JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The growing featureset of mobile devices, and in this case, mobile phones, has reduced their usage time - battery technology is developing slower than what the industry needs. Proporta has devised a solution for this problem, with its TurboCharger series which can recharge mobile phones more than twice to full capacity.

The Proporta USB TurboCharger 3400 is a battery with 3400mAh of capacity. Our test subject was a Nokia N95-1, which has a battery of 950mAh. According to Proporta, if one takes in account mathematics, the battery should be able to recharge the phone approximately 3,58 times.

The only way that the USB TurboCharger would be conveniently carried around would be if it was small, light, and stylish - the 3400 is all of these. Its USB adaptor allows it to connect to diverse phones and other mobile devices, such as PSP, iPod, and Nintendo DS Lite. It can be charged from a computer, car, or even a regular AC power source.

In the package, the following is present: the USB TurboCharger 3400 battery pack, retractable USB cable, iPod/iPhone connector, Nokia connector, Sony Ericsson connector, miniUSB connector, microUSB connector, Nintendo DS Lite connector, and a drawstring bag. Other connectors and accessories are available in the TurboCharger 3400 World Pack.

The immense portability of the Proporta charger allows it to fit in one's pocket, together with the necessary charging pins. The retractable cable is the principal connector to all charging points, serving as an adaptor for all connector heads. This is useful, as cables are reduced, confusion is avoided, and portability is ensured.

The drawstring bag can fit all the connector heads, and the battery pack itself.

5 blue LEDs indicate the amount of charge available in the battery pack. If one leaves the pack accidentally turned on, it automatically turns itself off after few seconds, if no load is connected.

Unfortunately, the pack only has one button for everything. An extra button could be useful to check charge level, or to turn it off manually.

The device has a lanyard loophole, but no cable is included in the sales package.

According to calculations, the TurboCharger 3400 should have charged our Nokia N95-1 test unit approximately 3,58 times. Our tests indicated that the battery pack was able to charge the N95 from zero to full for more than three times, an efficiency of over 83% - voltage differentiation also plays a part in this, but more than 80% is an excellent charge level.

Mobile phone in image was not the device used for the test

Most impressively, it was able to charge the N95 under 65 minutes, whereas the in-box Nokia charger usually takes about 95 minutes.

The Proportal USB TurboCharger 3400 is a reliable battery pack advisable for anyone suffering from power loss, and certainly for heavy users. The device can be bought here.

Advantages: High-charge efficiency; fast charging times; light and portable; stylish.

Disadvantages: A single multi-purpose button is included.

Rating: 9.9/10