Why You Can Trust CNET Get a 4,000mAh mobile charger for $16.99 shipped
This slim battery pack, which should recharge a smartphone at least twice, normally sells for $29.99
Quick housekeeping note: After much deliberation, I will no longer be spotlighting deals from 1Sale (formerly 1SaleADay). I've heard from too many readers who've had too many unhappy experiences with the company. Although a lot of daily deal sites are slow to ship products (2-3 weeks is the norm for some), this one seems to have a particularly terrible track record in terms of delivery time and customer service responsiveness. The last thing I want to do is create grief for Cheapskate readers, so until I see evidence that the company has made improvements, I won't be sharing their deals.
On to business. Traveling these days means packing along tablets, e-readers, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Of course, these things require power, which is why a travel charger is also essential gear.
At this year's CES I must have seen several hundred of them, though with not much to distinguish one from another. Ideally, you want a charger with a decent-size battery, a slim, lightweight design, and a low price.
Asked and answered: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Accessory Genie has the ReVive Restore 4,000mAh external battery pack for $16.99 shipped when you apply coupon code SAVE4000 at checkout. Regular price: $29.99.
With a weight of just 4.5 ounces and dimensions of 5 inches by 2.5 inches by 0.5 inches, this is a pretty travel-friendly customer for having a such a beefy battery. I especially like the black, monolithic design, which is accented by four blue LEDs that light up when you press the Test button to see how much power remains.
Like most travel chargers, this one recharges via Micro-USB -- you supply the car/boat/laptop USB port or wall adapter. (I actually find it kind of criminal that most chargers come without an AC adapter, but c'est la vie, I guess.) On the plus side, it comes with a way-better-than-average three-year warranty.
As for what it can actually power, that's pretty much anything you plug into its one-amp USB port. Although that's not ideal for iPads and other large tablets, the ReStore will charge them -- just not fully, and not very quickly.
I haven't tried this power pack myself, but over at Amazon, some 25 buyers rated it 4.3 stars out of 5 -- and that was at the $30 price point.
Needless to say, if you're looking for cheap portable power, look no further. But do act quickly, as I know for a fact that quantities are limited.
Bonus deal: I'm very excited to announce that my book, "The Cheapskate Rules: 21 Easy Money-Saving Tech Secrets," is now available for Nook! It's a concise but comprehensive guide to getting deals on all manner of tech goodies. And it's a ridiculously good deal itself at just $4.99. The Kindle version received an average rating of 4.5 stars, which makes me feel all warm and gushy like Sally Field in her famous Oscar speech.
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