Home iPhonia Apple Watch ,,,,, We talked about Ugreen in recent days when we presented an interesting stand for charging Apple Watch certified by Apple, one of the few on the market of this type; Always Apple Watch, Ugreen and charging is also discussed in this review which presents an equally original system to restore the charge of the Apple clock, but this time thanks to a battery: the magnetic charger with integrated battery.
How it's done
That we are talking about something original is quite evident simply by taking the accessory in hand. Construction quality aside (excellent level: matte and sturdy plastic, perfect assembly) Ugreen's magnetic charger looks like a normal small spare battery with integrated with the iconic induction plate found in the Apple Watch packaging that Ugreen has licensed (the product is in fact certified by Apple)
The operation of the magnetic charger is very simple. Just apply the back of a watch to the magnetic plate and, as happens with a normal charger, we will see the lightning that signals the start of charging appear on the Apple Watch. The difference is, as can be guessed, in the fact that here it will be the battery that will give energy to the internal one of the Apple Watch. How many times an Apple Watch can be recharged depends on the watch battery, different in capacity between the first and second series and between 38 and 42 mm. In our case we tried to charge our 42 mm Apple Watch 2, finding an excellent performance: in fact, we were able to fully restore the charge for almost five times. Since according to some information the Apple Watch 2 battery is 330 mAh, the magnetic charger, nominally 2200 mAh, net of the Joule effect that disperses energy into heat and which is typical of all power banks, is able to provide about 1600mAh to the watch. In practical terms, with the battery in your pocket and without exaggerating with notifications and using Apple Watch it is possible to have up to almost a week of autonomy without carrying anything but the battery itself.
A second advantage of the battery, in addition to the extension of the autonomy, is also in the simplification of the recharging process. Ugren's device is recharged using a normal MicroUSB cable. In fact, therefore, we have the possibility, albeit indirectly, to recharge Apple Watch with a common cable that we can use to recharge other accessories, leaving the Apple cable for Apple Watch at home.
Again with regard to the charging aspect, it should be emphasized that on the battery we also have a USB port with 1Ah output, compatible with all smartphones even if the aforementioned 2200 mAh capacity of the magnetic charger represents a modest amount of energy. We did a test with an iPhone 7 to verify how much the Ugreen accessory would have given charge to the phone, obtaining 83% of capacity recovery. The fact that the battery supplies slightly less power to an iPhone than it is able to give to an Apple Watch (about 1500 mAh vs 1600) probably depends on the higher absorption of the phone compared to the watch.
Finally, the emphasis must be placed on the form factor. Ugreen's magnetic charger seems to have been built, like the stand already, for Apple Watch of the same brand, for an open bracelet, but in the end it is not impossible to use it with a closed bracelet as seen in our images. Even if aesthetically the set-up you get is not perfect, recharging takes place without problems. Thanks to a very powerful magnetic plate that manages to hold Apple Watch in place.
In conclusion
Ultimately, the battery with magnetic plate for charging Apple Watch, very well made from a construction point of view, is an interesting product first of all for its originality. There aren't many portable batteries for Apple Watch on the market and Ugreen's is probably the cheapest on the market, as it costs the same as an original Apple charging cable. Secondly, the manufacturer has done a lot to make it as flexible as possible, also including a standard USB port although it must be said that the ability to recharge a smartphone necessarily resets the charging function for Apple Watch.
Little or nothing to say from a functional point of view; the charging is fully functional and has the same speed, as if the Apple Watch was connected to the original charger; the perfect capacity for a long weekend or a business trip of a few days and for an emergency recharge, when you don't have a power socket available. The question remains whether it is universally useful: a battery like this when you have a power outlet at hand, although the battery is small and light, is no less demanding from the point of view of the footprint of a cable, especially the 1 meter one
The magnetic charger for Apple Watch costs 39.99 euros on Amazon
Pro – High build quality – Good capacity – Flexible, also charges an iPhone – Economical
Cons – Bulky than a cable – Not perfect when you have a closed cuff
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