Mophie’s latest wireless battery pack slides on to your phone - Android

Battery cases have a glaring flaw: they add bulk to your phone whether you need the extra power or not. Mophie wants to change that with its just-launched Juice Pack Connect wireless battery, however.

Instead of hiding in a case or sitting wholly separate from your phone, the Qi-based 5,000mAh battery clips to the back of your phone using an anchor and charges wirelessly, with or without a “lightweight” case. You can leave the pack behind if longevity isn’t an issue, or slide it on when you need to wring every last bit of life from your handset.

You can recharge the Juice Pack Connect using any Qi pad or a USB-C cable. That same USB-C port will charge devices, too. An included phone grip also serves as a stand for watching video when you aren’t using the battery.

The accessory works with virtually any phone capable of wireless charging, although the extra use you’ll get will vary from device to device. Mophie says you’ll get 70% extra battery with an iPhone 11 Pro, although the capacity increase from the wireless pack clearly won’t be as impressive as on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or other phones with giant batteries.

Related: The best power banks and portable chargers

The Juice Pack Connect is available now for $80. It’s decidedly more expensive than some battery cases, including Mophie’s, and might not make as much sense as a standalone bank if you just want a way to recharge when you’re away from a wall outlet. It’s an easier pick if you can’t afford to wait for a recharge, though, and it’s considerably more elegant if you only occasionally need additional runtime.