The ZAGGsparq 2.0 is a compact, black, box, similar in size and shape to a MacBook Pro charger (3.50″ Height x 3.50″ Width x 1″ Depth). On the inside, however, it’s all battery. 6,000 mAh worth of Lithium Polymer battery to be precise. That’s enough juice to re-charge your iPhone 3-4 times and top of your iPad from 0% all the way back to 60%. Put in perspective, that’s an additional 5 to 6 hours of video playback on your iPad.

All Battery in a Simple Design

Most battery packs we’ve come across are designed to fit snuggly around the iPhone. While that approach is obviously convenient, it also adds extra bulk and weight to the phone itself; even after you have fully depleted the external battery. You’ll also have to purchase a separate battery for each device you own. And what about your Bluetooth headset?

Hence, the flexibility of not having to physically wrap an external battery around your iPhone is exactly what makes the Sparq such an enticing product. It’s one hefty battery pack, in a compact design, that can charge a multitude of USB powered devices with absolute ease of use. You can keep the Sparq in your backpack, gym locker, or the front pocket of your airline seat.

Once you run low on power, simply plug your iPhone, iPad, or any other USB powered device in one of the two USB ports and you’re ready to go. The simplicity of the design is also its most stunning feature.

Charge Multiple Devices at Once

As mentioned above, the Sparq offers not one, but two USB ports for charging up to two USB devices at same time. The top USB port is optimized for devices that can take advantage of optimized charging (max 2000mA @ 5V) such as the iPhone and iPad. The bottom port uses the standard USB specification and is great for general use devices such as bluetooth headsets or book readers.

Best of all: I confirmed ZAGG’s claims, that the optimized USB port re-charges an iPhone 4 at almost the same speed as Apple’s power adapter plugged straight into an outlet. (1h:33m vs. 1h:26min from ~50% to full charge.)

To re-charge the Sparq itself, it simply plugs into a standard outlet. No cables required.

You can also continue to charge your devices while the Sparq is plugged into an outlet. This will allow you to leave your separate wall chargers at home while traveling. Just keep in mind that the Sparq’s internal battery may charge a bit slower while other devices are charging of the unit at the same time.

While charging, 4 battery indicator lights, on the back of the unit, will illuminate one by one. Once all lights are lit the device is fully charged again. You can also press a small button below the indicator lights to see the current battery level during usage.

Moody Indicator Lights

One abnormality we’ve noticed is that the indicator lights don’t always seem to be 100% accurate. Sometimes the unit dropped down to 2 remaining lights within the first hour of charging. This doesn’t seem to affect performance in any way, however. The Sparq also seems to drain some juice on its own if left unused for a couple of days days. Once again, this could be simply related to the inaccuracy of the indicator lights. Either way, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue if you use the device on a regular basis.

ZAGGsparq 2.0 Recommendation

After reading this review it shouldn’t surprise you that we are rather charmed by the ZAGGsparq 2.0. It is pure power in a portable, compact design, that isn’t limited to charging just one device at a time.

If you are yearning for that quick, mid-day, re-charge for your iPhone, iPad, or USB powered accessories—without permanently attaching a separate battery pack to each—we can strongly recommend the ZAGGsparq 2.0. Simply keep one in your purse, backpack, or car and it’ll keep you powered throughout the day.

You can purchase the ZAGGsparq 2.0 for $99 directly with ZAGG. It is currently on sale for $71.86 on Buy.com.¹

Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.

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