Galaxy S8 5,000mAh battery case for $32 – Is it worth it? [VIDEO]
It’s hard to deny that the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ is a fantastic smartphone and while there’s plenty to love about the device, battery life has become a point of contention on the smaller model. Because of its smaller battery size, the phone will often times need to be topped at some point in the day, that is if you don’t want your S8 dying on you before bed.
While this isn’t a huge problem per se (it’s pretty much on par with other 3,000mAh flagships), there are times when you know you’re going to be spending an extended amount of time away from the charger. Be it trip to a family outing, theme park, traveling, etc., limiting usage when you should be snapping photos, recording videos, or sharing them on social networks isn’t always fun. Even then, our phones are not only a source of entertainment but a lifeline in the event of an emergency. Nobody wants to worry about their phone dying on them prematurely.
A common fix for this problem is by using a portable battery charger to keep your S8 juiced up while on-the-go, but you’ll need to bring an extra Type C cable that’s constantly tethered to the battery bank. That’s a lot of extra stuff and if you’re limited on pocket space, can be a hassle in itself. There’s a better way.
A more streamlined solution is an actual battery case. These are thick cases with batteries inside them that attach to your phone like a normal case. Mophie has a nice option that also outfits your phone with wireless charging but at $100, it’s a little more than I was looking to spend.
However, I was able to find a much less expensive option on Amazon for only $32. Made by a brand called ICONIC, it’s somewhat of a generic model and not only is it a fraction of the price of the Mophie, it also provides a higher capacity 5,000mAh battery for the money (5,500mAh for the S8+ model). You really can’t beat that value.
Build quality of the battery case is a bit lacking and It doesn’t by any means feel expensive but it what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in utility. I did like how it’s covered in a soft touch finish for added grip, although it doesn’t provide much in terms of full frontal protection. The TPU/rubber frame is extremely thin and doesn’t provide much of a lip. In reality, this is more like a streamlined battery backpack than a heavy duty case and honestly, I’m okay with that.
The case features a built-in integrated circuit design to prevent any short circuiting or overcharging your phone and uses an “intelligent switch” to extend battery life on your phone. To activate, just long press the LED button on the back with an output of 1.8A. It’s definitely not fast charging, but it’s a safe speed that will still fully charge your device no matter what you’re doing (navigation, Pokemon GO, gaming) in a little under 2 hours.
The colors of the button will tell you how much juice is left inside the battery pack and provide enough juice to full charge the Galaxy S8 at least one time and then some (my tests gave me another 30% after a full charge).
- Red: 1-25%
- Blue: 25-50%
- Green: 50-75%
- White: 75-100%
Charging both your phone and the battery pack is also easy, just insert the charging cable/power adapter that came with your S8 into the bottom and it’ll provide power to both devices. Of course, you can also charge the battery case separately if you’re short on time and don’t want to split 1.8A between the two. The LED blinks while it’s charging, and will stay solid when it’s fully charged. It’s also worth noting that while inside the battery case, you can’t transfer data to/from your computer.
Overall, the ICONIC 5,000mAh battery case for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ is a tremendous value. With summer coming just around the corner, it could be the perfect way to keep your Galaxy S8 charged while you’re snapping photos, recording videos, or playing Pokemon GO for an extended period of time. I highly recommend it. Promo pricing is good until May 31st.
Galaxy S8 coupon code: PP64FE9W
Galaxy S8+ coupon code: HC7VJ26M