Incipio's $79.99 offGrid Express for iPhone 6 is a bare-bones battery case with solid performance. The offGrid Express won't protect your iPhone 6 as well as the OtterBox Resurgence Power Case for iPhone 6 ($99.95 at OtterBox) if (and when) you drop it. Nevertheless, it gets the same score, as its 3,000mAh battery will power your depleted iPhone 6 for longer than the OtterBox Resurgence. But neither combines protection and performance like the Editors' Choice Mophie Juice Pack Plus (for iPhone 6).
Design and Features
The 6.1-by-2.78-by-0.55-inch (HWD) offGrid Express doesn't add as much bulk to your iPhone 6 as separable two-piece battery cases like the Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case for iPhone 6 ( at Amazon) . At 3.52 ounces, it's exactly the same weight as the Otterbox Resurgence, and almost a full ounce lighter than the aforementioned Tylt battery case. Don't forget, however, that separable two-piece battery cases allow you to shed their battery's bulk and weight when you don't need to charge your phone.
The offGrid Express has a two-piece design similar to the OtterBox Resurgence, where the battery section contains all the essentials, and a bumper frame fits over your iPhone and secures it to the battery section. Like most other battery cases, the offGrid Express comes in a smooth, black rubberized plastic, which has a premium look and feel. The battery case's bottom has a shiny surface, which helps differentiate the offGrid in terms of design, but it's a veritable fingerprint magnet. Five white LEDs shine through the glossy finish to indicate battery status.
On the bottom edge, you'll find a micro USB port for charging the case, as well as your iPhone, with the included cable. A headphone adapter is included in case you want to use headphones with connectors larger than Apple EarPods. On the lower right edge is a button that lights up the battery status LED when pressed once, and turns the case on or off with a two-second long press.
Similar Products
Tylt Energi Sliding Power Case for iPhone 6
Boostcase for iPhone 6
OtterBox Resurgence Power Case for iPhone 6
uNu Superpak
Mophie Juice Pack Plus (for iPhone 6)
myCharge Talk & Charge+
Incipio doesn't boast about the offGrid Express's protective qualities because it doesn't really have any. There's no padding or shock protection to speak of, and a drop test from about five feet (sans iPhone) revealed that the offGrid Express's frame would come off quite easily if the case hit the ground on its corner. It may protect your iPhone 6 from a light initial impact, but any subsequent tumbling may result in some scratches, as your iPhone could become exposed if the case's sections scatter.
Performance and Conclusion
With its 3,000mAh battery, the offGrid Express gave our depleted iPhone 6 4 hours, 35 minutes of LTE streaming time until iOS 8's 20-percent battery alert popped up. Like all our previous battery case tests, brightness on our iPhone 6 was set to maximum, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were turned off. To compare, the similarly priced uNu DX-6 iPhone 6 Battery Case's ( at Amazon) 3,000mAh battery gave our iPhone 6 4 hours, 15 minutes of LTE streaming time. The more expensive OtterBox Resurgence's result was nearly an hour short of the offGrid's result, but it redeems itself with its military-rated protection against shocks.
The offGrid Express by Incipio will give your iPhone 6 a considerable battery boost when you need it most. But don't expect it to protect your iPhone 6 from shocks and impacts as well as the OtterBox Resurgence or Mophie Juice Pack Plus. If you'd rather not carry around the offGrid Express's bulk and weight all the time, the 2-in-1 Tylt Energi or Boostcase for iPhone 6 may be for you, as they let you remove the shell/phone combo from their battery sections.
If you like the idea of the 2-in-1 battery cases, you may also want to check out external batteries, like the uNu Superpak , as they offer more battery bang for your buck. Mind you, those external batteries are better if you often carry around a backpack, which also makes it easier to carry the required charging cable.
The Incipio offGrid Express battery case is a solid performer, especially for its relatively low price tag. But you'll need to look elsewhere if you want any sort of protection for your iPhone 6.
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