Convenient, extra power for my phone?

November 6, 2007 8:44 PM

Do those "battery powered emergency phone chargers" work?

I was actually looking for an extended life battery for my cell phone and came across the emergency chargers, the kind that run on AA batteries. Do you have any experience with them? They are pretty inexpensive and I'm thinking it would be a handy little thing to have in my bag...if they work. Thanks!

posted by illek to Technology (10 answers total)

They do work - for my old cellphone, I had a charger that worked perfectly and helped me out multiple times.
posted by suedehead at 8:47 PM on November 6, 2007

I've got one of these for my cell phone but haven't had a chance to use it. Here's a positive review.
posted by plokent at 9:30 PM on November 6, 2007

Yes.
posted by special-k at 9:32 PM on November 6, 2007

Yes, they do work. However, I wouldn't recommend unplugging it before it has fully discharged. It doesn't pick up where it left off.
posted by perpetualstroll at 11:19 PM on November 6, 2007

I'd definitely carry one around - my phone died on a trip when I didn't have my wall charger, and about 10 minutes before I got on my plane home, I bought a battery-powered charger in one of the gift shops "just in case." When I got to my home airport's parking lot, I found that my car had two flat tires. At midnight.

Needless to say, I always have a portable charger with me now.
posted by sarahsynonymous at 12:07 AM on November 7, 2007

YES yES.. it saved me from countless situations.... both personal and in business...

I always carry one in my bag, my car, and at the office...
These things are cheap enough.. BUT it could save you bundle even with one emergency situation....
posted by curiousleo at 1:13 AM on November 7, 2007

I have the Energizer one, and it works like a charm - both on my Razr and on my dad's older style phone.
posted by KAS at 10:48 AM on November 7, 2007

I had a fancier Sharper Image Turbo Charge which would deplete the battery in storage, so when you needed to use it, the battery would be dead. This happened with three separate products. I definitely wouldn't recommend one of those, unless you like the hassle of carrying charger and batteries separately. Based on everyone else's responses, I think I'll get one of the cheaper, more available drugstore ones mentioned above.
posted by meowzilla at 12:02 PM on November 7, 2007

I, too, have the Energizer one, and it has worked fine for me the time or two I've needed it. The battery door is sorta cheap, but it's functional.
posted by wheat at 1:53 PM on November 7, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks everybody!!!! I'll be buying one tomorrow!
posted by illek at 6:38 PM on November 7, 2007