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LoopPay ChargeCase turns your iPhone into a wallet (photos)

Charge your phone and pay at any credit-card reader: a closer look at LoopPay's new mobile payment accessory.

Scott Stein
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Scott Stein
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1 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

The $99 Loop ChargeCase, available today, adds mobile payments to your iPhone 5s or 5...and works with regular credit-card readers.

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2 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

The LoopPay system comes with two devices: the ChargeCase, which has a magnetic loop that works with credit card terminals, and a separate Fob that scans your credit cards and can be used as a second way to make credit card payments, too.

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3 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

It also a battery with enough capacity to recharge 60% of an iPhone's battery. It charges via Micro USB, but has a pop-out Lightning dongle for iPhone.

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4 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

Press a button on the side of the ChargeCase, and you can make an instant payment with a scanned-in default card. You can also tell the case to turn off payments after just a few minutes, or several hours.

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5 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

It's a thick case, and a little hard to attach and detach.

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6 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

The LoopPay Fob plugs into the headphone jack like a Square credit-card reader. It has its own battery and can be separately authorized to make payments. It's sold separately for $39, and works with both Android and iOS.

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7 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

Scanning in credit cards to the LoopWallet app. Credit card information is encrypted and paired with an individual phone, and phone number and attached LoopPay accessory.

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8 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

The LoopWallet app stores credit cards, gift cards, debit cards and loyalty cards: basically, anything that's in your wallet.

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The back of the LoopPay Fob.

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10 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

A rubber covering on the Fob can turn it into a keychain-type gadget. Its own transaction button can ping credit-card readers if you want it to, in case you want to give it to a waiter to pay.

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11 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

It's not as thick as my own wallet.

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12 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

Paying at the office vending machine.

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The case needs to be held right up against the credit-card slot for it to work.

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14 of 14 Sarah Tew / CNET

It worked at a local deli's old-fashioned credit-card reader, too.

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