NovoThink Surge Solar Battery Charger for iPhone Review

Apr 30 2010, 12:00am CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Today I am going to look at the NovoThink surge hybrid solar charger for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. This device is a case that offers some protection for your device and lets you harvest some of the free solar power for your battery. Read on for all of the details on the NovoThink Surge.

Gallery

4 images

Benchmarks

Features & Specifications
The NovoThink Surge solar panel can charge the iPhone enough to talk for 30 minutes on a 3G network with two hours of direct sunlight. The battery inside of the case is a 1320mAh battery with 105% more capacity than the iPhone battery alone. A four LED light system shows the charge left in the battery.

In Use
The NovoThink Surge is a half case design that reminds me a lot of the original Mophie Juicepack. The device is open on the top and has a cut out to allow the camera to be used normally. The button of the case has a mini USB port that can be connected to your computer to sync the iPhone and charge both the Surge internal battery and the iPhone battery at the same time.

The solar panel is cool. If you spend lots of time outside or in the car, that panel will let you top your battery off and can recharge your device enough from a dead battery in only a few hours of direct sunlight to allow you to talk for a while. NovoThink has a free app on the App Store that allows you to estimate the solar needs based on how often you use the iPhone.

My iPhone 3GS slipped easily into the NovoThink Surge and came out easily as well when I wanted to remove the case. The solar panel does get hot after being in direct sunlight for a while. The open top of the case and low cut sides means that the buttons and ports on the iPhone are exposed and easy to access. The case should also help protect your device from drops to some extent.

The four LEDs on the bottom glow green when you press the button to the right to show how much power is in the internal battery. When the NovoThink Surge is exposed to sunlight, the LED light to the far left glows showing when the solar panel is getting enough sunlight to generate power. The stronger the sunlight the brighter the light glows.

Verdict

Conclusion

Pros

Easy to use
Makes free power

Cons

Adds considerable bulk
Solar panel gets hot

Verdict
The NovoThink Surge is a nifty case that protects your device from damage from falls and adds a convenient solar charger that can power you up in a bind. The only bad thing about the NovoThink Surge is that it adds lots of bulk to the iPhone.

8.5

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

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Shane McGlaun
Leading our review center, Shane knows technology inside out. His extensive experience in testing computer hardware and consumer electronics enable him to effectively qualify new products and trends. If you want us review your product, please contact Shane.
Shane can be contacted directly at shane@i4u.com.