iPhone/iPod external batteries are relatively common so how does a company differentiate its product from the pack? How about you add ……… (in Dr. Evil Voice) …… a frickin laser. Yes good people, today’s review product is an iPhone/iPod battery with a built in laser pointer. You may not be able to zap your enemies into a fiery pile of ash but you will be able to point out that unsightly pimple. Mwahahahahaha.
The RichardSolo 1800 with Cable is a battery backup designed to work with most iPods models and all iPhones. It comes with the laser pointer and a bright LED flashlight built onto the battery pack.
Today we will look at this unique hybrid device.
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Info:
RichardSolo 1800 with Cable (RS1800)
Features Overview
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and all other iPod devices except shuffle (Note: You can now use the earphone jack while you are charging the iPod.) Works great with the iPhone 3G.
- Gives you more than double the battery time
- Small and lightweight for pocket, purse or briefcase
- High-quality plastic case is light and durable
- Ultra-bright LED white flashlight built-in, with on/off switch (flashlight lasts over 100 hours when battery is fully charged!)
- Red laser pointer built-in, with on/off switch
- Fits easily to any iPhone case
- Environmentally sensitive packaging
- Begins to charge your Apple device immediately
- Complete kit includes Mini-USB to Apple connector cable, USB retractable charging cable, USB dual-port car charger, and USA AC adapter [100-240V, 50-60Hz] wall charger (works with any international plug adapter — click here to see adapters)
- USB retractable cable connects Smart Backup Battery directly to computer’s USB port, car charger, or AC wall adapter for convenient charging
- Charge the Smart Backup Battery and iPhone / iPod together [the iPhone / iPod will charge first and then the backup battery — the next morning both are completely charged]
- Lithium-ion technology does not develop “memory” so you can charge often
- Smart, automatic on/off charging technology protects the battery from overcharging
- Advanced circuitry keeps battery cool to touch
- Blue, green, red LEDs indicate charging status
- One-year warranty from RichardSolo.com
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What’s in the Box?:
The RichardSolo 1800 with Cable arrives in a cardboard box with images of the device, contents and compatible Apple devices. Opening the package reveals the battery, instruction booklet, an 100-240V, 50-60Hz AC Wall charger, dual USB car charger, retractable USB cable and dock connector cable.
The battery pack comes in a light plastic case is primarily black with a silver bezel and is about 2/3rds the size of an iPhone. It houses a Lithium Ion battery. The battery measures 2″ x 7/16″ x 4 3/8″ [5.3 x 1.3 x 11.2 cm] and weighs 2.3 oz (67.6 gm).
On the front face of the device are two buttons on the bottom – one for the light and the other for the laser. In between these buttons are three LED charge indicator lights. The Richard|Solo 1800 logo is found on the top of this face and above it is a male mini-USB connector.
The bottom of the battery has a miniUSB female connector for charging the battery and two small areas for the LED and laser light to be emitted.
An on/off switch for the light/laser is found on the back of the battery pack.
Accessories included with the RS1800 with Cable includes a 20.5″ Mini-USB to Apple connector cable, an extended USB retractable charging cable measuring 29″, an AC Wall Charger and dual USB car charger. All of these are black as well matching the battery.
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Usage:
RichardSolo recommends calibrating the RS1800 the first time by charging it for 8+ hours from a wall outlet. After this it is recommended to recharge overnight after using it once more. Now the battery should be calibrated and can be charged as needed.
Using the RS1800 with an Apple device requires attaching the mini-USB to dock connector cable to the respective devices. Charging the RS1800 is done using the retractable USB cable and either a PC USB port or the AC or car charger.
When the RS1800 is charging from a wall outlet or USB power source the green LED will flash until it is fully charged then it will turn solid green. If an iPod or iPhone is attached to the RS1800 for charging then the blue LED on the battery will be on while until the Apple device is fully juiced up.
Simultaneously connecting the RS1800 and Apple device will cause the iPod/iPhone to charge first followed by the RS1800.
To fully charge a drained iPhone it takes more than 90 minutes using the RS1800. The RS1800 holds enough storage capacity for 1.5 charges on an iPhone.
Compared to the original Mophie Juice Pack the RS1800 holds a similar amount of charge since they both sport the same battery capacity of 1800 mAh.
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Conclusion:
The RS1800 work as advertised as it easily charged an iPod Touch and iPhone without any difficulites. The addition of the LED light is handy while the laser pointer is neat, I do not have much utility for it. The lack of a charge indicator is missed especially if you use the RS1800 for intermittent charging.
For those who are constantly on the go with their Apple iPod and iPhones then the RS1800 is a good investment. For the price and accessories that it comes packaged with the RS1800 is tough to beat.
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| PROS | CONS |
| +Built in laser pointer +Charges iPhone up to 1 1/2 times +Slim design +Includes plenty of useful accessories +Competitively priced |
- Lack of charge capacity indicator - Dongle style not ideal for mobile charging |
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