#Charging - techbuzzireland.com

mophie announces refreshed powerstation lineup: plus mini and plus models

mophie, a leading brand in power and innovator of intelligent charging solutions for mobile devices, today announced a refresh of its powerstation® the plus mini, and the powerstation plus. These updates allow for extended battery life, enhanced speed, and elevated design to keep users’ devices fully charged wherever life takes them.

“Our reengineered and redesigned powerstation plus line moves these products into an ultra-premium direction,” said Justin Tacy, head of marketing for mophie. “This next generation line includes elevated materials, including an aluminum frame with a soft-touch silicone exterior, enhanced convenience through a refined integrated cable management system, and the latest in fast charging technology which together reflect mophie’s commitment to delivering intelligent, artfully designed, and user-focused charging products.”

The mophie powerstation plus lineup includes:

powerstation plus mini (£49.95 MSRP) – Perfect for those on the go, the powerstation plus mini packs a punch in a compact, portable design. With the ability to charge two devices simultaneously at up to 20W via a USB-C port and cable, the powerstation plus mini contains a 5,000mAh internal battery and can charge a phone up to 50% in as little as 30 minutes.

powerstation plus (£69.95 MSRP) – Elevate your charging experience with the powerstation plus, offering even greater capacity and sleek design. Delivering up to 30W of power, this power bank contains a 10,000mAh internal battery that can fully charge your phone twice. The long-lasting, premium braided silicone charging cables (one USB-C; one Lightning) are tested to withstand up to 30,000 bends, ensuring durability that matches performance. Use the port and both cables to charge up to three devices at once.

Each new powerstation plus is made with premium materials, including soft touch silicone, an aluminum chassis, and no-memory cables. They feature two-way charging, allowing users to charge the power bank through the same USB-C cable or port they use to charge their device. The powerstation plus line also ensures pass-through Priority+ charging to intelligently ensure your device receives power first. Once a user’s device is fully charged, the power banks will charge second.

Availability:

The powerstation plus mini and powerstation plus are available now on mophie.com and through select retail stores worldwide. ZAGG warrants these products against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of two (2) years from the date of retail purchase by the original end-user consumer.

Tech Review – STM Goods ChargeTree Mag 3 in 1 MagSafe Charger. Compact, collapsible

The STM Goods ChargeTree Mag 3 in 1 MagSafe Charger is an ideal product to have at your disposal and their latest product for charging solutions after their CHARGETREE GO.

If you have multiple device that are compatible this is an ideal kit to safe not only space but having to carry cables with you, this not only works with Apple devices but others as you will see tested in the video review below.

Neat and portable this has a small footprint and ideal for your bedside locker or hotel room locker and your office set up where you have it sat beside your laptop and have easy access to your smartphone where it is kept charging with your watch and earbuds.

The product is robust and clean and looks well with all the tech goodies stacked on it, there is an LED light for each to let you know that it is sat correctly on the product.

This folds away nicely too and will fit in any travel or tech back there is sadly no pouch with it but again this is ideal if you have the tech to use it and very portable saving you space and annoying cables at home or on the go it is a win win for MagSafe devices.

Features

Compactly folds to a slim, flat form for easy storage and travel
3 – 1 charging station, charge 3 devices at once
Phone platform works with MagSafe, AirPods charge on the back platform, watch arm swings out to charge the Apple Watch
Plugs into power with USB-C to USB-C (1m cable included)
Must be used with a minimum 20W wall plug (not included)
Works with iPhone 12 and later

Available for £89.99 from Amazon

See our other STM Goods Reviews

Video Review

Tech Review – iWALK Portable Charger 4800mAh Power Bank

The iWALK Portable Charger 4800mAh Power Bank is a handy piece of kit if you suffer from battery anxiety and not only that it is portable and small and will fit in any travel bag or pocket and has enough power to give your smartphone a full days charge.

This comes in several colours too which is nice and gives the consumer choice which is something I always like to see over standard two colour launches.

This is essentially a docking battery and sits in the port where you traditionally charge your device be it the newer iPhones and Android phones with USC-C ports

It comes with a LED display and a tethered cap to keep the dirt out and one power switch on the side and is so simple to use and has a nice solid feel to it too with a matt Black finish in our unit.

