

The small size of the ZAGGsparq makes it perfect for slipping into pockets and bags, and the convenience of carrying universal USB power on-the-go makes it an indispensable electronics accessory. Perfect for travelers, businesspeople, and anyone else who makes extensive use of their devices.

According to Zaqq the battery is a 6,000 mAh Lithium Polymer capable of  4 complete re-charges for the iPhone. And it also powers digital gaming systems and camcorders.

Here’s a quick look at how the ZAGGsparq compares to some competitors:

For a limited time the ZAGGsparq is listed as $69 (normal price $129) shipped via postal service (free shipping). I’ve just ordered one and will have a full review in the next week.

ZAGGsparq via Coolest Gadgets

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Tired of trying to make that tiny micro-USB charger plug line up exactly with your BlackBerry Tour? Powermat, developers of desktop magnetic induction charging solutions, have just released their BlackBerry Tour case. Simply remove the case from your Tour and replace it with Powermats specially crafted version. From then on there’s no cables to connect. Place the BlackBerry on the Powermat (up to three devices can charge at one time) and you’ll be charging wirelessly. The charger makes a great nightstand or office companion and eliminates messy wires. Re-charge time in my experience is equal to wired charging. Recommended.

Powermat case for BlackBerry Tour $29

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What’s shaped like a case, holds your BlackBerry 9630 (Tour) securely and provides an additional 9 hours of battery power? It’s the Case-Mate Fuel for BlackBerry Tour – available now at the bargain price of $75. This case looks like any other normal belt holster but inside is a powerful batter that recharges your Tour while it’s idling in the case. A separate power on/off switch allows you to control when extra battery power is flowing to your BlackBerry. Available now.

Case-Mate Fuel – $75

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Colorware is  taking orders to pimp out your new BlackBerry Bold 9700 into whatever freakish color you like. The company accepts your BlackBerry and replaces the frame, top, bottom, outer back, inner back and logo with parts that are custom colored to your desire. Their web site allows you to preview your creation before making a final decision. Cost starts at $159 if you send them your BlackBerry Bold 9700 or you can buy a brand new one for $849 (sucker bet since you can buy a no-contract device for $399-$449 in any AT&T or T-Mobile store and then send it in for $159 which nets a price about $250 cheaper than buying a new unit from Colorware).

Colorware via CrackBerry

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