While Apple's iPhone is an amazing device capable of making life significantly easier, it does occasionally introduce some challenges. Case in point: Charging the battery. After all, it's a bit difficult to use an iPhone if it can't be powered on! Plus, think about how many times you've scrambled to conserve battery life or find an outlet as your beloved smartphone is about to die.
Luckily, many companies out there understand this problem and have developed multiple solutions to help you get the most out of your iPhone. While the standard wall socket is and will likely remain the best option for the vast majority of people, know that there are many other new and unique ways to charge your devices:
- With another battery: Charging a device with an external battery is not a new idea, but leading battery manufacturer Duracell has recently introduced an innovative way to extend this methodology to iPhones. Their PowerSnap Kit is a bit unconventional, in that all you have to do is place your smartphone on top of it and watch as the battery is revived. The device is held in place by magnets, and The New York Times noted that it is capable of charging an iPhone in just two hours.
- With solar power: Solar-powered charging devices have been around for a few years now, but one effort is aiming to democratize the alternative electricity source. AT&T, in partnership with solar kit manufacturer Goal Zero, recently installed a number of solar-powered battery chargers in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. According to The Verge, the stations are designed to ensure that New Yorkers always have the option of providing their devices with a little bit more juice while on the go, even in the aftermath of a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy.
- With shoes: What if every step you took did more than just get you from point A to point B? Four mechanical engineering students at Rice University in Houston recently devised a pair of shoes that turns every step into electricity, which is then used to charge an iPhone or other portable device. However, don't expect to be able to get these kicks just yet – the Daily Mail reported that this is just a prototype, and the students need to develop a system that is far less clunky than the version they already made.
While these three options are great for keeping your iPhone running at all times, none of them will help much if your battery is malfunctioning or if it is having trouble holding a charge. To address any major battery-related issue, use iResQ's iPhone repair services to get your phone in tip-top condition in no time.