The PopGrip JumpStart is a hand-dominating battery bank / grip

Image: PopSockets

PopSockets has a proposal: if you could swap out the grip on your phone for a battery bank with an integrated cable, you could keep a solid grip on it. That seems to be the idea behind its new PopGrip JumpStart, a 2,200mAh battery that mounts onto the standard PopSocket mount and charges your phone with a pop-out USB-C or Lightning cable.

It's a clever idea, but I have some concerns. PopSockets seem to be just the right size and shape, so they are comfortable to use. The JumpStart is a bit bigger, given that it has an entire battery bank and cable instead of a plastic circle. It seems quite uncomfortable to hold.

Image: Popsockets

You can attach and detach it from your phone by twisting it onto a PopMount 2. You should be able to twist the JumpStart on your phone when it is running low on power if you have a Grip with a swappable top. The JumpStart's battery can be charged by plugging it into the port at the bottom of the phone.

PopSockets says that the JumpStart isn't compatible with the MagSafe Grip Base. It is not compatible with the Symmetry or Defender cases. It raises the question of why MagSafe doesn't just use the same technology as PopSockets, but also has to make a connection.

PopSockets wants you to have this mounted to the phone and the case so that it doesn't stick with naked phones. It seems impractical for a mobile accessory to have a PopSocket-sized hole in it. It's a shame that MagSafe doesn't support PopSocket or a wireless charging pack.

There is one important note about battery capacity when it comes to the JumpStart, as we mentioned in our review of Apple's snap-on battery, which is similar to the JumpStart in some ways but isn't. PopSockets thinks it will boost your phone by 50 percent, though it seems that depends on your phone model.

I think people who are devoted to the PopSockets lifestyle will benefit from this product. I just pray that their fingers don't hurt while they charge their phones.