review: Mophie Juice Pack Air 4 Battery Case for iPhone 4

It’s nice when a product evolves from one generation to the next and improves in every facet in the process, and that’s the case with Mophie’s new Juice Pack Air 4 for iPhone 4. After starting with the Juice Pack battery cradle for the original iPhone, the product then evolved into a two-piece form fitting battery case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS known as the Juice Pack Air. The product was a revelation in that it wasn’t that much thicker than a regular hard plastic case, and yet came close to doubling an iPhone’s battery life.

With the iPhone 4 seeing a radical redesign, the JPA 4 has evolved accordingly. In fact the case is a stylistic extension of the iPhone 4 itself, complete with silver brushed metal sides, top, and bottom. The rear surface eschews the acrylic plastic of yore in favor of a rubbery-feeling material, which makes for a better grip and is less likely to get scratched. And there are functional improvements. The cutout for the silencer switch on the 3G model was too small, but that’s fixed here. The indicator lights have moved from the back to bottom, and while I’d still prefer that they be on the front, looking at the bottom of the device is easier than flipping it completely over. The screen is recessed just a fraction, to keep it from coming flush with anything.

I can’t emphasize enough how impressive looking the JPA 4 is, particularly in terms of how well it matches the iPhone 4 itself as well as how relatively little bulk it adds; in terms of thickness, this looks more like a regular case than a battery case. All that said, looks are only part of the equation when a battery product is involved. iPhone 4 battery cases are still coming to market, but while the 1500 mAh battery life of the JPA 4 is a nice leap over the previous JPA model, it’s still shaping up to be middle of the pack when it comes to iPhone 4 battery cases. We’ll see how that plays out.

In the mean time, no star ratings are being assigned to iPhone 4 battery cases until we’ve tested more of them – but the Juice Pack Air 4 is looking good on its own merits.

review by Bill Palmer

Mophie.com

About Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer is Editor in Chief of Beatweek Magazine. His editorial contributions include interviews with musicians and iPhone industry coverage.