There is also a USB-C port to charge the device too and this can also charge other USB-C products such as earbuds and headphones.

Check the video below for more.

High-Speed Charging:Output delivers maximized 12W to power bank, deliver the fastest possible charge for Phone.
Upgraded built-in Cable:Supports thicker cases ,no longer need to remove the case first to charge your iPhone.
LED Display:LED display shows current battery charge ,input and output status, no more guessing whether you need to charge it or not.
Upgraded Capacity: Light weight but big Capacity, an ideal charging companion for travel,4800mAh is big enough to fully charge your iPhone x 1 times.

See our other iWalk reviews

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Video Review

Tech Review – QDOS SNAPSTAND 3-in-1 foldable MagSafe charging stand

The QDOS SNAPSTAND 3-in-1 foldable MagSafe charging stand is ideal if you have multiple products in use at one time so like me with a watch,earbuds and several phones on the go this is ideal in more ways than one.

Key factor here is that it is foldable and and can fit in your travel bag and pocket and the next thing is you only need one cable and no proprietary cable to carry for your Apple or compatible watch and other cables so this is a one stop shop to charge 3 devices at once.

This is also very light however it is robust and not a cheaply made product and is made with 60% recycled metal and this is of course thinking of the environment today like many manufacturers are trying to do.

This is perfect for my workspace as I can also use it to interact with my phone beside me without the need to hold my phone and again ideal for my bedside locker.

Another great feature is this can be moved into several positions unlike others that are fixed so it will cater for more devices than you might first think.

Overall this is a must have product at your disposal if you are one to have several devices or compatible gadgets on the go or at home and this means less plugs and cable and more importantly less space is taken up.

Features

3-in-1 wireless charging:
• iPhones (15W Qi Wireless Output) – charge an iPhone 15 Pro Max to 100% in 3h30
• Apple Watch (2.5W Qi Wireless Output) – charge an Apple Watch S9 in 3 hours
• AirPods (5W Qi Wireless Output)

Eco-conscious design:
• Made using 60% recycled materials
• 100% recycled zinc alloy housing

Versatile design:
• Watch videos, make calls, view your calendar and photos, all at the best angles

Foldable Design:
Designed with portability in mind, charge at home, on the go and in the office

Blue and red LED indicator:
• Light turns blue when charging and red when idle this may vary per charger power

iOS17 nightstand mode:
• Activated when your iPhone is rotated at 90 degrees

Magnetic alignment:
• Compatible with MagSafe devices

Universal compatibility:
• Comes complete with integrated USB-C cable

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See our QDOS reviews

Video Review

ESB ecars announces price decreases of up to 13% for tariffs across its EV charging network

ESB ecars has today announced a planned price decrease across its public EV charging network in the Republic of Ireland, which will be effective from Friday, 21st June. This will see unit rates for High-Power (200kW) chargers reduce by 13%, Fast chargers reduce by 12% and Standard chargers reduce by 8%.

Contactless payments will also be available on High-Power Chargers from the end of this week.

The existing one-off overstay fee of €8 has been replaced by a more progressive, incremental fee to further encourage drivers to free up charge points for other drivers when finished charging.

ESB’s most recent customer survey found that 76% of respondents support the overstay fee. The new overstay fee structure is 50c/min and kicks in after 45 minutes on High-Power and Fast chargers and after 10 hours on Standard chargers.

Commenting on the price reduction, John Byrne, Head of eMobility at ESB, said: “We are pleased to announce a reduction of prices across our extensive EV public charging network.

We are lowering our prices following reductions in wholesale energy costs while continuing to upgrade and improve our charging infrastructure across the country. We keep our prices under constant review and are committed to providing value to our customers with competitive prices.”

To ensure customers are notified of when overstay fees would apply, ESB is encouraging all drivers to turn on notifications on the ESB ecar connect app. Customers will receive push notifications as a reminder about the overstay fee when they start their charge.

ESB has installed 42 multi-vehicle, high-power charging hubs nationwide over the past two years and replaced over 300 chargers to increase the speed and capacity of the charging network.

ESB now has over 1,600 public charge points in place across the country with an average reliability rate of 98%.

