[REVIEW] ZeroLemon Pixel 3 4700mAh Battery Case - Google Pixel 3 Accessories

First, some context since I find that product reviews, especially mobile products generally miss the mark on framing the thoughts they're about to lay out for you.
I spend an unhealthy amount of time on my phone, not gaming, or YouTube so much but the actual phone. My job requires that I take calls that can last well over an hour, a few times a day. Additionally I travel for work, so this means I regularly start my day at 5:00 and end after 1:00. These days are especially brutal on power consumption. Emails, phone calls, podcasts, web -- I'll be down to 50% before my first flight takes off at 8AM.
A normal day in the office, I bump charge my Pixel 3 generally twice, when I travel, I'm always nervous that I won't have an outlet and/or a window of time to top up.
Naturally I travel with a few chargers and at least one battery pack (generally two). This has gotten me by, but it is undoubtedly a compromise.
The notion of a battery case that I can throw in my bag and slip on as a safety net when I'm heading out of the office, or my hotel for dinner/drinks is immensely appealing.
Enter the Zero Lemon Pixel 3 Battery Charging Case
The first thing you'll notice when you look at this case is the odd reflective matrix pattern on the back. Put bluntly, I hate it. I've spoken to their team and understand they may address it/offer an option -- and I hope they do. A flat, matte black would be such an improvement. I don't want to draw attention to my phone case. It is a utility, not a statement. Sure, this is personal preference but its a strong preference.
Moving on, the case is a single piece, made of flexible TPU material and it feels nice in the hand. Despite the obvious bulk it adds, it remains pocketable. It is thinner, lighter, and much less rigid than other battery cases I've used, all of which were two-piece.
The male USB-C port inside slips into the phone easily, and the flexible material pulls over the top of the phone without much force. Worth noting that the power and volume buttons remain clicky and easy to use.
All of that out of the way, lets talk about performance.
In short, it does exactly what I need it to do. A press of the button on the back lights up the charge indicator LEDs and starts to push power to the phone. The Pixel reports a rapid charge, though I find that to be inaccurate. With the phone down to 1% charging to 97% (which was the best I have gotten from the case) takes roughly 2.5 hours, assuming normal use continues over that period of time.
In other words, when you charge your phone you may plug it in and leave it -- the idea here is that I don't have to be without the phone while I wait for it to charge. I'm sure it would refill faster if I were to put the thing down... but that isn't the point.
The case allows power pass-through, so if you leave it on and connect a charger, it will charge both the case and phone. I will say that I woke up once with the case on, connected to a charger over night with the case battery full but my phone at 83% -- it remains unclear what happened there.
Sadly the case does not allow data transfer, but this is only a seldom and minor inconvenience.
Who should buy this? Anyone who finds themselves worried about finding the opportunity to charge your phone and would like a convenient way to refill without having to leave the phone tethered to the wall, or have a loose battery and cable hanging from, or awkwardly crammed into your pocket.
I suspect that women who carry a bag with them may have an easier time with portable battery packs and the cable required to use them but when pockets are all you have to work with, Zerolemon's solution is for you.
I will note that they supplied me with a unit to test, but at forty bucks or less, the peace of mind this thing offers is more than worth it.
In conclusion, this case will be an essential part of my travel bag... until they make one with a more professional design that is. ;]
I'll be taking it to Barcelona in a couple months for Mobile World Congress, a week that is absolute HELL on phone batteries. I plan to follow up afterward with how it impacts my experience there.
Grab it on Amazon here.

Related

largest battery for satnav motorbike use

hi all i have ordered one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390430333355?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
to use on my motorbike and i now want a huge or multiple batteries so that i can use copilot to navigate the uk with, i dont want to spend huge amounts but also dont want something that is crap and will damage my phone,
so please can someone advice me of big Mah batteries that will last longer than the standard and also be save to use without damaging my phone like some of the super cheep ebay ports will
thankyou
anyone could you advise me on a battery please
I think you might be better off with a power point to continuously charge it. They're just as cheap, even from the likes of Maplins, and easy to install.
I gave up depending on batteries on my bike years ago, if you have several they're fine for a day or two so long as you don't mind having to stop and change them out at random times, but if you're on an extended trip it can sometimes get tricky to find somewhere to recharge at night especially when out foreign or say camping.
FlamingGoat said:
I think you might be better off with a power point to continuously charge it. They're just as cheap, even from the likes of Maplins, and easy to install.
I gave up depending on batteries on my bike years ago, if you have several they're fine for a day or two so long as you don't mind having to stop and change them out at random times, but if you're on an extended trip it can sometimes get tricky to find somewhere to recharge at night especially when out foreign or say camping.
