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Clutch Charger Review

The Clutch is an amazing option for iPhone users that want a compact charging solution
Top Pick Award
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Price:   $40 List | $30 at Amazon
Pros:  Miniscule, quick to recharge, integrated lightning cable
Cons:  Limited functionality, minimal capacity
Manufacturer:   Clutch
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Feb 18, 2020
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71
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#2 of 14
  • Portability - 40% 10
  • Capacity - 30% 5
  • Added Convenience - 20% 4
  • Recharge Time - 10% 8

Our Verdict

The Clutch can charge an iPhone and fit in most wallets, making it a handy and convenient way to keep your phone charged on the go. It isn't the fastest or the most versatile charger we have seen but what it does do, it does very well. Featuring an integrated Lightning cable, it's the perfect option to make sure you aren't ever got with a dead iPhone but Android and Samsung users are out of luck.

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Our Analysis and Test Results

of 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


This petite charger is one of the most convenient and portable charging options for iPhone users.
This petite charger is one of the most convenient and portable charging options for iPhone users.

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, earning a 10 out of 10.


This charger is a mere 3.56"x 2.5"x0.16" — roughly the thickness and shape of three credit cards, though it has a slightly bigger footprint.

The Clutch charger is an amazingly compact charging solution for iPhones.
The Clutch charger is an amazingly compact charging solution for iPhones.

It tips the scales at a mere two ounces and you can easily forget that it's in a pants 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.

Unfortunately the Clutch doesn't have a huge capacity and is limited to a 1A charging rate for devices.
Unfortunately, the Clutch doesn't have a huge capacity and is limited to a 1A charging rate for devices.

Capacity


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 a 5 out of 10 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.

You generally can get about half of a full charge out of the Clutch.
You generally can get about half of a full charge out of the Clutch.

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.

The Clutch can conveniently be stowed in a wallet.
The Clutch can conveniently be stowed in a wallet.

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, the warranty, and if there are integrated cables or plugs. The Clutch is somewhat single-purpose, earning it a 4 out of 10. This rating metric constitutes 20% of the total score for each USB charger.


This USB charger can only charge a single device at a time and lacks an integrated flashlight. It does have a battery level indicator and the built-in Lightning cable but you do need a separate micro-USB cable and USB power source to recharge it.

This USB charger doesn't have a ton of features besides the integrated Lightning cable.
This USB charger doesn't have a ton of features besides the integrated Lightning cable.

The customer support and warranty seem solid, with a 1-year "SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: Free returns and exchanges, no questions asked." and a "100% NO-RISK MONEY BACK GUARANTEE" at the time of writing, as stated on their website.

You recharge the Clutch using a micro-USB cable.
You recharge the Clutch using a micro-USB cable.

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.

The Clutch is a little more expensive than other comparably sized chargers but more than makes up for it in convenience.
The Clutch is a little more expensive than other comparably sized chargers but more than makes up for it in convenience.

Value


This portable charger is an alright value but it can be a little more expensive than similar products that offer more versatility. However, it's 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. It's 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