For more information, visit esb.ie/ecars

Tech Review – Skullcandy EcoBuds Sustainable earbuds

The Skullcandy Ecobuds are the latest edition to their earbuds collection which are aiming at the environment all round but not forgetting their audio prowess either at an affordable price.

Coming with a new look charging case and a built in cable these look well out of the box and a different approach to their case and how they charge which is through your smartphone or tablet with a USB-C connection, you can off course opt to plug into a wall but charging this handy and different and then you have no need to worry about forgetting a cable with you as it is right there on the case.

The fit is secure with the design and will not fall out of your ears they are a perfect fit with the right tips giving an excellent seal which is the best way to use your earbuds, always check the tips to get the best seal.

The sound here is great and I expected no less,based on the Dime series earbuds the controls have all the features you would expect to find here with plenty to keep you going and their EQ mode is excellent here given there is no app this time around.

Controls

Hold for one second on left and right for volume up and down

Track forward and reverse tap twice on left and right

Voice assistant tap the right earbud for 4 seconds

EQ change is tap`the left earbud for 4 seconds

Play and pause is a single tap on either

The sound overall is great and well balanced and I am not complaining one bit here they have done a great job with decent volume and a full suite of controls for calls and music with no lag latency or tinny sound and you will be impressed at what is given here.

Overall you can’t go wrong for what you get here and their mission and they also look cool and with a built in cable you are always covered should you need to charge up.

Features

Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life + Rapid Charge – 10 minutes of charging gives you 2 hours of playtime • Charge From Your Phone with Integrated USB-C Charging Cable
Premium Audio Quality with Microphone in Each Earbud
Noise Isolating Fit
Music, Bass Boost and Podcast EQ Modes
Bluetooth® (v5.2)
IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistance
Auto On/Connect
Call, Track & Volume Controls with Capacitive Touch
Use Either Bud Solo

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Video Review

Tech Review – New Bee Z12 RGB Headphones Stand Holder With Wireless Charging

The New Bee Z12 RGB Headphones Stand Holder with Wireless Charging is a multifunction stand that can charge several devices at once and looks cool on any desk you can also data transfer if you wish but I can see this being used as mainly a charging device and also decorative for a setup you might have or just starting out with one.

It takes about two minutes to set up and you are good to go and comes with a USB charging cable so you just need to find a plug or spare socket on an existing device or even your own laptop or PC.

Once set up you have all your ports on the back and a power switch that doubles as the RGB light control which you can see how all of this works in the video review below, it gives a nice glow to your workspace or bedside locker for example with all the colours available and breathing light for nice effects.

The headphones stand itself is not wireless charging but you can simply connect a cable to the main unit and charge there, then you have wireless charging which can charge your earbuds and even mobile phones which for me is quite handy at my desk and now shall remain part of my set up to store headphones in review and earbuds as we check out many of them and of course phone cases for existing phones we use.

Overall this is an affordable product with many functions and can keep your desk tidy too and looks well with the RGB lights on, see more in the video below.

Features:

1、【RGB Lighting】New bee RGB headphone features 7 colors of lighting modes, the cool visual effect can create any atmosphere. Press and hold for 3 seconds to turn off/on the lights.
2、【Wireless Charging and 3 Charging Ports】Just place your devices on the charger station and enjoy wireless charging. 2 USB-C port and USB port can be used to transfer files or charge your phone, iPad or other smart devices. Supports Windows, Linux, and Mac systems with plug&play function. No extra drivers are required.
3、【Sturdy and Safe】The Made of aluminum headset stand provides good stability, and the silicone non-slip pad at the bottom prevents the bracket from falling off even on a smooth surface. The part of the stand where the headphones are placed is made of soft rubber. The head beam of the headset can be protected from being scratched even after a long time of hanging.
4、【Universal Compatibility】RGB headphone stand fits all sizes of headsets, the wide base and wide curved stand can better protect your headset. Height – 10.4 in, Width – 5.98 in.