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the waterproof case i got only just fits the note so no room to plug a cable in, to bad as this would have been a great idea
I've got an Aquabox which is pretty much the same as yours and had the same problem, so I just drilled a hole in the thing
It's mounted to the bars and most of the rain is deflected by the screen anyway so not much actually gets to hit it, and it's survived since Christmas right on the Atlantic coast through lots of the wet stuff
you could also get something like this
Them Aquaboxes look alright ... might have to get one of them myself

Power Bank 2200mAh case

OK,one problem. I cant seem to keep this thing in charge mode for very long. Not sure if mine is defective, or they are all like this.
I just got the Power Bank 2200mAh battery pack/case off ebay. Here is a review of this case:
First impressions are that it is too slippery. I was hoping it was a little more grippy, but it's not.
I like the way the top slides up to allow the phone to be placed in then slid down, ensuring there is no pressure put on the phone port.
Fit and finish are pretty good in my opinion. Phone looks nice in it.
Protection is good on the bottom and sides/corners but almost no protection from falling on the face.
I don't think it is too bulky, since I think the phone is too small anyways!
I put the cover on in the morning and left it on all day at work. Battery temp runs around 85 degrees normally. the highest I saw was 111 degrees. I just dug this widget up that displays battery temp, so I have not measured actual temps of the battery before (without the case) but I can say it gets really hot. I really think that it runs the same temp with or without the case.
I ran the battery down to 10% and turned on the battery. First thing I noticed was that the case would begin charging, but shut off often. I dont know if there was a particular reason for it shutting off like a notification or something, but it is frustrating. Despite that I was able to charge the battery only up to 40% from the case. Part of the problem is that it has a button instead of a switch to actuate the case.
So far I like it for its intended purpose which is extending the operational capability of the phone at work. Is it perfect: no.
I can honestly say that ive been looking forward to your review all day haha! So bottom lie do you feel as if it was worth the purchase? I mean personally my phone last through out the entire day but I guess something that would give it a little boost time to time would be nice.
I think it will fit my needs fine, which are a little extra power without having to plug it in. Honestly I haven't figured out if I am going to keep it on, or just have it at the ready for when I need it.
I keep the phone in my breast pocket at work, so I like to have minimal weight and size for that reason, but I can slip this on when my battery is low. Or if I am not at work, I can just leave it on the whole time and switch over when needed.
So basically I think it was a good purchase, as long as I can figure out why it wont stay charging the battery. Dont understand that. It still has plenty of power, so I dont know why it is kicking off. Part of the problem is that it is button operated and the button might be getting pressed and shutting it off. I think a switch would be better.
Maybe you should keep searching for one with a switch instead of this mechanism.
OH, and the piece that is supposed to be a leg is basically useless...
Added so info to the first post. Basically I cant keep this thing in charge mode for long. Dont know whats going on.
Ill be using mine only when needed for sure but it does the jobb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

[NEWLY RELEASED] Anker 2nd Gen Astro E4 13000mAh External Battery

I will be receiving a test unit of the new Anker 2nd Gen Astro E4 13000mAh External Battery. I will post my review here when I receive it and thoroughly test it. Check it out yourself here: Unfortunately, I cannot post the link to this product on Amazon because posting commercial links is forbidden, but you can find it on Amazon by searching for the product's name that is in the title of this thread. Thanks!
As soon as you pull it out of the box, you know you've gotten a high quality Anker product.
This battery is great! It has a glossy finish which is a fingerprint-magnet, but the mesh bag it comes with helps you counter those undesired fingerprints and scratches. To me, it doesn't feel that heavy in my cargo shorts' pocket. I think it would be great to just keep it in your backpack.
Using the E4 is like tying your shoe: easy! You just plug in your device and it automatically starts charging. Holding the button on the side for a few seconds allows you to turn on the flashlight, which can be pretty handy if your power has gone out or if you're in the woods. Holding it again for a few seconds will turn the LED light off. Sometimes, I'll just plug in my phone and hold the battery behind my phone, or I'll leave it in my backpack. You can also easily hold the battery in one hand and the device in the other hand. You get looks from people asking "what is that" or "why is it so big?" When you let them know what it is and how many times it'll charge their phone, they realize how great it really is. It isn't too hard to handle either, which is what some people might think since it is big.
This would be great for those that go camping, are huge gamers, students (like myself), and just about anybody that has a smartphone. It really is a must-have piece of technology. People don't understand that they don't have to be tied down by power outlets; they can just carry this around and be worry-free about whatever they do on their phone or about how much battery they have left.
Comparing this to other batteries, I think the reason this one is better than the others is because of the Power IQ Technology. In simple terms, this means that whatever device you plug in, you'll know that it'll be charging at the fastest and most efficient way that device can be charged. That way, you don't have to worry if it'll charge your phone really slow or not fast enough.
You have to have this device if you own a smartphone, tablet, or any other 21st century device that requires charging sooner or later. For the price and build quality, you know you're getting a steal!
