Today I'm taking a look at the new Richard Solo 1800, a backup battery designed specifically for the iPhone and Apple's family of iPod portable media players. The RichardSolo 1800 offers more juice than its predecessors, but it isn't the ideal solution for every user.
Design
The Richard Solo 1800 is a larger, more attractive and pricier version of the company's Backup Battery for iPhone. The unit's look was obviously inspired by the iPhone itself, with a black face and back piece surrounded by silver edging. At one end of the unit is a standard Apple Dock Connector which connects to an iPhone or iPod. On the other end is a miniUSB charging port, a laser emitter and an LED flashlight. You can turn the unit on or off using a switch on the back, and there are individual buttons for controlling the laser and flashlight on its face.
Much lighter than it appears, the Richard Solo 1800 weighs in at just 2.3 ounces. The unit is nearly five inches long and less than half an inch thick. The entire shell is plastic, and in places feels a bit flimsy. That said, the unit held up very well during testing, withstanding all sorts of daily abuse.
The kit includes two plastic braces which help hold the Richard Solo 1800 firmly against the iPhone or iPhone 3G; without these braces, the battery makes a floppy, though secure, connection with the phone. It also includes a retractable miniUSB cable, a wall charger and a car adapter.
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Use
When you're away from a dedicated power source and your iPhone's feeling a bit woozy, just plug the RichardSolo 1800 into the phone's Dock Connector; the battery takes care of the rest, charging your iPhone's internal battery while providing immediate power for continued use.
You can charge the RichardSolo 1800 with either the wall charger or the car adapter, the latter having two USB ports so you can charge two devices simultaneously. The included retractable USB cable can be used with either charger-adapter, or with a PC or Mac USB port, for charging the battery alone or the battery and iPhone at the same time. |
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On a full charge, the RichardSolo 1800 was able to charge my iPhone 3G to full capacity with power to spare - but not much. It takes about five hours to fully charge the battery unit; time required to charge the iPhone varies depending on usage, amount of iPhone battery charge, etc. The backup battery is supposed to last for at least 300 complete charges.
You can use your iPhone while it's charging, but the battery unit hangs off the iPhone about five inches, which makes it awkward to use during calls or when using iPhone apps. The RichardSolo 1800 is best suited for charging while the iPhone is not in use; if you're looking for a battery backup that's a better fit for during-use charging, take a look at the Mophie Juice Pack or Juice Pack 3G.
Thoughts for the Next Version
If the RichardSolo 1800 were fatter and shorter, it might not look as elegant lying on a table, but it would make using the iPhone while connected a much more comfortable experience. My biggest complaint about the unit is that it's so long and intrusive when holding the iPhone in hand or to your ear.
Knocking about $20 or $30 off the price would also make it a more attractive solution for most users.
Conclusion
All in all, I found the RichardSolo 1800 a handy thing to have around; there are times when it's more convenient (or even essential) to charge the iPhone when you can't plug it in to a power outlet. But at $69, the unit seems a bit overpriced, especially considering its inability to be comfortably attached while using the iPhone and its single-charge capacity.
Still, if you want a quality product that can quickly juice-up your iPhone anywhere you happen to be, the RichardSolo 1800 is a simple and effective option.
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