Review: rE-charge Universal

review by Bill Palmer

Even those of us who’ve traded our iPod and cellphone in for an iPhone are still generally dealing with more than one USB-based mobile device in one form or another, if not within our own pockets then within our household. Hence the rising popularity of dual-device chargers, both at home and in the car. And while there have been various paths taken to accomplish this feat over the past year, Contour Design has taken a novel approach with its rE-charge Universal, a dual-USB charging brick that can be plugged into either a home electrical outlet or a car’s charging port, theoretically allowing you to avoid having to purchase two separate chargers.



This tube-shaped device does a nice job of not giving away its dual functionality, thanks both to the power plug on back that folds flush with its rear surface, and the snap-on piece that covers the car charging plug when not in use. My tests showed that it works as advertised: it comes with one iPhone/iPod cable, you supply the other, and you’re good to go.



Combo products always come with a flipside, and it’s usually that they cost more than the sum of their parts. But that’s not the case here, as shopping around will net you a dual-USB wall charger for about $15, a dual-USB car charger for about $10, and an iPhone/iPod cable for about $10, adding up to nearly as much as the rE-charge’s $39 price tag. So you’re not paying extra to have one device instead of two.



The drawback with this product, however, is more simple: who would want a single charger that has to be carried back and forth between your home and your car each day, as opposed to separate chargers that can each stay put? I can only think of road warriors who want to travel light and would rather lug around this one (pretty large) charger for use in the hotel and the rental car than take along a separate charger for each. And it plays that role well. But I can’t help but believe that the average user who simply wants a dual-USB charger in their home and in their car would be better served by buying two separate chargers.

Learn more about the rE-charge Universal at ContourDesign.com.