I was provided a unit for testing purposes and I promised to provide a completely honest and fair review.

My HTC As A GPS

I will be traveling from California to New York starting this Saturday. I bought a universal dash mount so I can use my M8 for GPS. What I was wondering, how can I protect my phone from the sun or heat damage? Will having it in a case help it at all? Or will I be ok like it is?
Regards
As far as heat, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as the interior of your car is a decently comfortable temperature (running vents or AC, or windows open), your phone should not overheat. I'm just guessing that you don't like to make yourself excessively hot while driving? Anything remotely around room temp will probably be fine. And if you happen to have a phone mount that puts your phone near any AC vents, you will get some extra cooling that way.
I wouldn't recommend leaving the device in a hot car; and you probably wouldn't for security reasons anyway.
In terms of sunlight: in a broad sense, sunlight will breakdown most things over time. Although your car windows block out most UV (windshields more so than side and rear windows, from what I'm reading), which is probably the most harmful factor. Not sure what route you are taking and how long the trip will last. But I'm guessing a few weeks at most. And that degree of sunlight through car windows will probably not have a huge effect, I'm guessing. Plus, the exterior of the phone is mostly aluminum and glass, which aren't terribly UV reactive. The plastic antenna trips are probably the most vulnerable. A case (especially an opaque one) would certainly reduce any damage from sunlight. But may also make the phone a bit warmer (hold heat in).
Another thought, is that using the phone for navigation is very battery intensive. Not sure what app you intend to use. But at least when I use Google Maps (which uses both the GPS function and network data) most car chargers can barely keep up with battery drain. Meaning I hardly get any charging when using navigation. I'd suggest getting a QuickCharge 2.0 car charger (if you don't have one already) as it will charge your phone even when running navigation. Well worth the $15-20 for a QC2.0 charger, to be able to charge your phone quickly since you'll be spending a lot of time in your car; let alone using navigation intensively.
redpoint73 said:
As far as heat, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as the interior of your car is a decently comfortable temperature (running vents or AC, or windows open), your phone should not overheat. I'm just guessing that you don't like to make yourself excessively hot while driving? Anything remotely around room temp will probably be fine. And if you happen to have a phone mount that puts your phone near any AC vents, you will get some extra cooling that way.
I wouldn't recommend leaving the device in a hot car; and you probably wouldn't for security reasons anyway.
In terms of sunlight: in a broad sense, sunlight will breakdown most things over time. Although your car windows block out most UV (windshields more so than side and rear windows, from what I'm reading), which is probably the most harmful factor. Not sure what route you are taking and how long the trip will last. But I'm guessing a few weeks at most. And that degree of sunlight through car windows will probably not have a huge effect, I'm guessing. Plus, the exterior of the phone is mostly aluminum and glass, which aren't terribly UV reactive. The plastic antenna trips are probably the most vulnerable. A case (especially an opaque one) would certainly reduce any damage from sunlight. But may also make the phone a bit warmer (hold heat in).
Another thought, is that using the phone for navigation is very battery intensive. Not sure what app you intend to use. But at least when I use Google Maps (which uses both the GPS function and network data) most car chargers can barely keep up with battery drain. Meaning I hardly get any charging when using navigation. I'd suggest getting a QuickCharge 2.0 car charger (if you don't have one already) as it will charge your phone even when running navigation. Well worth the $15-20 for a QC2.0 charger, to be able to charge your phone quickly since you'll be spending a lot of time in your car; let alone using navigation intensively.
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Thanks for all the info, will help for sure. I'll take a pic to show where my phone will be mounted. It gets hit with direct sunlight, and the A/C vents are below the phone that was my concern. I didn't think about the quick charger, I'll pick one of those up for sure. Here is the pic I was talking about. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/DemonExecutor1/20150527_072736_zpsvlbkm8wz.jpg
Hondo209 said:
I'll take a pic to show where my phone will be mounted. It gets hit with direct sunlight, and the A/C vents are below the phone that was my concern.
Here is the pic I was talking about.
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Sunlight, but through the windshield, which filters both UVA and UVB (probably even says this on the glass). Yes, you will also get a bit of light through the side windows; which are usually just UVA protected (not UVB), and the phone may even get some direct sunlight from the side windows rolled down. But I'd say this isn't any worse than most folks setup. True, its a little more direct light than my setup, since you have it on top of the dashboard, where mine is in front of it. But mine is still in sunlight much of the time.
Also, it seems you can point one of the vents up toward the phone, and get some extra cooling that way. It won't be directly blasting the phone, but should still send some cool air in the direction of the phone. Not really a "requirement" but not a bad idea, either.
redpoint73 said:
Sunlight, but through the windshield, which filters both UVA and UVB (probably even says this on the glass). Yes, you will also get a bit of light through the side windows; which are usually just UVA protected (not UVB), and the phone may even get some direct sunlight from the side windows rolled down. But I'd say this isn't any worse than most folks setup. True, its a little more direct light than my setup, since you have it on top of the dashboard, where mine is in front of it. But mine is still in sunlight much of the time.
