Review: ChargeCard portable charger delivers extra battery power in a small package

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
This article was created by StackCommerce. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through our links on this page.

A new iPhone model has just been unveiled and we all know what that means: iOS updates that make your phone battery drain faster than you can drain your morning coffee. With a business trip to New York coming up, I wasn’t sure if my battery could make it through security, let alone the 4 hour flight. 

I didn’t want to deal with chunky charging blocks and tangled cords taking up valuable space in my bag. And with long days of meetings and conferences, I don’t have time to huddle up next to an outlet. That’s what led me to the ChargeCard charger.

Presented as the “world’s thinnest portable charger,” it supposedly fits right into your wallet or pockets. At $97, it’s significantly cheaper than coughing up well over a grand for a new phone, so I decided to give it a try.

What: The ChargeCard Cost: $97 Where to buy: Aquavault

The ChargeCard, which looks like a sleek American Express card, certainly lives up to its name. It’s almost the exact size of a normal credit card but slightly thicker. It comes with a storage pouch, a charging cable, and three interchangeable tips. Between the USB-C, Micro USB, and Lightning cable, all your bases are covered. Whether it’s my phone, Kindle e-reader or AirPods, I can top them all up on the go. 

My favorite thing by far, though, is that the cord tucks into two corners of the card, so the metal head of the charger is protected from any accidental bending or breakage when it’s not in use. The charging cords are only about 2 inches long, so you’re on a tight leash, but they’re pretty sturdy. They are also flexible enough to bend, so you can hold the ChargeCard flush against your phone with one hand or slide it into your pocket stress-free while charging.

When it came to testing out the ChargeCard, two things were most important: how well it fits into my wallet, and how quickly can it charge my devices.

Size: Since the ChargeCard is slightly taller and thicker than a normal credit card, I was curious if it would actually fit in my wallet. I tried two different wallets, and while it fits in both of mine, it really depends on how much stretch your wallet has.

It didn’t add any noticeable bulk to my wallet and I was able to fold it as normal. I didn’t have any discomfort when I was sitting with it in my pocket either. 

Charging: My iPhone 14 Pro Max usually takes around 2 hours to fully charge with the cord provided by Apple. When my phone got down to 20 per cent battery, I plugged it into the ChargeCard and set a timer.

Approximately 70 minutes later, my phone was up to 50 per cent, and I still had some charge left to top up my AirPods. It’s slightly slower than other, larger power banks, but that’s the price you pay for convenience.

If you’re sick of unintentional cliffhangers from your Kindle dying during the most important chapter or need to top up your headphones to block out chatter during a heavy commute, the ChargeCard gives you a lot of power in your pocket – literally. I would recommend measuring the cardholders in your wallet before purchasing, but even if the ChargeCard won’t fit there, it fits well in a pocket too. I was super impressed by its capability and the convenience of having a charger 24/7 justified the price for me. 

Shopping Essentials is a category written by research-obsessed shopping experts. Explore product reviews, recommendations and launches — plus behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and hidden gems — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter.

Want a deal? We may have a coupon code for that coveted item in your basket.