Comments on: Review: Case-Mate Fuel Case for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:48:15 +0000

I loved the case-mate for the first day, used it once and now it will not work at all. The 3Gs battery does last a lot longer than the 3G did.

By: Freddie Boy

Freddie Boy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:03:30 +0000

A few quick comments. # 1, lightest batt pack around. Resembles several holsters. Largest batt (2300 mah), lithium-ion polymer. Polymer very important, higher density, holds chg longer!! Notice power on/off button, if you want to run iPhone batt down & then turn power on. Charge by plugging USB into iPhone wall charger or if you have ATT cig lighter charger, has USB outlet on top of charger plug-in. Or the Griffin charge kit from W/Mart includes cig plug-in with USB outlet. Best on market. $58. on eBay, new in pkg, delivered, no tax 

By: Noonan

Noonan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:58:40 +0000

@icebike

The Mophie Juice Pack Air has a switch. When you're phone is about to die, you flip it and it fills your battery.

I just ordered one and then I saw this blog and hoped that I went with the right one.. but it seems like I did. Juice Pack Air FTW!

By: icebike

icebike — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:08:40 +0000

@Party:

The standard (large) 4 pin connector has five wires. 4 pins plus ground.

The mini USB adapter has 5 pins, one of which is not used. That is what is pictured on the device.

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml

By: icebike

icebike — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:57:34 +0000

The one bad thing I've heard from friends who use this (and other "Juicepacks") is that your internal battery never gets run down, and has a tendency to totally screw up the internal charge measuring circuit.

If they don't run their internal down till it power's off and recharge fully once in a while, the Charge measuring circuit starts shutting down the phone prematurely as soon as you start drawing on the internal battery.

Apple recommends you discharge fully once a month or so to retrain the charge measuring circuit.

(No, this is not a battery "memory" issue. Iphone batteries are not susceptible to that, and battery "memory" is largely fiction when you really dig into it past what you read on the monkey-hear monkey-say internet.)

By: PartyRambo

PartyRambo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:05:56 +0000

"To charge the case you only have one option — you must use a standard 5-pin USB cord. One is included but it would be nice to have the option to charge the case without using my laptop."

I've never heard the term "5-pin USB" so I don't know how 'standard' that is - if it's just a standard USB connector, the 3G/3Gs comes with a USB/wall plug adapter so you can plug it in anywhere, not just via a computer. I wouldn't recommend plugging it in at work, to keep it charged - that's probably bad for the battery - but you can REcharge it an hour before leaving work...

By: kevlar

kevlar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:29:40 +0000

I'm finding the 3gs very slow to charge via the new smaller wall charger, takes about as long as charging via pc/usb, i.e. very slowly. My old 3g charger used to be twice as fast as the new one. Infact the fastest way I have to charge it now is my incar charger, I noticed yesterday how fast that was compared to the wall charger. Anyone else noticing slow recharge speed with 3gs wall charger?

By: Cobra302

Cobra302 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:16:07 +0000

i'm sorry, but i'd rather charge it at work with a comp, or in the car with a charger. that is a horrendous case and battery. no protection for the phone, seems akward, and frankly i'd feel stupid putting that big thing up to my face to make a call.

By: iPhone lover

iPhone lover — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:26:02 +0000

My battery life has been alright so far, although i think I'd have to buy this Case-Mate in the near future. We'll see how my unit 3G S goes. Nice review on the case...mate!

By: BarryL

BarryL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:26:25 +0000

I was getting only 6 to 8 hrs with my 2g iPhone. Now getting 12 to 14 hrs with the 3GS same normal daily use, much improved battery. The day will come it will last days or weeks only a matter of time.

By: BarryL

BarryL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:25:01 +0000

I was getting only 6 to 8 hrs with my 2g iPhone. Now getting 12 to 14 hrs with the same normal daily use, much improved battery. The day will come it will last days or weeks only a matter of time.

By: iPhoneMilk

iPhoneMilk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:07:28 +0000

@Waterswest

I think Jay was Joking because yes more then a days worth is what we get, and that's A lot =)

I think he was being sarcastic hehe

By: WatersWest

WatersWest — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:27:15 +0000

@Jojo10040, try turning down the brightness of the screen. That, to me, seems to be the biggest factor in how long the battery lasts.

@Jay .. if you get more than a day's worth, what's wrong with simply plugging it in overnight?

Seems to me that as long as you can make it through a day, you have all the battery you will ever need.

By: iPhoneMilk

iPhoneMilk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:23:40 +0000

@JoJo10040

Yes I do a ton on it, i even play games and last night get this... I stayed up all night long and went to the Midnight showing of Transformers 2 and got home around 3:00am. While i was there i recorded video of how HUGE the line was. This was all on the same day without charging it.

My advice to you my friend is to WAIT it out for about a week, if things dont change maybe , and it is possible you just got a bad fruit out of the crop. It happens.. it's just bad luck.

Take it back to Apple and let them know.

But yes... the battery life im experiencing right now is even better then the 3G and I have not hit the 2 week mark, which usually the battery life improves at that point.

Well at least thats' what happened to me with the 2G and the 3G

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:39:48 +0000

Ugly ugly ugly

By: JDM

JDM — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:33:45 +0000

That case sticks out too far. FUGLY.

By: Jojo10040

Jojo10040 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:33:21 +0000

@iPhoneMilk

You see 10 episodes and you still have 60% left of batterie? I've used it so far for 1hr and 26 min and I have 64% batterie left. and I just use it to txt and read blogs, if I played like 4 episodes I'd prob had to charge my phone.

Does anyone else have great batterrie life? Seems like my new 3GS has worst batterie life than my old 2G iPhone!

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:31:37 +0000

ya, my 3Gs battery only lasts 1 and 1/2 days

By: Jeremy Sikora

Jeremy Sikora — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:21:44 +0000

@iPhoneMilk, while I agree with you and have no issue personally with the battery... many people do.

By: iPhoneMilk

iPhoneMilk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:17:17 +0000

I dont agree with this "One of the biggest gripes a lot of iPhone 3G/3GS readers have is battery life."

My battery life is amazing on the 3Gs, and it has not even been a week yet, usually they get even better after 2 weeks.

I can't imagine it being better then it is now, i watching 10 tv episodes a Day while im at work doing work, i keep it off to the side playing tv shows. and By the time the DAY is overwith i have 60% battery life left.

By: cherryhead25

cherryhead25 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:00:19 +0000

I like the fact that it is 2300mah but that clip is a deal breaker. I chose the MiLi powerpack instead. It's 2000mah and has a USB out to charge other devices.

By: Noonan

Noonan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:49:28 +0000

Forgive me for using the word "s-e-x-y".

By: Noonan

Noonan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:48:40 +0000

How does this bad boy compare to the mophie juice pack air? Certainly doesn't look as sexy..