SpareOne emergency phone holds a 15-year charge
The SpareOne emergency cell phone proudly flaunts its AA battery, an old-fashioned power solution that boasts up to 15 years of standby time.
LAS VEGAS--The SpareOne cell phone from XPAL Power could spell the end to a million horror-movie cliches. The slasher is coming and my cell phone's out of juice. No worries, I have my SpareOne handy.
Only at CES will a company hail powering its device with an AA battery as a technology breakthrough. In this case, it's something to think about. That one battery can keep the phone functional for up to 15 years while providing up to 10 hours of talk time.
The phone pretty much flaunts that battery. There's a window so you can see it nestled in there, waiting for its moment of glory. It's retro and it's proud.
Hands-on, the phone is slim and lightweight. There's nothing fancy here, just a phone that's supposed to make calls when you need it most.
The SpareOne isn't just sitting around hogging up a phone number for all eternity. You will have to provide your own SIM card. You can poach it from your own phone when your fancy smartphone battery dies.
There's an always-on 911 feature that works whether or not a SIM is in the phone.
Future versions may include SIM cards or work with a copy of your own card in case you lose your phone. These will likely be priced between $20 and $50 based on features.