Also, it seems you can point one of the vents up toward the phone, and get some extra cooling that way. It won't be directly blasting the phone, but should still send some cool air in the direction of the phone. Not really a "requirement" but not a bad idea, either.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply I'll try to point the vent towards the phone.

Looking for large Battery/Battery-Case for OP7P

I am looking to swap from an LG V20 (H910) to the OnePlus 7 Pro... The main thing holding me back is a good extended battery for the new phone... With the LG V20, it apparently was one of the last phones that offered a removable battery, and this let it exchange the original 3,200 mAh for a 10,800 mAh battery, and just put on a replacement rear cover... While I know that this will not work on the OnePlus, they do have similar cases available for the iPhones that plug into the normal port and charge them through that port from an extended battery life battery-case...
My searches have so far come up negative, and this is the main issue preventing me getting the phone... I have very large hands, so I actually prefer the phone to be physically large anyway, makes me feel less like I am going to break it...
You help is appreciated
Surely Zerolemon will make one before long, but no word yet. They did one for the last few OnePlus phones, so it would reason the 7 Pro is on the list. Might try a DASH ready power bank, or wait for a WARP ready one to come out but having it built into a case is optimal for some.
I am genuinely interested in the use scenarios for these in modern phones. Do you travel a lot, need multi day use, play a lot of games, use it as a primary work device or actually talk on your phone a lot? I use my phone an embarrassing amount every day, probably more than I should but would not need something like this. Intrigued by demographic of accessories like this.
I have personally used them in the past but when phones were different.
I, too, am hoping zero lemon releases a battery case for the oneplus 7 pro. It's mainly for my prolonged usage of playing pokemon go.
thetonyclifton said:
I am genuinely interested in the use scenarios for these in modern phones. Do you travel a lot, need multi day use, play a lot of games, use it as a primary work device or actually talk on your phone a lot? I use my phone an embarrassing amount every day, probably more than I should but would not need something like this. Intrigued by demographic of accessories like this.
I have personally used them in the past but when phones were different.
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Click to collapse
@thetonyclifton I'll give you a good one.
I road ride, quite a bit (for a 50-something guy), I used to race, not that many years ago, so I still ride as far as my darn foot/nerve issue will let me, which can be 75+ (mi), on some weekends.
Here in the PNW, it's very easy to get into areas, even on a road bike where my service (ATT) "wanes" or just is completely gone (this is particularly bad when I go on a long MTB, which is less often).
Same for hiking around here, although I mostly just turn my cell off when I'm hiking, or leave it at home, just depends.
Anyway, if I'm out all day, say 6-8+ hours, on a ride/lunch-stop/ride, along those lines, and going in/out of coverage, it REALLY eats up my battery, FAST. I like to be able to rely on it, to check the weather six times, when it starts to look "threatening" later on, send a few texts, whatever, without wondering if I'm going to run out of juice, towards the end, that kind of stuff. This case would "fit the need", pretty much perfectly", as "one unit", rather than carrying a separate extra battery cable, etc (jersey pockets will only hold so much ;-]).
All that said though, I like using Qi receivers, having come from a LONG line of WinPhones that had the built-in, WAY back, so all my Android phones (Nexus 6, OP5T, OP6, now OP7Pro, the rest "trickled down into our family") have had a Qi receiver on them, behind a basic TPU case.
Occasionally, I carry slim-ish battery pack, with a Qi charging coil built into it, but that's also a bit much for a jersey-pocket.
If I had this type of pack, I'd install it, before long rides/hikes/etc, and and it'd solve my issue, of low-coverage being so darn tough on ANY phone battery, in one, nice, modular package. Not saying I'd buy one of these, 100%, but I'd definitely be a good candidate.
I do hear what you're saying, the "use case" for these having changed a LOT, say from 10 years back, there's no question about the overall advancement making these somewhat less "necessary".
On the other hand, I do like only having to charge my sports-activity watch every 3 days or so, that kind of "appliance-like" dependability is pretty cool; perhaps not necessary in a phone these days, but still pretty cool! I don't think anyone would "turn away" a 2-3 day phone, (say with 4-6hrs screen-on-time/day), if battery-tech evolved, in some rapid way, anytime soon
If this case had an Qi-coil built into it, then I bet it WOULD REALLY SELL, given the lack of Qi coil on the OP7-series, if anyone from ZeroLemon is listening...
So yeah, there's my diatribe, and perhaps some light on an "interesting subject", I suppose...
pgrey2 said:
@thetonyclifton I'll give you a good one.
