Aigo aiPower N6215 iPhone case

If, like plenty of others, you are frustrated with your iPhone's battery life, help is at hand. Like the Mophie Juice Pack Air, the Aigo aiPower N2615 combines a rechargeable battery and iPhone case, giving more juice to your Apple iPhone 3G or 3GS. Though the extra battery life might make the aiPower N2615 indispensable for those on the move, the case can be frustrating.

iPhone cases serve largely to protect and “aesthetically enhance” Apple's smartphone. While the Aigo aiPower N2615 iPhone case ably does the former, it certainly doesn't make the phone any prettier. Made of a hard plastic and surrounded by rubber, the case makes the iPhone nearly three times as deep when attached. The thick rubber casing makes it difficult to reach the phone's mute switch, and prevents you from using any headphones with a right-angled or fat jack.

However, given the integrated battery we understand the size of the case is something of a necessary evil. Fortunately, there are plenty of upsides. The surrounding rubber makes it easy to insert the iPhone, and you can still use the volume controls on the handset’s side. Surprisingly, the camera's field of view remains uncompromised by the case. Though the aiPower N2615 uses the iPhone's dock connector to attach to the iPhone, it provides a passthrough mini-USB connection so you can still charge the iPhone and connect it to iTunes without removing the case. Aigo bundles a small stand that attaches to the back of the iPhone case to prop up your phone on a desk. Unfortunately, it attaches via a suction cap that we found detached too easily during use.

The aiPower N2615 case's thickness and rounded back make for excellent protection against knocks and bumps. Though the iPhone probably won't withstand a face plant, it will survive many accidental drops with ease.

While we wouldn't recommend the aiPower N2615 as a permanent iPhone case, the integrated battery makes temporary use worth it. The case integrates a 1500mAH battery that recharges the iPhone rather than acting as a secondary battery. Aigo claims the battery can provide up to 130 per cent more battery life for the iPhone. We turned on the fully charged aiPower N2615 iPhone case when our 32GB iPhone 3GS' battery reached 10 percent capacity. Over two and a half hours, the case recharged the phone to 85 per cent; 75 per cent extra battery in total. While this is just under half Aigo's claim, it is still a fantastic result that ensures the iPhone will last for another five to six hours of moderate use.

The battery can be switched off at the back of the Aigo aiPower N2615 iPhone case. It is accompanied by a "Smart LED Power Indicator" which tells you whether the battery has any charge or not. We would have preferred an indication of how much battery is left.

The Aigo aiPower N2615 iPhone case won't strike a chord with the style-conscious demographic that Apple products are traditionally associated with. However, the extra battery life it provides is well worth the hassle when away from a power outlet or a computer. The Aigo aiPower N2615 will provide enough battery life to get you through a second day on the move.