5、【What you get】Create a fantastic gaming atmosphere at your preference .Perfect PC gamer setup accessories, gifts for gamer, grandson, son, boy, man, husband and boyfriend or girlfriend. If you encounter problems during use gaming headphone stand, we are pleased to provide you with technical support

Check out the New Bee M50 Wireless headset review

Check out the New Bee H362 Headset review

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Video Review

Michael McAteer joins leading Irish EV charging company EasyGo

Erapid Charger Company Limited, trading as “EasyGo”, the largest private car charging network operator in Ireland, has today announced the appointment of Michael McAteer, former Managing Partner of Grant Thornton, as a member of its Executive Committee.

With in-depth technical and practical experience across numerous sectors including retail, aviation, leisure, construction and IT, Mr McAteer was Managing Partner of Grant Thornton, from 2018 to 2023, after previously leading the firm’s Advisory Services practice.

Commenting on the news, Chris Kelly, co-founder and CEO of EasyGo said: “This strategic move by one of Ireland’s most prominent business leaders underscores the enormous opportunities, confidence and growth trajectories within the Electric Vehicle (EV) sector, and specifically in EasyGo.

“Our mission is to decarbonise transport by providing accessible and efficient EV charging solutions across Ireland. We welcome Michael’s expertise, experience and insights, as we make a significant leap forward in our expansion plans. By 2032, we will roll out over 3,000 fast DC chargers onto the national charging network while adding over 20,000 commercial AC chargers into apartment buildings, hotels and other key locations.

Mr McAteer added: “I am excited to be part of EasyGo, a company that is playing a pivotal role in delivering a decarbonised transportation future in Ireland. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, EasyGo is well-poised to lead the charge in the EV sector by enhancing infrastructure, network reach and charging options. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success.”

In addition, EasyGo has announced that David Fitzgerald will join the company as Chief Revenue Officer, working alongside Gerry Cash, co-founder and commercial director. Mr Fitzgerald has over two decades of experience building and managing high-performing sales platforms across the digital and software sectors for market leaders such as Microsoft and Siemens. His role at EasyGo will be to lead the sales and marketing function for all of the company’s B2B and B2C products and services.

Mr Cash said: “We are delighted to add David to our executive suite. With EV adoption rates continuing to grow, there is an urgent need to expand the charging network nationwide. Building on recent investment and the work EasyGo has delivered to date, David’s deep industry knowledge will no doubt accelerate the delivery of much-needed infrastructure and technology, helping Ireland meet its 2030 Climate Action Plan targets.”

Today’s news follows the recent funding announcement of €30 million by Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, leading to the creation of 60 new jobs at EasyGo. Last month, Rubicon Capital Advisors, through its asset management business, also announced it has increased its investment in EasyGo to over 50% shareholding, following its initial investment three years ago.

EasyGo is Ireland’s fastest-growing and largest privately owned EV charge point operator and turnkey solutions provider. Its EV charging network provides access to over 4,000 charging points in 1,500 locations across the island of Ireland. The EasyGo app currently has over 60,000 registered subscribers and grew by approximately 2,000 new users each month in 2023.

Tech Review – ACEFAST – Fast Charge Wall Charger A45 PD65W GaN (2xUSB-C + USB-A) EU

The ACEFAST – Fast Charge Wall Charger A45 PD65W GaN (2x USB-C + USB-A) EU is a new product on offer from the company and following our review of ACEFAST Crystal 2 T8 earbuds we see where the idea came from with going transparent with tech which is cool and people seem to like it and many more manufacturers are joining in.

In short most chargers supplied with phones or tablets are poor and more the case now is you are lucky to get a charger in the box to save on the “climate” yet the very people that do this will still sell you chargers at inflated prices which makes no sense at all and utter rubbish in my book.

Fast chargers do come with some products and one of the latest buzzwords is GaN3 chargers which we have tested some in the past and still serve me well here at home as with all the devices I have on the go and in for testing I need fast charging on a daily basis and also carry such with me on my travels.

So this charger offers much more efficiency and power and is not by any means a larger charger but has 3 ports in total allowing you to boost up three devices at once which is excellent and ideal for anyone really and again perfect for travelling alone or with as a couple even a family.

The charger comes in a cool array of colours which again is something I like than the boring Black or White plugs we see and this one offers more than that being transparent and offers AI intelligent temperature control technology 2.0, filtering charging hazards.

Overall it is a must have for charging devices faster it looks well you can bring it anywhere but they could of gave us some cables in the box.