I road ride, quite a bit (for a 50-something guy), I used to race, not that many years ago, so I still ride as far as my darn foot/nerve issue will let me, which can be 75+ (mi), on some weekends.
Here in the PNW, it's very easy to get into areas, even on a road bike where my service (ATT) "wanes" or just is completely gone (this is particularly bad when I go on a long MTB, which is less often).
Same for hiking around here, although I mostly just turn my cell off when I'm hiking, or leave it at home, just depends.
Anyway, if I'm out all day, say 6-8+ hours, on a ride/lunch-stop/ride, along those lines, and going in/out of coverage, it REALLY eats up my battery, FAST. I like to be able to rely on it, to check the weather six times, when it starts to look "threatening" later on, send a few texts, whatever, without wondering if I'm going to run out of juice, towards the end, that kind of stuff. This case would "fit the need", pretty much perfectly", as "one unit", rather than carrying a separate extra battery cable, etc (jersey pockets will only hold so much ;-]).
All that said though, I like using Qi receivers, having come from a LONG line of WinPhones that had the built-in, WAY back, so all my Android phones (Nexus 6, OP5T, OP6, now OP7Pro, the rest "trickled down into our family") have had a Qi receiver on them, behind a basic TPU case.
Occasionally, I carry slim-ish battery pack, with a Qi charging coil built into it, but that's also a bit much for a jersey-pocket.
If I had this type of pack, I'd install it, before long rides/hikes/etc, and and it'd solve my issue, of low-coverage being so darn tough on ANY phone battery, in one, nice, modular package. Not saying I'd buy one of these, 100%, but I'd definitely be a good candidate.
I do hear what you're saying, the "use case" for these having changed a LOT, say from 10 years back, there's no question about the overall advancement making these somewhat less "necessary".
On the other hand, I do like only having to charge my sports-activity watch every 3 days or so, that kind of "appliance-like" dependability is pretty cool; perhaps not necessary in a phone these days, but still pretty cool! I don't think anyone would "turn away" a 2-3 day phone, (say with 4-6hrs screen-on-time/day), if battery-tech evolved, in some rapid way, anytime soon
If this case had an Qi-coil built into it, then I bet it WOULD REALLY SELL, given the lack of Qi coil on the OP7-series, if anyone from ZeroLemon is listening...
So yeah, there's my diatribe, and perhaps some light on an "interesting subject", I suppose...
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Thanks. Yes that is interesting. I can see a use for people regularly away from a charger with very heavy use. People who work in the field etc too I guess. Though I think a good power bank would be better in quite a few of those cases too.
Enjoy the bike, great hobby.
thetonyclifton said:
Thanks. Yes that is interesting. I can see a use for people regularly away from a charger with very heavy use. People who work in the field etc too I guess. Though I think a good power bank would be better in quite a few of those cases too.
Enjoy the bike, great hobby.
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@thetonyclifton Yep, no question, I could "work around" the issue, with a small/slim power bank type of deal, but the added-battery case, particularly IF it added Qi charging, would be an awesome option to have.
Thanks for the cycling comment, I enjoy it, immensely, riding-fast/skiing-fast (I used to race here, too) are sort of my Zen-moments ;-]
I've also traveled by bike (i.e. loaded touring bike), pretty extensively, which is another (albeit adjunct) use-case for topic at-hand.
Hobbies are a good thing, it's hard to have too many (although my wife might disagree ;-0)...
pgrey2 said:
@thetonyclifton Yep, no question, I could "work around" the issue, with a small/slim power bank type of deal, but the added-battery case, particularly IF it added Qi charging, would be an awesome option to have.
Thanks for the cycling comment, I enjoy it, immensely, riding-fast/skiing-fast (I used to race here, too) are sort of my Zen-moments ;-]
I've also traveled by bike (i.e. loaded touring bike), pretty extensively, which is another (albeit adjunct) use-case for topic at-hand.
Hobbies are a good thing, it's hard to have too many (although my wife might disagree ;-0)...
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A good Garmin or similar specific accessory for the bike might cut down on your need for phone use while out there...and be another thing to annoy your wife ?
thetonyclifton said:
A good Garmin or similar specific accessory for the bike might cut down on your need for phone use while out there...and be another thing to annoy your wife
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Yeah, I've considered it, I have an old "Oregon XXX" unit I use, with good base-maps, for loaded touring, but I mostly just pull it out when I'm confused about something on a map, or similar, or I'm looking for someplace to buy groceries ;-]
If the Garmin or another bike GPS ever gets to a "decent enough battery life" (hmm, interesting that this is a cell-battery thread...), say a couple weeks worth, like 30-40 hours of riding, I'd be a lot more interested.
I like the fact that my "good old altimeter bike computer" runs for a solid 12-18 months, on a single coin-cell (wish it were a rechargeable, but that's tough with coin-cells), and just "counts my miles and climbing, basic stats", without fail.
