Belkin’s camera grip power bank will be a must have with some upgrades

Belkin Phase PowerGrip It made it clear to me that I should be asking for more from my wireless magnetic power bank than just increased battery life while it’s stuck on the back of my phone. Its clever design adds layers of additional functionality, and the inclusion of a retractable two-way charging cable increases the number of devices you can charge without always having to remember to pack the cord. It is too Improves the ergonomics of your smartphone When taking photos, however, this is one of the few places where the PowerGrip’s functionality feels disappointingly limited.

The PowerGrip is much larger and heavier than I expected, which turns out to be no bad thing. At 272 grams, most of the PowerGrip’s weight comes from its 9,300 mAh battery, but I wouldn’t opt ​​for anything smaller because I like knowing I have enough power to fully recharge my iPhone with headroom to outperform other devices like my watch and earbuds.

there Lighter wireless power banks with larger capacity are availablebut the heft of the PowerGrip has some benefits. Most consumers will buy this accessory to make their smartphone look like a digital camera, and that’s mostly what PowerGrip delivers. It is installed on the back of any Chi2, magsafeor Compatible with Pixelsnap Smartphone. The magnetic connection seems secure but doesn’t seem as sturdy as the PopSocket I use regularly. I’m not worried that my iPhone will fall off on its own, but accidentally bumping my phone while I was only holding the PowerGrip could cause my device to fall.

The prominent handle is oversized and makes your phone look like a powerful DSLR camera. I’ve never found a comfortable one-handed way to shoot with my iPhone that feels as secure as well, but it’s easy with the PowerGrip, and its weight adds some welcome stability that would normally require two hands.

The design allows the PowerGrip to stand on its edge and act as a smartphone holder. You can connect your phone and make hands-free recordings or video calls, or take advantage of it iOS standby mode On your bedside table. It’s a function I never intended to use, but I’ve found myself using it frequently.

The PowerGrip has a dedicated shutter button that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Pressing it once takes a photo, while holding it down plays a video recording until it’s released. I prefer to place the button at the top of the handle rather than its front edge. I also often found myself missing the additional settings settings on the Sony mirrorless camera that are conveniently located within easy reach.

There are other grips for smartphone cameras, e.g Verden Pro And magnetic Leica Lux gripwhich features more controls, including customizable dials and two-stage shutter buttons for focus control. Both are significantly more expensive than the $80 PowerGrip, and these additional controls only work with third-party camera apps, so I understand Belkin’s decision not to take that approach. But with the PowerGrip attached and hanging a half-inch from the bottom of the iPhone 16 Pro, my thumb had difficulty reaching the on-screen controls in the iOS Camera app without awkwardly adjusting my grip. Most of the time, shooting with one hand still required tapping the screen with my other hand, which I found frustrating.

Even more disappointing is the power output from the PowerGrip. Wireless charging rates are limited to just 7.5W, which sounds cool when Belkin does it Faster rates of 25W Qi2.2 have already been implemented on other chargers. It takes hours to fully charge my iPhone, and switching to a cable isn’t much faster. The PowerGrip has an additional USB-C port and a built-in 30-inch USB-C charging cable. Belkin says power output maxes out at 15W, but I measured just over 18W while charging the OnePlus 12 with Pluggable USB-C potentiometer. However, this output is shared when charging three devices simultaneously. The OnePlus 12’s charging rates dropped below 5W while I charged my iPhone and Kobo e-reader wirelessly using the retractable cable.

Compared to more expensive camera grip accessories such as $395 Leica Luxe Grip or $149.95 ShiftCam ProGrip Since it only has batteries to power itself, it’s understandable that Belkin had to make some compromises for this Get the Stage PowerGrip on shelves for $79.99. You’ll just need to take these trade-offs into consideration when deciding if it’s worth it to you. If you like a lot of functionality in one extension, it’s worth considering. If you want more charging performance or a grip with more photography-focused functionality, you’re better off juggling multiple accessories.