The iPhone 5, though bigger and more powerful, is a bit lacking in terms of battery life. But really, most phones could do with better battery life. Luckily, the iPhone 5 has a great solution to this problem: the option of a battery case that holds its own battery pack. By attaching one to your phone, you will boost your phone’s battery life.
If you do a quick Google search, you’ll find several battery cases for the iPhone 5. But which one should you buy? This article will give you a quick rundown of the best battery cases on the market.
Belkin Grip Power Battery Case ($100)
This battery case holds a 2000-mAh battery that plugs into your phone through the back. The rest of the case is a thin frame that fits around the front. It is available in several color pairings.
The added bonus of this battery case is the extra cushioning it provides. If you drop your phone, this case is likely to protect it quite well. The only problem this case could pose is with the headphone jack. Because of the extra cushioning, you may have an issue plugging in your headphones, which is why the battery case comes with a headphone extension cord. Other than that, the phone case button overlays are designed very well.
Removing the case is also extremely convenient. A small tab on the right side of the case lets you easily grip and take off the case from the phone.
Unu DX Protective Series ($80)
This battery case is very reminiscent of the previous Belkin case. It uses a 2300-mAh battery and has a cap and base design, which makes removal easy. Like the Belkin case, it comes with a headphone extension cord.
Instead of a button overlay, though, this case has button cutouts. It works really well, even though you’d expect the ring/silent switch to be difficult to access. This case’s covering of that area is quite thin, making the buttons very accessible.
Lenmar Meridian ($90)
This is another two-piece cap-and-base case with a 2300-mAh battery. The thick bottom layer is very much like the Belkin case, but there’s no headphone extension to help you out. Overall, however, this is an excellent case with a great design. I love the LED power indicator and on/off switch for the battery.
iBattz Mojo Hi5 Power Bank ($79)
For those of you looking to milk the most out of your phone, this is the case for you. For $79, you get a massive 2500-mAh battery. In recent tests, this phone case beat its competitors in endurance by a long shot — three hours more than the second leading brand. The downside is the weight and thickness: it’s massive. But if you don’t really care about the size and weight, then this case is for you.
Maxboost Fusion ($69) / Atomic Plus ($79)
Both cases are made by Maxboost. The Fusion offers 2000-mAh of power; the Atomic Plus 3000-mAh. For the money, you’re getting a lot of power. One nice thing about both cases is the myriad of color choices — twenty in all!
Mophie Juice Pack (Starting at $79)
Mophie is currently offering several battery cases:
- Helium — 1500-mAh — $79
- Air — 1700-mAh — $99
- Plus — 2100-mAh — $119
At a glance, it seems that there’s not much bang for your buck (1500 mAh at $79? Really?) But according to reviews, the Helium is almost as good as the 2000-mAh cases of competitors. I’d still be wary of the endurance of these cases, though.
Where the Mophie shines is in its sleek, attractive design. It’s easy to put on and take off, and its attention to detail makes it very likeable. The case comes with a headphone extension cord, like other thick-based cases.
MyCharge Freedom ($79)
The MyCharge Freedom holds a rubber interior that adds great protection and durability to the phone. It’s packed with a 2000-mAh battery (nine hours of extra usage). You may notice it’s a single snap-fit case, unlike most others, with two-piece cases.
In terms of design, the side buttons are completely exposed for use, which I like. But the top power button is covered, and it’s very difficult to press and register. What’s really awkward about the case is the cable charge. Basically, to charge, you pull a rubber cable from the bottom with the lightning adapter. It’s a bit weird to see a cable protruding from the phone, but the nice thing about the design is the exposed base, which means you don’t need any sort of headphone extension cables.
There are plenty of battery cases out there. Those looking for customizability should look at the Maxboost cases, which offer lots of color options. Those looking for pure power should look to the iBattz Mojo Power Bank. Mophie is attractive and eye-catching, but not very powerful. The MyCharge is a bit out of the ordinary, but nonetheless effective. The Belkin and DX are generally great choices with attractive features and a good battery life. But both cases, in my opinion, get edged out by the Lenmar Meridian. This is the best phone case overall, with its intelligent design and powerful boost.
Any one of these phone cases will give you what you want — better battery life. It’s all a matter of taste and preferences beyond this point.
Any other cases you think are good? Comment below.
