iDapt i1 Eco portable travel charger review
All of your charging needs covered by one eco-friendly device
Review date: 12 September, 2011. Review by: Paul Lester
We're no strangers to companies pushing an "eco-friendly" edge to increase appeal of their products, but iDapt has done a particularly good job here with the i1 Eco. This 'all-in-one' charger is capable of juicing up gadgets via a mains connection or in-car cigarette lighter, with a range of over 4,000 devices allegedly compatible.
For starters, it's a bold move to present the product in a rather bland, brown cardboard box that certainly wouldn't stand out on the shelves - but it betrays iDapt's unashamed position as a recycling-friendly company.
Other claims to environmental friendliness include the fact that the iDapt is made from recycled components, and includes an auto-off system that turns the charger off while not in use. A re-start button enables it to wake again quickly when required.
The design of the actual device is also very basic - and dare we say it, child-like. Cream and lime-green isn't exactly the cutting edge of current tech aesthetics, but again hints at a finer attention to an environmentally friendly design. Unfortunately it does feel a little cheap. The plasticky build seems rather flimsy, but being fairly pliable we think it would stand up well enough to a bit of punishment.
What you get
The i1Eco is the kind of upgradeable design that users of portable chargers may already be familiar with. In the box you get an in-car cigarette-lighter adapter, alongside a mains plug and three tips that include mini USB, micro USB and iPod/iPhone. The initial 'main bases' are covered here, and iDapt pledges to keep its device up to date by providing new adapters as needed.
Currently, adapter tips retail at £5.95 each and cover proprietary connections demanded by Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung among others. Most users may be able to do without these however, since a USB port built into the neck of the device allows it to simultaneously charge any gadgets that can be boosted through a data cable.
Company: iDapt
Website: http://www.idaptweb.com/
