Proporta’s mobile device charger started the ‘charge-on-the-go craze’ a few years ago. ppc techs now tries to enter this lucrative market with the Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack - can it break the proporta dominance?
My MDC arrived via FedEx in a large envelope. I didn’t have to pay any customs initially, but a small bill was later delivered to my house…
Inside the envelope was a small box containing the charger, a small USB/MiniUSB cable for charging and a manual:
At a first glance, the device feels rather small. And indeed, it is rather compact…although a bit fat and rather heavy(images next to Palm Treo 680, Proporta MDC and MDC micro):
PPCTechs stuck to the usual behavior - charge via MiniUSB, discharge via USB. However, no tips are included into your shipment box - use your sync cables or buy new ones…:
Unlike the MDC’s, the Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack is powered on and off with a switch. While this allows you to keep the device on for as long as you wish, the switch has a nasty habit to turn on alone while in your bag:
Three LED’s are used to indicate the remaining capacity. The top led also serves as charge state indicator - orange means charging, green means full. Unfortunately, the color switch happens gradually…and a full charge can take 10h or more:
I tested the Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack with a variety of devices and can confirm that it reliably charges them all. The insanely high capacity of the device(4400mAH) is significantly higher than any other device that’s currently on the market. I have attempted to discharge the device once - and failed miserably. My ipod, Treo(with radio on) and somewhat discharged ipaq all got refilled - no issues whatsoever here. Expect at least 2 charges from the device(unless your device has a very high battery capacity)!
In the end, PPC Techs Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack is the best portable charger for power users. Period. Even though it may be a bit heavier than its competitors, doesn’t ship with any tips and has issues with the power switch turning on accidentally, the insanely high capacity and rather compact form factor make this the king of chargers. Congratulations to PPC Techs - the price of 60$ is worth it!
P.S. The purchase link above takes you to a page on PPC Tech’s web site stating that this is a version for an ipaq 11x. This is due to the PPC tech’s web shop system’s need to bind each product to a device - but is completely irrelevant for what you actually receive.
