A bijou battery charger | HT Tech

A bijou battery charger

The QBracelet is a back-up smartphone battery that can give a handset a 60 % power boost and is cunningly disguised as a piece of jewelry.

By:AFP
| Updated on: Aug 25 2014, 10:46 IST
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The QBracelet is a back-up smartphone battery that can give a handset a 60 % power boost and is cunningly disguised as a piece of jewelry.

Heralded by its makers, New York-based Q Designs, as an object that's equally beautiful and useful, the unisex bangle comes in three sizes and five finishes that look like they've been lifted from Apple's color palette book. And there is little doubt that conceptually, it's a very good idea.

In May, Analytics firm IDC surveyed over 50,000 consumers in 25 countries to find out the most important consideration when choosing a smartphone and the top answer, trumping even brand and ease of use, was battery life.

And seeing as the average smartphone owner checks his or her device 150 times a day and uses a handset for everything from posting to social media to shooting and editing HD video, it's little wonder that a growing number of people also reach for the charging cable or a portable battery pack as well as the phone when we head out of the door in the morning.

The QBracelet wants to be a more practical and stylish alterative to having to stuff a cable or battery booster in a pocket or bag. It's hinged in the middle and when opened, the iPhone version reveals an integrated Lightning adaptor and the Android/Windows Phone version a Micro USB instead.

Q Design claims that when plugged into a handset the bracelet will offer up to 60 percent extra charge to a flagging phone and that the recharging will take 60 minutes.

However, the bracelet is designed in such a way that it's still easy enough to use a handset while the battery is charging or to use the QBracelet as a stand.

As for recharging the bracelet itself after use, that will take up to 90 minutes, but once done, will hold its charge for 30 days if not in use.

And to make sure that you're never caught short with a flat smartphone and a flat QBracelet battery at the same time, the bracelet has a row of LEDs that will indicate how much life is left in its battery.

When it ships in December, the QBracelet will cost $99 in the US and for an additional $15 the company will ship it to European customers too. However, to get the ball rolling, pre-ordering the QBracelet via the company's website now will result in a $20 discount.

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First Published Date: 25 Aug, 10:35 IST
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