An array of BoostBloc 6600 portable chargers from Etón.Demand for electronic devices seems to be growing faster than the number of outlets available to charge them. Hoping to provide power to those in need, Etón has introduced a series of portable backup batteries called BoostBloc.
The BoostBloc batteries come in three options, each offering greater power than the last, with internal lithium ion batteries that provide an electrical charge measured in ampere-hours. For instance, Eton’s most powerful block, the BoostBloc 6600, provides 6,600 milliampere-hours, enough to fully charge a smartphone three times.
The charging blocks in the BoostBloc series range in price from $40 to $100 and come in three colors: red, black and white. Each one includes a micro USB cable, which is used to charge the block, and at least one USB port for power output (the BoostBloc 6600 has two USB ports to charge two devices at once).
With a simple, sleek design, the lightweight blocks do not have any buttons, not that they need any. A quick shake activates LED indicators on the bottom of the blocks that reveal how much charge remains.
I decided over the weekend to tackle the annual spring cleaning of my storage unit, a job I knew would take all afternoon. Music always makes the task go faster, so I brought a BoostBloc as a backup in case my cellphone died. I chose the BoostBloc 2000 because it fit easily in my pants pocket. When the phone drained to 11 percent of its power, I connected it to the BoostBloc 2000, which allowed me to continue playing my music for a couple of more hours while still charging the phone back up to 92 percent.
With few bells and whistles, the BoostBloc backup batteries get the job done efficiently, providing power and peace of mind in situations where outlets are lacking.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Etón also offers the BoostTurbine 2000, a power charger with a hand-turbine generator, which provides juice with a few turns of the wrist. And a solar-powered charger is available.
