Review: Time Traveler Apple Watch & iPhone Portable Power Bank
My family has three Apple Watches and four iPhones, so anytime I can find a device that charges both, I'm happy. The folks at The Grommet sent me the Time Traveler iPhone & Apple Watch Battery Bank ($79.95) to try and it does that and more. The Time Traveler has a built-in charging pad for an Apple Watch. You don't need to provide your own so that's a cost and convenience bonus. There is also a built-in Lightning cable that tucks away under the unit, so you don't have to bring a Lightning cable either!
Related: Buyer's Guide: The Best iPhone Chargers of the Year
However, you may need to bring a microUSB cable (one is included) to charge the Time Traveler itself. Ideally it would charge via Lightning or perhaps USB-C. There's also a USB-A port so you can charge another device using the 3,000 mAh battery pack. It's quite compact and deserves a spot in your gadget bag if you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone.
Pros
- Three-in-one charger
- Integrated Lightning cable
- Compact with integrated Apple Watch Charging Pad
- 3,000 mAh of battery
Cons
- Recharges using microUSB (cable included)
Final Verdict
The Time Traveler from The Grommet includes the charging power and cables most Apple fans need.
Todd Bernhard
Todd Bernhard is a bestselling (6+ million downloads) award-winning (AARP, About.com, BestAppEver.com, Digital Hollywood, and Verizon) developer and founder of NoTie.NET, an app developer specializing in Talking Ringtone apps including AutoRingtone. And his profile photo is of the last known sighting of Mr. Bernhard wearing a tie, circa 2007!
An iPhone is almost always attached to his hip or in his pocket, but over the years, Mr. Bernhard has owned an Apple Newton, a Motorola Marco, an HP 95LX, a Compaq iPaq, a Palm Treo, and a Nokia e62. In addition to writing for iPhone Life, Mr. Bernhard has written for its sister publications, PocketPC Magazine and The HP Palmtop Paper.