Review: Just Mobile TopGum portable charger for mobile devices

Okay, I could have gotten a paper copy of my boarding pass, but after a day of GPS-assisted driving through Chicago (with my iPhone attached to my rental car’s AC vent using my Spiderpodium), my iPhone was DOA as I approached O’Hare, and I didn’t feel like waiting in line. Without my Passbook pass, I’d be stuck waiting in line with everybody else waiting to get a paper boarding pass.
Luckily I’ve had one of Just Mobile’s TopGum battery packs in my travel kit for a while, so my dead battery didn’t get in the way of my flight.

On the Bus

The TopGum is a sleek external battery pack with multiple charging options. First, to charge the TopGum’s battery you can use the built-in Micro USB port or pop it on the magnetic charging cradle. The cradle’s great to leave on your desk for charging, letting you grab the TopGum and throw it in a bag when you’re ready to head out the door. When you’re ready to use the TopGum, you can charge anything from the built-in USB port, or charge newer iDevices using the built-in Lightning cable for fast charging with its 2.4 amp output.

After dropping off my rental car, I was down to the dreaded 10% red battery zone. I grabbed the TopGum from my backpack, then switched my iPhone to airplane mode and plugged it in for the bus ride to the terminal. I was the last top, so by the time we reached the terminal I was nearer to 20%, which let me bypass the ticket counter line and straight on to security without the fear of my boarding pass vanishing if my iPhone died.

Not Cleared for Takeoff

All of Just Mobile’s products feature killer design, and we’ve said as much in reviews of their products here on TechnologyTell. The TopGum is no exception, and one of the features I truly came to appreciate is the heavily rounded corners. It sounds simple, but hear me out—the TopGum is much thicker than other battery packs, and at first I wondered at the design choice. However, those thinner batteries are always taller and wider, and therefore less convenient to throw in your pocket (for further reading, see Bendgate, Debacle of). The TopGum is the perfect size to fit in your hand, and its smooth brushed aluminum surface and gracefully rounded corners make it much easier to slip into the pocket of your jeans or a backpack without sharp corners to catch or a tall and brittle design that can easily break.

 The other killer feature of the TopGum is its built-in Lightning cable. It tucks securely into place when not in use, but it’s flexible enough to bend and accommodate any iDevice—even my iPad in a stand case. The fast charge provided by this cable is great for iPhone 5S/6/6+ and iPad, as they take advantage of the higher output to charge faster. Just Mobile lists the TopGum as capable of charging an iPhone three times, and an iPad to 75%, so even dedicated conference callers or gamers should have enough juice.

Once I’d made it through security I went on to my gate, only to be greeted with the news that my flight was delayed. Since O’Hare still charges for their WiFi (one of many reasons I despise that airport), I went ahead and plugged my phone back into the TopGum and tethered it so I could kill some time. After two hours of use my iPhone was fully charged and the TopGum was only down to 50%, at which point my flight was finally ready to board. With everybody searching for plugs, it was nice to keep my seat and still be able to top up the battery.
The TopGum comes in black/silver or white/gold aluminum to match the colors of Apple’s latest devices, and it’s only $79.95. As one of the best-designed mobile battery packs I’ve tested, that price is amazing. Just Mobile’s focus on great design and functionality have combined into another winning piece of gear.