I get a hard-time, in my fast riding group, for being a s/w-h/w engineering guy, but eschewing a "real GPS cycling computer", when darn near everyone else has their fancy Garmin's, or whatever ;-]
I do use an old Suunto Ambit 3 watch, for tracking my weekly riding, but it runs a good 30-40 hours, in "high GPS mode", and 100-120, in "low GPS mode", which is handy for touring, I can easily go a week without having to charge it.
For touring though, it'd have to be a step-up, still (from current GPS units-battery), maybe an ultra-low-GPS-screen-off-mostly "mode", or something like that, so it'd go for at least 5-7 days, without a charge. I'm often camped, and carrying an extra battery for my phone is enough, already, I don't want to carrying more, or even having to charge the GPS every or every-other day, that'd just be annoying, I'm a little more "back to basics" when I'm touring ;-]
I have a decent "general sense of direction", in most cases, and a pretty solid "visual route memory", so unless I'm exploring someplace new, I don't use maps when out riding, much anyway (solo exploring new streets/routes, perhaps), probably comes from years of backpacking and climbing, often off-route stuff, you sort of get a "feel" for how to dead-reckon stuff, or how to pick out a few landmarks, and keep yourself going the "general right way", I guess...
Or I'm a complete weirdo, which is possible, although my daughter seems to have the same sense, when we're bike touring (my wife could get lost in a subdivision though, and would admit to that;-]), she and I are the ones pouring over the map, and pointing at stuff, it's kinda' comical ;-]
pgrey2 said:
Yeah, I've considered it, I have an old "Oregon XXX" unit I use, with good base-maps, for loaded touring, but I mostly just pull it out when I'm confused about something on a map, or similar, or I'm looking for someplace to buy groceries ;-]
If the Garmin or another bike GPS ever gets to a "decent enough battery life" (hmm, interesting that this is a cell-battery thread...), say a couple weeks worth, like 30-40 hours of riding, I'd be a lot more interested.
I like the fact that my "good old altimeter bike computer" runs for a solid 12-18 months, on a single coin-cell (wish it were a rechargeable, but that's tough with coin-cells), and just "counts my miles and climbing, basic stats", without fail.
I get a hard-time, in my fast riding group, for being a s/w-h/w engineering guy, but eschewing a "real GPS cycling computer", when darn near everyone else has their fancy Garmin's, or whatever ;-]
I do use an old Suunto Ambit 3 watch, for tracking my weekly riding, but it runs a good 30-40 hours, in "high GPS mode", and 100-120, in "low GPS mode", which is handy for touring, I can easily go a week without having to charge it.
For touring though, it'd have to be a step-up, still (from current GPS units-battery), maybe an ultra-low-GPS-screen-off-mostly "mode", or something like that, so it'd go for at least 5-7 days, without a charge. I'm often camped, and carrying an extra battery for my phone is enough, already, I don't want to carrying more, or even having to charge the GPS every or every-other day, that'd just be annoying, I'm a little more "back to basics" when I'm touring ;-]
I have a decent "general sense of direction", in most cases, and a pretty solid "visual route memory", so unless I'm exploring someplace new, I don't use maps when out riding, much anyway (solo exploring new streets/routes, perhaps), probably comes from years of backpacking and climbing, often off-route stuff, you sort of get a "feel" for how to dead-reckon stuff, or how to pick out a few landmarks, and keep yourself going the "general right way", I guess...
Or I'm a complete weirdo, which is possible, although my daughter seems to have the same sense, when we're bike touring (my wife could get lost in a subdivision though, and would admit to that;-]), she and I are the ones pouring over the map, and pointing at stuff, it's kinda' comical ;-]
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Don't think you are a weirdo but think you are destined to be in the niche of a niche for these products ?
You have very unique use scenarios. Basically you need the stuff they give the military ? or for people who live off grid.
thetonyclifton said:
I am genuinely interested in the use scenarios for these in modern phones. Do you travel a lot, need multi day use, play a lot of games, use it as a primary work device or actually talk on your phone a lot? I use my phone an embarrassing amount every day, probably more than I should but would not need something like this. Intrigued by demographic of accessories like this.
I have personally used them in the past but when phones were different.
