Best List: Power Tube 3000 by Mipow
If you’ve ever carried around one of those tube-shaped power packs for your iPhone or iPad, you know the one thing it really needs is a way to tell how much juice is left in the thing.
The Power Tube 3000 provides this in spades, with a simple three-light display on the tube itself and an app that lets you know exactly how much power you have left — and what that translates to in terms of usage.
The downloadable app also lets you track and find your little Power Tube while it monitors the temperature. You can set alerts for when the power pack is low on battery, or you’ve walked away from it at a crowded event. Handy stuff if you’re forgetful, for sure.
The tube itself is an attractive, rounded rectangle with a snap-on cover that also holds the Lightning cable. When closed, the protruding loop of cable provides a nice little holding loop. When open, the standard USB charging jack is exposed for easy charging via wall cube or Mac USB port. It even comes in a velour carrying pouch — a nice touch.
The Power Tube 3000 has enough juice to power my iPhone 6 Plus once and to add a significant time boost to my iPad mini 2. It’s small enough to put in my jacket pocket or travel bag without any concern, which means it’s always with me. For a quick jolt on the go, this little power pack is just the ticket.
Price: $49.99
Buy from: Apple (exclusive)
Cult of Mac’s Best List is a roundup of products that shake us all night long. Read more Best List mini reviews.