The first Apple-approved battery pack that charges via Lightning port is finally here
Belkin is solving a big pain of battery packs for the iPhone by releasing one that charges with a Lightning cable.
Almost all portable battery packs charge via microUSB port, which, for an iPhone user, means bringing an additional cable in addition to the Lightning cable you need to charge the iPhone itself. It's an annoying issue, which has inspired squid-like cable accessories like this.
While we've seen batteries that charge via Lightning before, there haven't been any that are Apple-approved. Belkin's Boost Charge Power Bank 10K with Lightning connector is the first battery pack that's officially approved by Apple’s MFi accessory program.
This power bank has a 10,000mAh battery inside which should be able to fully charge an iPhone around three times. It also has two full-size USB ports, which means you can charge two devices at once. One of those ports charges faster at 2.4 amps so it can accommodate a larger device like an iPad.
As a MFi-approved power bank, the Boost Charge has the official thumbs-up from Apple, so it should theoretically be more reliable than a non-MFi model. You might also recall that Belkin was acquired by Foxconn, one of the companies that assembles the iPhone for Apple, back in March, and this certification might not be coincidental.
Belkin's Boost Charge Power Bank with Lightning Connector will cost $59.99 when it lands in August. The biggest issue is the price, as you are definitely paying a premium for that MFi certification. This Aukey power bank offers the double battery and ports for just $34.99, and there are plenty of microUSB battery packs on Amazon for way cheaper.