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I currently have an LG V20, which at this point looks like it is going to be the last phone to ever have a removable battery, and switched it to have an 10,800 mAh battery instead (I even ebay'ed a replacement back cover, and man hacked it to have a hole for the new battery, this let the NFC continue working)
I have found that at first I can get about 2 days of normal use out of them when new, but after just a few months, I am getting down to just 20% or so at the end of the day... I prefer to just plug when I go to sleep rather than constantly topping off during the day... I think the original phone would only get me through about 1/3 of my day after just a few months, so I think phones should ship with 10,000 mAh batteries from the factory... I think that Energizer phone has the right idea, just a terrible implementation
Also as I mentioned, I have giant hands, and prefer to have a phone that doesn't feel like it could give me a papercut if I hold it too tight... I like my brick phone
Looks like Zero Lemon has no ETA for producing a case for the 7 Pro, lets hope that changes soon.
https://twitter.com/zero_lemon/status/1137919555760640000
thetonyclifton said:
A good Garmin or similar specific accessory for the bike might cut down on your need for phone use while out there...and be another thing to annoy your wife
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graycatgrayhat said:
Looks like Zero Lemon has no ETA for producing a case for the 7 Pro, lets hope that changes soon.
https://twitter.com/zero_lemon/status/1137919555760640000
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@graycatgrayhat Send them a "customer contact message", I did. The more they get, the more likely it is they'll produce one, particularly if they're "teetering" on their decision to make one for the OP7 Pro. Worst, case, you spent 60 seconds filling out a short-form...
Oh yeah, and ask for it to have a Qi coil, in the ZeroLemon pack, I REALLY think that would make this thing sell like hotcakes, given that it adds a LOT more than just a bigger battery runtime (wireless charging, while still having access to the USB port, something that is not really do-able with the current phone, my USB plugged with my cheesy, low-current-but-effective Qi coil, already, and I'd love to have it back...).
---------- Post added at 06:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------
thetonyclifton said:
Don't think you are a weirdo but think you are destined to be in the niche of a niche for these products
You have very unique use scenarios. Basically you need the stuff they give the military or for people who live off grid.
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Yeah, most of my friends would agree with you, I've been a niche cyclist/explorer, most of my life. My Dad is a geologist, and we spent many times in "odd spots" in various places in Alaska, checking out old mines, surveying new sites, driving HUGE heavy equipment (I drove a D9 Cat when I was 10, across a big river too, and could drive a loader and operate it, by the same age, along with other stuff, backhoes, forklifts and such, I'm definitely "odd").
I would say though, even though my use-cases might be viewed as sort of "fringe", I bet a LOT of people would like to get 2-3+ days, from any of the aforementioned devices, right?
I will say, too, that when I started bike-touring, in the early 90's, I had a little solar-grid, that would recharge AA or AAA batteries, very effectively. It was "ahead of its' time, fully-sealed and all, I still have it somewhere, although I haven't used it for a few years now. It kept my headlamp and the few other batteries I had, back then, charged along my first 5.5 week tour, just bumping along on the back of a pannier...
I sure wish they used AAA and AA (rechargeable) batteries for more devices, these days, you can get REALLY energy-dense models, that last for a LONG time, charges-wise, and then you can simply replace them, eh? Plus, you'd have less problems with a "cheap cell replacement battery from who-knows-where, hoping that it wasn't going to catch fire, the first few times you charge it).
I get that a AAA has a pretty big diameter, for most modern mobiles, but I think it would be close, really close, say in my OnePlus 7 phone, in terms of being able to "just slide in" a set, on one end or something, and still have room for a full rubber seal around the compartment...
pgrey2 said:
I get that a AAA has a pretty big diameter, for most modern mobiles, but I think it would be close, really close, say in my OnePlus 7 phone, in terms of being able to "just slide in" a set, on one end or something, and still have room for a full rubber seal around the compartment...
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Your uses are interesting, bit unusual, not odd just niche which make product development unlikely.
The disposal batteries in a phone are never going to happen. It's not the size of the battery it's the totally empty space needed to fit them in. Phone companies, not even 3rd party accessory manufacturers are also not going to trust degradable batteries with so much room for user error, poor contact connections and poor user practice to hook up to phones with heat and high voltage chargers.
thetonyclifton said:
Your uses are interesting, bit unusual, not odd just niche which make product development unlikely.
The disposal batteries in a phone are never going to happen. It's not the size of the battery it's the totally empty space needed to fit them in. Phone companies, not even 3rd party accessory manufacturers are also not going to trust degradable batteries with so much room for user error, poor contact connections and poor user practice to hook up to phones with heat and high voltage chargers.
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Yeah, maybe. There are phones with >5000 mAh batteries now, although most of those aren't very optimized, to really take advantage of the extra longevity, the ones I've seen anyway.
I still think that people would be "elated", to be able to use their mobiles, full-tilt, for 2-3 days, and still have "enough juice left" to not stress...
I don't mean "disposable batteries", for the AAA, and AA, suggestions, I mean "rechargeable" ones.
It's pretty easy to buy high-quality, 3000+ mAH AA's, and similar AAA's, upwards of 1200 mAH now.
On the other hand, if I order a "random replacement LiIon cell", for my mobile, it's VERY hard to find one, aftermarket, that's of "known good quality", all the battery "re-packagers" have learned to put OEM-looking stamps on them, and even things like the "UL logo"...
