Clutch Charger Review
Pros: Miniscule, quick to recharge, integrated lightning cable
Cons: Limited functionality, minimal capacity
Manufacturer: Clutch
Our Verdict
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Clutch Charger | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | |  |
| Price | $40 List | $25 List $29.99 at Amazon | $20.00 List $19.49 at Amazon | $40 List $33.99 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Miniscule, quick to recharge, integrated lightning cable | Inexpensive, super easy to carry in a pocket, short recharge time | Lightweight and portable design, good battery capacity, inexpensive | Extremely convenient, decent capacity | Great value, USB-C/microUSB charging input, dual outputs |
| Cons | Limited functionality, minimal capacity | No integrated cables, can only charge a single device at a time | No integrated cables | Not the most portable we have seen so far, takes forever to recharge | Takes a long time to recharge, not the highest power output |
| Bottom Line | The Clutch is an amazing option for iPhone users that want a compact charging solution | If you want a bare-bones portable charging solution without breaking the bank, this is the battery for you | If you are looking for a battery bank with a larger capacity, then this is one of our favorites | If you want a charger with integrated cables for all sorts of different devices, then this is the power bank for you | If you are searching for a great value, then we strongly recommend checking out this set of power packs |
| Rating Categories | Clutch Charger | Anker PowerCore 5000 | INIU Portable Charg... | Q Slim Power Bank P... | 2-Pack Miady 10000 |
| Portability (40%) | |||||
| Charging Efficiency (30%) | |||||
| Added Convenience (20%) | |||||
| Recharge Time (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Clutch Charger | Anker PowerCore 5000 | INIU Portable Charg... | Q Slim Power Bank P... | 2-Pack Miady 10000 |
| Claimed Capacity | 2,300 mAh | 5,000 mAh | 10,000 mAh | 10,000 mAh | 10,000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 3.56" x 2.50" x 0.16" | 4.20" x 1.30" | 5.19" x 2.75" x 0.60" | 6.30" x 3.00" x 0.63" | 5.49" x 2.64" x 0.63" |
| Measured Weight | 2.00 oz | 4.71 oz | 6.88 oz | 9.05 oz | 7.69 oz |
| Measured Charge Time | 208 min. | 150 min. | 300 min. | 588 min. | 405 min. |
| Output 1 | Built in lightning 5V / 1A | 5V / 2A | DC5V / 3A(Max) | Built in USB-C 5V / 2.1A | 5V / 2.1A |
| Output 2 | N/A | N/A | DC5V / 3A(Max) | Built in micro 5V / 2.1A |
5V / 2.1A |
| Output 3 | N/A | N/A | DC5V / 3A(Max) | Built in lightning 5V / 2.1A |
N/A |
| Output 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | USB-A 5V / 2.1A | N/A |
| Input | Micro: DC 5V / 0.8A | 5V / 2A | USB-C: 5V / 3A |
AC 110-240V .15A 50/60Hz Micro 5V / 2A |
Micro USB/USB-C: 5V/2A |
| Model | N/A - lightning cable version | A1109 | BI-B1 | PB147AC | TPB21C |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Hardly bigger than a credit card and with a built-in Lightning cable, this portable charger is designed for a single purpose: charging an iPhone while being incredibly easy to carry. It doesn't have the charge rate to be all that useful for larger devices and doesn't make much sense for non-iPhone users — it's not even that helpful when it comes to charging an iPad since it doesn't have the largest capacity.
Performance Comparison
Portability
Accountable for 40% of the final score for each product, this is the most significant metric of our testing process. Understandably, the Clutch did extremely well, given its tiny size.
This charger is a mere 3.56 inches long by 2.5 inches wide by 0.16 inches thick — roughly the thickness and shape of three credit cards, though it has a slightly bigger footprint. It tips the scales at a mere two ounces and you can easily forget that it's in a pant or jacket pocket.
We were even worried it might accidentally get washed, it was so easily missed. It fits in most wallets and practically every purse without being a burden as well.
Charging Efficiency
Our next round of tests focuses on some of the electrical capabilities of the Clutch. We measured the capacity of each product at the maximum discharge rate and at one amp, as well as tested out any manufacturer claims regarding the number of charges you could get out of each product for specific devices. Regrettably, the Clutch couldn't maintain its top-tier performance, earning an average score in this metric, which is responsible for 30% of the final score.
The Clutch only has a maximum discharge rate of one amp, and we were able to get an actual capacity of 1099 mAh out of it at this rate — quite a bit less than the 2300 mAh claimed capacity by the manufacturer. We also found that this charger got very warm during this test, almost to the point where we were a bit concerned.
The manufacturer also claimed that you can charge an iPhone X to 50%, which we found to be a bit suspect based on our tests. We were only able to increase the charge of an iPhone 11 Pro 35% before the Clutch was depleted.
Added Convenience
For our Added Convenience metric, we looked at all the features and functions that make the Clutch more convenient and user-friendly to use. We awarded points based on if you can charge multiple devices simultaneously, if there is a built-in flashlight, and if there are integrated cables or plugs. The Clutch is pretty limited in its uses, as it can only charge iPhones, so it receives a low overall score in this metric. This rating metric constitutes 20% of the total score for each charger.
This USB-style power bank can only charge a single device at a time and lacks other features like an integrated flashlight. It has a battery level indicator and a built-in Lightning cable, but you'll need a separate micro-USB cable and USB power source to recharge it.
Recharge Time
For the final 10% of the total points for the Clutch, we evaluated and scored how long it took to charge back up once it was totally depleted. This USB charger is one of the faster to charge, earning it an 8 out of 10.
It only took the Clutch about 3.5 hours to recharge — quite a bit faster than most of the chargers in the group but mainly due to its relatively smaller capacity.
Value
This portable charger is an alright value, but it can be a little more expensive than similar products that offer more versatility. However, its convenience and ease of transport can make it priceless to the right iPhone user.
Conclusion
The Clutch is easily one of our favorite portable chargers. Its slim and minimalistic design makes it particularly convenient and easy to carry around, and the integrated charging cable means you never have to worry about forgetting one. It can be exceptionally handy to the iPhone user who always finds their phone close to dying at the end of the day and never wants to be caught with a dead battery.
— David Wise and Austin Palmer
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