The usefulness the Amped Carbon 5.1 portable charger impressed me. The convenience and assurance it provides makes it a must have on my packing list.
Build and Appearance
The Amped Carbon, as it’s name suggests, features a carbon front cover while the rear is a tough plastic. I’m not a fan of the carbon look but the new model (the Stealth 6.1) drops the carbon design in favour of a flat black finish.
From handling the device, I’m confident that the Amped Carbon will survive everyday abuse and the occasional drop. The Carbon also comes with a rugged casing for safe transportation and storage.
Functionality
The Amped Carbon has built in USB and Micro-USB connectors. Should you own an Apple device, Amped supplied us with an adaptor including connectors for iPhone (new and old).
The black Amped Carbon 5.1 with the USB and Micro-USB connectors extended.
The majority of my devices connect via USB or Micro-USB. This meant that the Carbon had everything I needed built in, making it simple and effortless to use.
The Amped Carbon is charged via a two pin wall charger, which is included in the bundle. Charging to full capacity takes a couple of hours.
Using the Carbon
The Amped Carbon safely stored in the provided protective pouch.
While you might wonder why you would need a portable charger (I certainly had my doubts), the Amped Carbon proved to be a useful and versatile tool.
The ability to charge anywhere and at anytime has become an important convenience for me. On work expeditions, being an online service, I use my phone extensively and locating a power source can be tricky. The Carbon allows me to quickly top up my device while on the move. The Carbon works just as well on extended outings, where I found myself using it even when a plug was at hand.
The Carbon also proved itself in the office. While our notebooks can survive a scheduled load shedding period, our Internet access is not so robust. When the lights go off, we simply plug the Carbon into our wireless 3G router and we’re back in business.
Amped claim that the Carbon can power an iPhone 5 for three full charges while a Samsung S3 should be good for two charges. While I didn’t do a lab test on the Carbon, I easily managed a charge and a bit when powering my 3100mAh phone battery. This allowed me to easily go a weekend without needing to plug into the mains.
It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see how the Amped Carbon can be applied to the needs of cyclists. Be it a stage race or a weekend away at your favourite trails, a portable charger can save you a lot of frustration. You can even take it along with you on a ride, should you be in the habit of out lasting your devices.
Technical Specs
Dimensions: 113 x 78 x 118mm
Battery capacity: 5500mAh
Battery type: Lithium polymer
Weight: 156g
High amperage USB output: 1A-2A max
I have an Avid 4.Something and it has served me well! Really does help when I'm out and about and using my phone quite a bit.