Even IF you do manage to find a decent replacement, it's generally a HUGE pain to replace it, involving a lot of very precise cutting (glue around edges), sketchy prying, tugging, pulling, and swearing, trying to get a phone apart "enough", to slot the new battery in...
LiIon is a MUCH more dangerous tech to "get wrong" too, in terms of the line/signal that reports the temperature and charging-state, back to the input line, than NiMH.
Even so, there are also high-quality rechargeable AAA LiIon's out there, too, with even (obviously) higher energy-density, than their NiMH precursors, if you will.
I get that the era of "replaceable LiIon brick-batteries" has probably come/gone, but I think that a "standardized" battery, perhaps the newer AAAA (in NiMH or LiIon), with high-quality cells, at only 8.3mm diameter is "the candidate".
Or, maybe I'm just looking for "a solution without a problem", but I doubt it.
How many people pay some "random cell repair store" say $40-80, plus the cost of an "unknown LiIon brick battery", on a regular basis. I bet almost ALL of those people would be elated, if they could just undo a few screws, buy some decent (Panasonic, Sanyo, etc.) AAA or AAAA cells, pop-them-in, and go back to "full capacity", after 1.5 years of a mobile devices' life, for only say $10-15?
That "seems" like a pretty good, real-world scenario (well beyond my "niche" stuff), IMHO...
Good banter, BTW!
It's always "refreshing" to come over to XDA, from things like the ATT and OnePlus forums. There are some sharp people, who know the industry, on those boards, too, but "less so", on average ;-]
If I were writing much code anymore, I'd probably spend a lot more time on XDA, but I've moved over to the "evil Tech-PM" type of roles, although I am "that PM" who often jumps in and starts debugging stuff, or signs off on a code-review for check-in, which is sometimes appreciated, and sometimes just annoys people, it depends on the team(s) I'm working with...
What I"m really aiming for, is to find a tech-PM role that's mostly remote; I have a bad nerve injury, that prevents me from sitting or standing for any length of continuous time (although I can still put in a 2-3 hour ride, it's a "nerve neutral" position, for me, for about that length of time), so it's a "weird deal" to be a PM who's always "pacing around" meetings, even if I'm not presenting (presenting can make it easier, to stand-up/sit-down). I'm perfectly eligible for disability, although I just don't ever see that happening, I'm way too driven ;-]
I could probably be a moderator, in many places, but I like to "bring teams together" on tech-issues, even down to the individual-interface level (API, whatever), I find that much more satisfying, professionally, than doing "policing" ;-]
@pgrey2
I think the answer is actually in your narrative. Exactly because people will make ropey versions of replaceable batteries and in so doing make them more dangerous. Because the phone manufacturers lose the control over their phones exploding when that is someone else fault. And because replacing batteries even with great, safe after market versions will prolong the life of a device which they want you to replace every couple of years. It won't happen. People will love to have 2-3 day battery life and it might happen but so far the new features of a phone have been draining batteries at the same rate as their capacity, size and cost improvements have been made.
Good luck with the job. Sounds like you know what you want and what will work for you. I assume you live in the US. I don't. We have a welfare state and laws which (relatively speaking) protect people with disabilities a bit better. You should be able to work the amount you can and be helped to do so for as long as possible.
I bought the OnePlus 7 pro then realized there was no battery case. The current battery won't last. I hope zero ? will make one but not too bulky. This phone is great but the down size is it's battery size.
Newdery perhaps???????
Newdery. A brand I no almost nothing about. While searching for Oneplus 7 Pro battery case this brand popped up on amazon. I'd really love to give you the link but as a new person I cannot. Search Newdery Oneplus 7 Pro. Or just Oneplus 7 Pro battery case. You'll run into a few, but no lemon.
I came across the Newdery brand one over the weekend on ebay really cheap in new condition. Still haven't received it yet. Well I'll try and report back. If anyone still cares that is.....
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oneplus.seven.pro said:
Newdery. A brand I no almost nothing about. While searching for Oneplus 7 Pro battery case this brand popped up on amazon. I'd really love to give you the link but as a new person I cannot. Search Newdery Oneplus 7 Pro. Or just Oneplus 7 Pro battery case. You'll run into a few, but no lemon.
I came across the Newdery brand one over the weekend on ebay really cheap in new condition. Still haven't received it yet. Well I'll try and report back. If anyone still cares that is.....
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There actually is a shimmer of hope. That hope comes in the form of the Oneplus 7T Pro. That and the 7 Pro have the exact same body style and fit like a glove. Maybe all this added attention might bring about a style battery case that will fit them both.
One thing to note is the (IR) laser autofocus rangefinder on the 7T is on the left of the lenses, on the rear of the phone. So you won't have any problem getting a 7T case fitting the 7 Pro. But if you have a 7T you can't use a 7 Pro case properly. Unless your willing to cut a whole I suppose.

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